The Whitworth family built this small meeting house within the village when the Wesleyan chapel serving the community was located some way away, in Goonown. The profile has been compiled by Clive Benney and Tony Mansell.
1851/52: Meeting house formed at the rear of the Whitworth residence. It was used for prayer meetings for a few years before becoming a domestic garage. By coincidence, the old St Agnes Manse was next door to this garage.
The Whitworth Meeting House (Photo: “The Whitworth collection” St Agnes Museum Trust)
1868: “ST. AGNES. At the West Powder Petty Sessions, on Saturday… Mr Henry Whitworth, surgeon, of St. Agnes, was summoned by Mr W. Letcher, watchmaker, of the same place, for assault on the 1st of October. There was also a cross summons. The evidence did not very much, the only important difference being as to who offered to strike the first blow. The facts are as follows: Mr Whitworth resides at St. Agnes. Behind his house is a field, in one corner of which there a small chapel, access to which is over a road by the side of the house and kept in order by Mr Whitworth. A choir of singers use this chapel for practice. The defendant, without acknowledging their right it, has never disputed it; but lately a Tonic Sol Fa class has been established, and use this place for their practice. This has caused an annoyance to Mr. Whitworth, as persons congregate in the field around the windows of the building to hear the singing, and these congregations have not always been of the most orderly character. He has often turned the loiterers out, and sometimes called in the assistance of the police for that purpose. On the evening of the 1st of October had his outside gates locked. Between nine and ten o’clock on going into his stable to see all was right for the night, he found that there were persons in the chapel, on which he had the gate again unlocked. He found four persons outside the chapel, the plaintiff being one. Defendant asked him to leave, but not doing so put his hand his shoulder and again requested him to leave. Plaintiff said he would not. He was put out, when a scuffle ensued in which the plaintiff received a blow on his mouth, which cut his lip. This plaintiff said was before attempted to strike the defendant whereas Mr Whitworth said that Letcher had made two blows at him, which he avoided, before he gave the one on the mouth. By this time the party within had opened door of the chapel. Letcher gave his version, which defendant followed to correct, when a second blow was given by him, and some rather ungentlemanly language used on both sides. Mr Chilcott for defendant, urged that he was justified in attempting to put complainant out, and that defendant receiving the first blow, would naturally endeavour to protect himself. Defendant was fined 10s and costs.” (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 06 November 1868)