The World's first Mormon chapel, Gadfield Elm near Eldersfield, has been reopened to the public after 150 years, following a £75,000 restoration project.

It will now serve not only as a living chapel but also as the Museum of Mormon History in the UK.

The chapel opened its doors once more to worshippers at its dedication on Easter Sunday.

Around 250 people attended, including the Deputy Mayor of Ledbury, Coun Clive Jupp, church members from the three counties and, from America, Elder Jeffrey R Holland, a descendant of one of the original United Brethren leaders, the group that built the chapel.

The link between the Ledbury area and the birth of the Mormon faith is little known but very firm.

Wayne Gardner, spokesman for the Gadfield Elm Trust, said: "Built in 1836, by the United Brethren, the Gadfield Elm Chapel was given to the Church in 1840. The chapel acted as the focal point of church activity for thousands of Latter-day Saints, until the majority migrated west to fulfil their dreams in the USA.

"There were 40 congregations meeting within a 15-mile radius of the chapel in the mid-1800s."

Brigham Young, the Mormon leader and other early leaders preached at the chapel, which at the time was the only Latter-day Saints' chapel in the World.

Mr Gardner said: "It's the last surviving memorial to the United Brethren, a religious group that joined the Mormon Church after hearing early missionaries preach there.

"Gadfield Elm Chapel in its beautiful setting provides a charming and thoughtful reminder of the humble and simple beginnings of this world-wide Church, now headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah."

The chapel was bought and restored by the Gadfield Elm Trust with contributions from all over the World.