Mapping Methodism – Skinners Bottom Primitive Methodist Chapel

Skinner’s Bottom is a hamlet near Mount Hawke and Porthtowan. This profile of Skinners Bottom Primitive Meeting House has been compiled by Clive Benney and Tony Mansell.

 

1837 Chapel

1837: Society first appears. (“Primitive Methodism in Cornwall” by J C C Probert)

1837: Chapel opened. ⁽¹⁾

The first Primitive chapel in Skinners Bottom was probably this single storey buiding on the left when travelling from the village to Ivy Chimney. The front section was a single room built with cob walls. It has since been extended but the original roofline and windows mark this out as a former meeting house. (Photo: Tony Mansell)

1840: Society facing financial problems with £26 being needed to avoid having to sell the chapel. ⁽¹⁾

 

1875 Chapel

1875: New Chapel built on a site down the lane on the right after passing the Wesleyan Chapel in the centre of the village.

Built as a Primitive Methodist chapel. (SWChurches)

The project seems to have been plagued with financial problems.

1894: Trustees borrowed £90.

The Directors of the Primitive Methodist Chapel Aid Association Limited, from whom the money had been borrowed, were involved in lengthy correspondence with the Trustees.

1909-1910: Circuit papers refer to closure of the chapel. ⁽¹⁾

1910 to 1920: Remained on Circuit Plan but no services held. ⁽¹⁾

The chapel closed after 1911. (SWChurches)

£40 still owed to the Chapel Aid Association making it difficult to sell. ⁽¹⁾

1924: Freehold purchased.

1909-1924: Correspondence, Skinner’s Bottom Methodist Chapel. Correspondence from Primitive Methodist Chapel Aid Association Ltd concerning chapel, which closed some time after 1911. (Kresen Kernow MRR/3185)

Property sold

Circa 1980: The Primitive Chapel before being converted to a dwelling (Photo: courtesy Clive Benney)

Since then it has been used for egg packing, as a barn, for manufacturing wind surfing boards and finally as a dwelling – see photos below.

(Photo: Clive Benney)

(Photo: Clive Benney)

 

• ^{“Primitive Methodism in Cornwall” by J C C Probert}