Ruan Minor is a tiny village and former parish located on the Lizard peninsula. This profile of Ruan Minor Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Terry Moyle.
1970s sketch of 1886 chapel
First chapel built before 1828?
Wesleyan Preaching Plans 1828 and 1833 – Sunday evening services
1837-1900 Baptisms – 70
Families associated with baptisms from Ruan, Grade, Cadgwith and Kuggar – Lambrick, Jane, Harris, Mitchell, Tonkin, Stephens, Hocking, Allen, Richards and Rowe
By 1885 old chapel in very poor and unsafe condition – plans for new chapel drawn up by
Mr. W J Winn of Helston with Messrs Cock (Mullion) and Cook (Mawgan) as contractors.
Proposed chapel capacity 170 with Sunday School room and vestries underneath
Estimated cost £450
July 1885 – Foundation stone laid by Mr. W Bickford-Smith M.P. with tea in old chapel and an evening public meeting in UM chapel. Future evening services to be held in Ruan Minor National School and alternate Sunday morning services to be held in the UM chapel
1886 – Evangelical services held
Ruan Minor has for upwards of eighty years been able to sustain both Wesleyans and Free Methodists in a more or less flourishing condition. (Cornish Telegraph 31 May 1888)
June 1896 – Sunday School Anniversary with Mullion Band. Walk to Cadgwith and back. Followed by a tea given by Mr. George Tangye of Birmingham who had recently visited Cadgwith.
November 1898 – an afternoon bazaar held in the Sunday School Room – opened by Mr. W. Collins of Gweek. The gifts included a large number of live and dead fowls. The bazaar will, it is hoped, greatly reduce the debt of £90 on the Ebenezer Bible Christian Chapel
March 1899 – new American organ installed at cost of £20
March 1905 and March 1909 – an entertainment was given by members of the Gospel temperance and Blue Ribbon Society in aid of Dr. Stephenson’s Orphanages.
July 1919 – Sunday School Tea Treat – tea and public tea and an evening meeting. There was a large attendance
April 1920 – 1WW brass memorial tablet unveiled (names of those killed from Grade, Ruan Major & Ruan Minor)
October 1920 – The harvest festival services continued on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance, a good collection and the sale of vegetables, flowers and farm produce.
May 1932 – funeral of Mr. Edwin Jane aged 83 of Cadgwith, one of Cadgwith’s most respected inhabitants. A member of Ruan Minor Wesleyan Chapel for over 60 years – the oldest member and trustee.
Closed in 1930s – probably 1937
Called “higher” or “top” chapel
On closure joined Ruan Ebenezer & Ruan UM
July 1944 – by the death of Miss Mary Jane Mitchell, Cadgwith has lost one of its oldest and respected inhabitants. For 60 years she had been a grocer and caterer, well known for her cream teas and Cornish splits. She was one of the oldest members of Ruan Minor Wesleyan Chapel where she had been a Sunday School teacher for many years. The funeral service was held at Grade Church.
Storage (2002)
I have just purchased the old Methodist chapel previously used by the Artist Barrie Cook .
I am also an Artist and will attempt repairs on this neglected building that I hope will prove a modest restoration .
I have just found this!
I am so delighted that the old chapel is being restored and not demolished.