Mapping Methodism – Chacewater Primitive Methodist chapel

Chacewater is a village and in Cornwall, situated approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Redruth. This profile of Chacewater Primitive Methodist (East End) Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

1830: Chacewater Primitive Methodist Chapel built. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway

Built as a Primitive Methodist Chapel, it opened in 1830 and had an associated Sunday school. (Jo Lewis)

Marked as a Primitive Methodist Chapel on 1880 maps, this building is on your right at the bottom of Chacewater Hill as you come in from the Truro direction.

Leaving Chacewater towards Truro, this chapel can be found on the left just after the right turn up Kerley hill. (Jo Lewis)

A Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in Chacewater (Genuki)1882: “The Primitive Methodists having considerably enlarged their chapel, celebrated the re-opening Thursday by public tea and interesting services, which were very largely attended. The addition to the building and the new rostrum and organ gallery were very creditably carried out by Mr. Symons, of Blackwater, the paintings and ornamentations by Mr. Barnett, of Chacewater. Messrs. Brewer and Co., of Truro, have fitted a new swell organ, and otherwise improved the instrument, which now consists of two manuals having in great organ eight stops, swell organ five stops, with three couplers and two composition pedals. Mr. Holt, of Truro, gave an organ recital in the evening. The addition to the organ has cost about £90. Mr. R. Tolley presided, and addresses were given by the Revs. Radnor, Walton, Shergold, and Stockdale, Captain Trevethan, and Mr. Watson. The services of Mr. H. P. Harvey, especially in connection with the organ, were much appreciated.” (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 06 April 1882)

1882: “Chacewater Primitive Methodist chapel has been enlarged and repaired and its musical services made more efficient by a new organ, which Messrs. Brewer, of Truro, have provided for £90.” (Cornishman – Thursday 6 April 1882)

1911: “Mr. Thomas Jenkin, one of the oldest and most respected inhabitants of Chacewater, passed away on. Sunday evening at the age 85 years. Deceased was the oldest member of the Chacewater Primitive Methodist Church, and at the reopening services of the church, after its recent renovation, was the first to unlock the door.” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 27 April 1911)

Photo credit: Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum (sourced: Jo Lewis)

1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

1932: Became East End Methodist Church. (Jo Lewis)

1939-1978: Trust minutes, East End Methodist Church, Chacewater. Minutes of trustees’ meetings, 1939-1977, and Church Council, 1977-1978. (Kresen Kernow MRT/521)

1979: Chacewater East End Chapel closed and the congregation joined Chacewater Methodist Chapel (formerly Wesleyan) in Station Road. (David Easton)

Circa 1978: The congregation amalgamated with the Wesleyan Chapel moving into the Station Road Chapel, until around 2001 when the congregation moved to the Village Hall. (Jo Lewis)

Chacewater (East End) Primitive Methodist chapel, was converted to flats. Local stone rubble with elvan dressings. Classical style with round-arched openings. 3-bay pedimented front with traceried windows and good doorway with original spoked fanlight. Closed circa 1980, listed in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

Having been converted to residential and storage, it was being used for this when this profile was compiled in 2021. (Jo Lewis)

Chacewater Primitive Methodist Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)

Sundry aspects of chapel history is held at Kresen Kernow: https://kresenkernow.org/SOAP/search/RelatedNameCode.keyword/CRO|UK|356