Inside the converted church dubbed by Adelaide locals at the Pepperbox with original period details

A historical octagonal church has been converted into a unique home featuring a modern fit out with original details to retain its period charm. 

Aptly sitting in the city of churches, the transformed property is in the sought-after Adelaide suburb of Glenside and is affectionately referred to as ‘The Pepperbox’ by locals for its likeness to a pepper grinder. 

Once the Knoxville Congregational Church, it was built in 1886 in the shape of Queen Victoria’s crown to mark her jubilee  and its stunning stain glass windows and original ornate signage remain today.

Once the Knoxville Congregational Church, it was built in the shape of Queen Victoria’s crown to mark her jubilee and its stunning stain glass windows and original ornate signage remain today

Owners Treena Engel and Jonathan Lewis told realestate.com.au they enlisted the help of a heritage architect to give the home a new lease on life without erasing its history and ‘took a gamble’ by stripping the exterior of its old render incidentally uncovering the stunning stonework underneath. 

Inside, each room is connected to the spacious and open-plan central living area with a cosy fireplace and sky-high vaulted ceiling that showcases the home’s unique shape. 

Underneath a grad arch with an imposing antique church sign reading ‘He hath beleiveth, hath eternal life’ is the state-of-the art kitchen that has sleek stone benchtops and hides behind it a practical laundry room. 

The surrounding rooms are multipurpose with four set up as bedrooms while one is a retro rec-room with antique arcade games and another is a formal lounge.

A series of rooms all surround the central living space including four bedrooms, a rec room with retro arcade games and a formal lounge

Adding to the property’s appeal is the antique timber and iron church door that makes for a grand entrance as well as the lush manicured gardens. 

Ms Engel, who bought the church in 2010 after ‘falling in love’ with it, said they almost added a mezzanine to the central living space during the renovation but decided against it. 

‘We could have put a mezzanine in, which is often what happens with churches but it just would have taken away from the height and the beauty of the ceiling,’ she explained. 

Ms Engel, who bought the church in 2010 after ‘falling in love’ with it, said they almost added a mezzanine to the central living space during the renovation but decided against it to preserve the home’s charm

‘And a mezzanine wouldn’t have given us any extra space. We would have gained a room upstairs but by the time you put in a staircase you would have lost that space downstairs.’ 

She said former parishioners often stop by to share stories and show photos of the congregational church when they attended before it was decommissioned in 2005.  

The stunning property has now hit the market and is taking offers until Wednesday, May 25. 

To view the listing click here.