23 March 2021

Mapping Methodism – Sheffield Teetotal Wesleyan Chapel

Sheffield is thought to have been established to house the workers of the Sheffield quarry and later the surrounding farms. The settlement was built along the road into Penzance where the stone had to be taken for shipment. After the 1830 Beer-house act, a kiddlywink, which is an old name for Cornish beer shop or beer –house, was thought to have been set up in what is now No 2 Lower Sheffield. Kiddlywinks were reputed to be the haunts of smugglers and often had an unmarked bottle of spirits under the counter: however farm and quarry labourers were also known to receive beer instead of wages. The Teetotal Wesleyan Chapel, built around 1845, was later a New Connexion chapel and then converted to a Wesleyan school. It has now been converted to a house. A local stonecutter called Thomas Harvey offered to provide, free of cost, all the granite according to a Cornishman article feature later. There were once 2 Sunday schools in the village. The other one was a Free Sunday school. The village well or pump is in the garden of the cottage almost opposite the Chapel. Information from Wikipedia – en.wikipeddia.org. This profile of Sheffield Teetotal Wesleyan Methodist Chapel has been compiled by Val Thomas of St Ives Old Cornwall Society.

1856 The chapel was first constructed as a building.

1870 July The children had their annual tea treat. At half past two the children, numbering about 70, and their teachers, assembled at the chapel. They formed a procession with flags and tricolours accompanied by St Buryan Artillery Band. They paraded to various gardens where they sang and ate gooseberries provided by Mrs Wright before returning to the chapel where they had buns and tea.

1879 The re-opening services for the Chapel as Methodist New Connexion were held on the 20^th and 27^th of April. Important alterations had been made to the building, including a new floor, skirting board all round the chapel, a few pews, backs to forms, and oil lamps instead of candles. A new trust was also formed. The work was done by Mr. J. Hosken, jun. of Drift, Sancreed. The total cost of the alterations was £20 to which several more pounds were added due for interest on the debt and legal expenses.

1886 September The Rev. J. Stephen was obliged to postpone his service on Monday evening due to inclement weather. A very pleasant evening g was spent with Mr Stephen accompanied by about 40 of his young choristers. The chapel was well filled.

1886 On 6^th November there was a sale of property which belonged to Mr Robert Matthews, Sheffield. I think the land the chapel is on may well have originally been a part of his estate as he owned so much along that stretch of road. Part of what he owned was the Meadow containing 10 lacos of ground situated adjoining the chapel, a dwelling house and premises adjoining the Teetotal Chapel and the Blacksmith shop and premises.

1886 December 25 men were signed up to become teetotal. This meeting was part of an annual teetotal Festival. The chapel had more assembled than it could fairly contain and many went home as there was no more space!

1889 – 1955 The chapel was known as Sheffield Methodist Church, Paul.

1908 February 20^th Cornishman. A new building was constructed adjoining the original chapel which had been in service for 50 years. It cost £325.00 and seated 120 persons and belonged to the United Methodist Church. Many people from St Ives attended the stone laying and a service was held in the Free School in the evening.

1931 The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph October 29: ‘A special service was held in the United Methodist Chapel at Sheffield on Sunday, when Mr and Mrs Humphries and party from the Primitive Methodist Church paid their second visit…… Tea was provided in the schoolroom…… A crowded congregation brought the day to a close’.

1943 The chapel had been taken into the Chapel-Street Methodist circuit.

1944 Thursday June 29^th. The Cornishman. The chapel was closed due to difficulties resulting from the war. Memories included Sunday school anniversary services which were held in a field near the chapel and drew large numbers of people.

1947 Feb 16^th A newspaper article by Herbert Richards stated that on February 16^th a sermon was preached to a congregation which filled the church and meant that from now on the gospel would again be preached at Sheffield.

1955 The Chapel was officially deregistered. According to the article below it was used as a farm implement storing place and the Sunday school was a carpenter’s store.

1965 The editor of the Sheffield newsletter found a reference to what the village of Sheffield was like in 1965 in a WI centenary publication. It was written by Mrs E. McClary and I have included a small part of it:

C1948 The artist Barbara Tribe moved into the old Free Sunday school which she and her husband, the architect John Singleman, converted into a studio. She lived there until her death in 2000. It is now a home called ‘The Studio’ and is on the same side as the chapel but a few houses down.

‘The Studio’, image: Val Thomas March 2021

As can be seen from these two images, the door into the chapel has been moved from the single storey annexe into the main building. The large front window has been replaced by two smaller ones and a brick arch inserted underneath. The single storey annexe on the left side has been removed and the lower part of the wall is now the boundary wall with railings in place of windows. A smaller extension is now behind the boundary wall. On the left of the 1947 image it looks as if a building protrudes forwards. This is no longer there. Dormers have been added to give a second floor. The smithy next door is now a house.