If modern homes just don't do it for you, why not consider something with a little more soul? Steeped in history and offering no end of charming features, these abandoned churches are packed with conversion potential. From a little white chapel in New South Wales, to a grand brick church in Pennsylvania, you won't need divine intervention to transform these beautiful buildings into heavenly homes...

Nestled among the picturesque Cornish countryside in a small rural hamlet close to Porthcurno on England's south coast, this unique property is just waiting to be transformed into a one-of-a-kind family home. On the market with Goundrys Estate Agents, the new owner will need some serious imagination — not to mention determination.

Though we're unsure when the church was built, it's clearly of historical importance since it's now Grade II-listed. The former Wesleyan chapel boasts an imposing stone exterior, a prominent roofline and a spacious garden (or should we say graveyard?). However, the building hasn't been used since 2003, so it's in a very poor state of repair.

In fact, the abandoned space has been added to the region's at-risk register in the 'Category A' section, which means there's an immediate risk of rapid deterioration or loss of fabric. Whoever takes this property on will need to invest a significant amount of money into structural repairs. It's clear to see from the photos that the church has a crumbling ceiling, disintegrating plasterwork and missing windows throughout. 

Not for the faint-hearted, the property benefits from a main nave, with an attractive mezzanine. Inside, there's plenty of space for a living room, kitchen and dining zone, while the balcony could be turned into a gorgeous master suite. Are you up to the challenge?

Could there be a more charming church out there? We doubt it. The Old Emmaville Church Building lies in the town of Emmaville in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, and boasts a truly enchanting exterior. Perfectly preserved, the pretty property would once have been the heart and soul of the local community, but now it's ready to start a new chapter. Oh, and did we mention it's incredibly affordable?

From the church's white clapboard façade to its bright and beautiful interior, there's so much to love about this listing. The L-shaped building opens into a spacious foyer, with a vaulted ceiling and delicate windows — perfect for making a great first impression on your future guests.

From the moment you step inside, it's instantly clear that the empty property is in great condition. The main nave comes complete with crisp white walls, a stunning cathedral ceiling with timber beams, arched doorways and swathes of leaded and stained-glass windows. There's plenty of space for a lounge, kitchen, bedroom and dining zone. 

There's also an upstairs gallery that could be transformed into a beautiful master suite. The surrounding land, which spans more than 45,700 square feet, is included in the sale and comes complete with a mature allotment for all your growing needs. If you're interested in taking this pretty property on, then Country Wide Property has all the details you need — but be quick, because listings like this don't hang around for long...

Another extreme fixer-upper opportunity is this white clapboard church in Nova Scotia, Canada. On the market with EXIT Realty for around £129,000 ($145k) or CAD$199,900, the historic building can be found in the town of Liverpool and benefits from plenty of curb appeal and inside space. Let's take a look around...

Amazingly, the church spans a generous 6,136 square feet and features a main nave with a soaring ceiling, ornate timber accents and gorgeous stained-glass windows. The main hall is vast and would be perfect for creating a jaw-dropping open-plan living space. 

There's also a huge basement with two bathrooms, an office, a den, a classroom and a spare 1,500-square-foot room that’s waiting to be put to good use. Elsewhere, you'll find a retro kitchen with two built-in wall ovens, two countertop stoves, commercial appliances and ample worktop space, should the new owner decide to keep the old layout.

To make the renovation work that little bit easier, and cheaper, the church recently received a new roof and heating system. Still, there’s much work to be done in order to turn this dilapidated property into a beautiful family home. Could you handle the job?

Positioned in the historic American town of Selma, North Carolina, this grand Gothic Revival-style building was completed in 1908 and has long been an important local landmark. Nestled on a prominent corner plot in the heart of town, Selma Baptist Church benefits from a stately masonry exterior, a dominant corner bell tower, pointed arch windows, and buttresses with rusticated stone details.

Sadly, the property is in a state of disrepair and in need of an overhaul both inside and out, including water damage repairs, new plumbing, and electrics. The church's 8,632-square-foot interior is large and open-plan, with a gallery loft embellished with classical details — the perfect master bedroom? There's also a three-storey office and a classroom building, both added in 1948. 

Inside, a soaring cathedral ceiling and large arched windows would make great additions to a living space, while period details such as original Gothic ecclesiastical chandeliers and pressed metal ceilings add to the property's charm. Elsewhere, there's a panelled staircase, a raised pulpit area, a pastor’s office, numerous bathrooms and a small partial basement.

For sale via Preservation North Carolina, the church could be the perfect purchase for an ambitious buyer. What's more, the church is eligible for historic tax credits and is located in an Opportunity Zone, meaning the purchaser will benefit from financial support when converting the building for residential use.

If you're seeking a unique conversion project in Western Australia, then how about All Hallows Catholic Church? Located in the city of Boulder, surrounded by stunning nature reserves, the church is up for grabs for a mere £179,000 ($202k) — that's AUD$320,000 in local currency. 

Head through the front doors and you'll find yourself in an impressive hall. Light-filled and spacious, the nave boasts a soaring and highly decorative ceiling, pretty stained-glass windows and natural timber floors. According to the listing, the interior also offers fantastic acoustics.

At the other end of the church you'll find a small mezzanine balcony, which would be the perfect place for a bedroom and ensuite. With its seemingly endless ceiling and dominant window, it could be a master suite fit for a VIP. The Federation Gothic building is heritage-listed and was extensively restored and repaired after an earthquake in 2010, so it's in good shape for a conversion. 

There's likely just enough space for a lounge, kitchen, dining space, office, bathroom and bedroom. What's more, the church sits on 10,893 square feet of private land, so there's plenty of room for further development, a gorgeous garden or an outbuilding.

If you're in the market for a quintessential white chapel then look no further. This gorgeous church can be found in the town of Alton, New Hampshire. With a picture-perfect exterior complete with a prominent steeple and huge windows, there's much to admire about this beautiful fixer-upper.

The abandoned church was constructed in 1831 and is now on the market for a mere £249,000 ($280k), offering someone the chance to buy 190 years of history. For your money, you'll gain 3,110 square feet of inside space and, according to the listing, the building has very good bones.

Glorious both inside and out, the church features a lovely nave, with a high ceiling, walls lined with windows and lovely timber work. But there are plenty of other spaces that wouldn't require as much work to transform. This space comes complete with a fireplace, hardwood floors and lovely windows, as it it were plucked from the interior of a grand Victorian house.

There’s also an old-fashioned kitchen, which would likely need to be replaced, as well as two bathrooms. What’s more, the church benefits from a huge 500-square-foot attic and the basement is fully accessible and has beautiful stone foundations. How’s that for bang for your buck?

Seize the opportunity to own a piece of history, by snapping up this gorgeous little chapel. Positioned in Allentown, New Jersey, it could be all yours for just £289,500 ($325k).

The church was founded back in 1852 and features a welcome atrium, a sanctuary with a soaring ceiling and plenty of original stained-glass windows. This space could easily be transformed into an open-plan living room, with a kitchen, dining space and sitting area.

Yet this listing also includes a second building, the former parish hall. This large structure features a substantial kitchen area, a large recreation room and bathroom facilities, all of which will need to be renovated.

What’s more, the two buildings sit on almost two acres of land, with bags of parking space and room for an extension or further development. The church does come with its original cemetery, though, so those who scare easily need not apply.

If you fancy taking to rural France and setting up home, then this amazing Art Deco church in Picardy might just be your dream real estate opportunity. The striking structure lies less than two hours from Paris and Brussels, with a TGV train station nearby, yet is surrounded by rolling fields for the best of both worlds.

Listed with Patrice Besse for €390,000, which equates to £339,200 ($381k), the brick church was built in 1932, after the original 11th century building, a typical medieval country church, was destroyed by enemy fire during the First World War. A local architect was tasked with the job of designing the new building and was told to create something altogether more modern. 

Luckily, the building survived the Second World War without damage and worship continued here until 1979. For the next 30 years, the church sat vacant and neglected. It was then bought and partially restored, but a lot of work is still needed to bring the building back to its former glory. But there are plenty of amazing details worth restoring, such as the hand-painted murals that cover the church's walls and ceilings.

A stone staircase leads to the entrance, which flows into the main nave. This space is large and gorgeous, thanks to its beamed ceiling, tiled floor, arched windows, huge pillars and exposed brick walls. There’s also a vault, a first floor that gives access to the bell tower, a small drawing room and a lovely lush garden with panoramic countryside views.

While it's slightly more expensive than some churches, at £375,000 ($421k), this listing offers plenty of bang for your buck. That's because for your money you won't just gain a historic brick church, but the large detached vicarage that lies next door, too!

On the market with Jackson-Stops, this combo listing is almost too good to be true. However, both buildings require a fair amount of work. The properties are located in the village of Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, northwest Wales, and would have once been an important part of the local community.

The church itself is believed to date from 1865 and was constructed of Welsh stone. With its dressed stone mullion windows, stone door architraves and slate roof, it's a solid and structurally impressive property. It measures 2,500 square feet and the main nave is seriously lovely, thanks to its vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and stained-glass windows.

As for the vicarage, the home is arranged over four floors, extending to around 2,250 square feet. Well maintained but in need of modernising, the interior is a blank canvas that's waiting to be transformed. There's an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, library, office, five double bedrooms and two bathrooms. There's even a garage and a large garden. What more could you want?

If you're looking for an extreme fixer-upper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then your search is over. This former church can be found in the heart of the city, just a few blocks from Temple University, and is overflowing with character. 

For sale with TCS Management, the commercial property is an important local landmark and while we don't know when it was constructed, it's clear from the church's interior that it's very historic. Much like the exterior, the interior is grand and imposing. We're not sure how large the interior actually is, but it obviously isn't short on space.

Unique and filled with natural light, the church comes with a spacious entrance, a nave with a stunning statement ceiling, various sides rooms that could be transformed into bedrooms, and plenty of eye-catching period details. These include beautiful stonework, large arches, soaring ceilings and detailed stained-glass.

Despite its rundown state, there's much to admire about this disused building and it has personality and potential in abundance. Plus, there's a huge 14,000-square-foot garden outside that's waiting to be put to use. All it needs now is some love!

If you've got a slightly bigger budget to play with, then this dreamy church building in Saint Petersburg, Florida, could be the perfect project for you. On the market with LoopNet and KW Commercial for £975,500 ($1.1m), this heavenly property offers plenty of bang for your buck.

Built in 1940, the landmark building is overflowing with space and character. Covering a staggering 12,846 square feet, it is split over two large floors and benefits from ample natural light and bright, open-plan rooms. 

The main nave stretches over 6,000 square feet and is a truly mesmerising space. As well as its stunning timber barrel ceiling, it also offers a mezzanine level, large arched windows and original pews that could be used somewhere in the new design of the structure.

Akin to an abandoned mansion, the church is so vast that it could probably be converted into multiple homes, or even luxury apartments. The listing agents suggest that there's enough room for 25 individual units, which could have a resale value of around £163,200 ($184k) each. How's that for divine?

If you like the look of this unique church in Chicago, Illinois, then you'll need some deep pockets in order to buy it. The perfect investment opportunity, the property is on the market with LoopNet and Jack Jankowski for just shy of £2.2 million ($2.5m).

Originally built in 1892, it's time for this religious facility to have a new lease of life. The listing suggests the building could become a condo conversion, a corporate headquarters, luxury apartments, or even a unique family castle! If you opt for condos, they estimate their resale value to be around £754,500 ($850k) a pop.

Sitting on 0.18 acres of land, the property offers an impressive 17,245-square-foot interior spread across three floors. Though in need of a total overhaul, there are plenty of plus points inside. From the church's original organ, which could be turned into a living room feature, to its fine woodwork and timber sanctuary ceiling. There's also a large basement level that's waiting to be put to good use, what's not to like? 

Yet the church's best feature might be its incredible original stained-glass windows. Vast and colourful, these are just one of its many historic features that you'll definitely want to retain. Talk about an incredible building!

Loved this? We have plenty more abandoned homes and buildings for you to explore.