EVERY week for more than 50 years, Elaine and Tom Ewbank have wheeled water in a milk churn from their farm cottage in Marsett, high above Semerwater, to the Methodist chapel in this hamlet of just nine souls. There’s a congregation of around a dozen, an official membership of eight.

Now in their eighties, Elaine and Tom have made the last such journey, for the water is no longer needed. The challenge of the Portaloo is a thing of the past, as are the damp walls, a dripping ceiling and near-unusable path. For, after a £25,000 refurbishment, the chapel has running water, a washroom with disabled access and flush toilet, a new kitchen, damp-proofed ceiling and newly-plastered walls.

There is also a flagstoned path; a bone of contention as the planners insisted the original flags costed into the scheme would not do in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The enforced alternative added £2,000 to the final bill.

“And we had to spend £180 on a bat search” says Elaine, “even though after 50 years worshipping here we knew there were no bats. Altogether the planning consent took the best part of a year.”

The bulk of the cash came from Methodist funds, in itself a massive vote of confidence in a chapel that, against all the odds of rural isolation and falling numbers, pays for itself.

Four times a year they host a singalong, with Elaine at the organ playing requests from a congregation that comes from miles around.

“Without the singalongs to boost the regular giving I don’t think we’d manage financially,” says Tom, the chapel treasurer. “We don’t charge, but people are very generous. One couple have taken a cottage in the village every year for their summer holiday since 1986, just so they can come here and sing.”

The congregation is proud of its self-sufficiency, but you sense it is the openness, and generosity of spirit that this hospitality represents, that has kept the chapel going, often against the odds of time, place and rising costs.

Jane Sowerby, a regular worshipper with husband, Andrew, and 14-year-old twins, Thomas and George, has reason to welcome the improvements, especially the disabled access toilet and the new path. Thomas has cerebral palsy and getting his wheelchair into the building was becoming impossible.

“Thomas loves chapel. The singing and the company are a real joy to him and the new facilities mean other people with similar challenges will have access, too, so it’s a blessing all round,” says Jane.

The Rev Janet Park, the local Methodist minister, helped secure the funds. For those who think it’s a lot of money for a small place she has an answer: it is.

“But it pays its own way and this small congregation has a vision of the future. They are generous and welcoming,” she says.

The present building celebrated its centenary back in 1997. The original one across the road, now a private house, was built in 1814. At the bicentennial celebrations on Sunday, June 22, the chapel will be packed for the singing, the worship and the legendary Marsett feast laid on by the villagers. Ruth Gee, this year’s President of the Methodist Conference and chairman of the Darlington Methodist District, will preach. In a busy year which has taken her to every corner of the globe she offered to be there. “I want to support and celebrate what they are doing in Marsett. They are a true Christian presence in their community, continuing a 200-year tradition and looking to the future,” she says.