A church, which claims it is one of England’s smallest churches, is to reopen its doors next week to visitors.

Chapel Plaister, the historic pilgrims’ chapel located on the B3109 Bradford on Avon to Corsham road, attracts hundreds of tourists each summer but in winter months remains open only for parishioners.

The church, which seats just 27 people, will open its doors to visitors each Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm starting on May 11 continuing until September 28.

Retired parishioner Jerry Dix said: “Most people don’t even know the church is here. It is on a fast road at the crest of a hill and the building is quite unassuming. People are quite often amazed when they do visit as they say they didn’t even realise it existed and they have driven past it a million times before.

“This architectural gem, which recently underwent major refurbishment, is probably one of the few remaining examples of the way-side refuges which gave shelter to pilgrims on their way westwards to visit the shrine of Joseph of Arimethea at Glastonbury.”

Mr Dix, who has attended the church for 30 years after formerly living directly opposite, added: “In spite of its name, the chapel is, in fact, a very small church which lies within the Box parish. It is regularly used for Sunday and mid-week services but it normally remains closed to visitors for the remainder of the week.

“However, in view of the level of public interest in the chapel generated in recent years, it has been decided to resume the arrangement of opening it to the public on Wednesday afternoons during the summer months.”

In 2010, following a feature on the BBC, the chapel became a popular destination, with groups and individuals travelling from far and wide to visit.

Mr Dix said: “We have had people come as far as New Zealand. One woman who came over from Australia even revisited a second time because she had been christened there many years ago.

“We also have a strong congregation. One Christmas we managed to get 85 people into the church with the men standing in the porch.”

Chapel Plaister can be found half a mile north of the Fiveways junction, 2.5 miles south of Corsham.