Mapping Methodism – Chacewater Zion (Cox Hill) Bible Christian Chapel

Chacewater is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, situated approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Redruth. This profile of Chacewater Zion Bible Christian Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Bible Christian (Immanuel) chapel, now disused and deteriorating. Stucco with stucco detail. Small wayside example, Italianate style. (Cornwall Council Interactive Map)

Driving towards Chacewater from the west, take the difficult right turn back on itself (High Street) up the hill. At the top of the hill, just before Truro tractors, there is an unmade track on the left. The Chapel can be found on the left.

 

Circa 1830 Chapel

circa 1830 (local knowledge): Build date.

Billy Bray from Twelveheads used to preach here.

There was also a Sunday school now an artist’s studio.

1858: There are places of worship for Baptists, Bryanites, and Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. (Topographical Dictionary of England which may be the building)

1880 maps show a Bible Christian chapel here.

Chapel demolished to make way for new chapel on same site.

The former Sunday school (Photo: Jo Lewis 2021)

Opposite the Zion Chapel (in the drive) is the old Sunday school which is clearly marked on maps. It was adjacent to the 1830 Bible Christian Chapel which was demolished and may even have pre-dated it and been an earlier chapel.

20 Jul 1903: Copy annual tenancy agreement, Zion Bible Christian Chapel, Cox Hill, Kenwyn. Parties: 1) Viscount Falmouth. 2) Representatives of Bible Christian Society. Chapel, Sunday School, trap house and furnace house (17 perches) at Creegbrawse, Kenwyn. Rent: 10 shillings. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1317)

12 Jul 1903: Lease, Zion Bible Christian Chapel, Creegbrawse, Kenwyn. Parties: 1) Right Honourable Evelyn Edward Thomas, Viscount Falmouth 2) Thomas Pengelly, grocer, Redruth, Joseph Jeffery, miner, James Ham, shoemaker, Thomas George Manley, miner and William Wilks, butcher, all of Kenwyn, representatives of Zion Bible Christian Chapel [Zion Cox Hill]. Yearly lease of chapel, Sunday School, trap house and furnace house, 17 perches in all. Rent: 10 shillings. Note attached ‘Providence (Wheal Busy) is a counterpart agreement to this.’ (Kresen Kernow MRMRC/126)

The Sunday school became an artist’s studio.

 

1905 Chapel

Zion or Cox Hill Methodist Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis 2021)

1895: Build date. (Cornwall Council Interactive Map) Seemingly early unless there was a long build period.

1905: The new chapel was built, at a perpendicular, over the site of the older chapel.

1905: The erection of the new Bible Christian chapel is now an accomplished fact, and the formal opening ceremony is to take place on the 30^th inst. (Cornishman – Thursday 30 March 1905)

Built as a Bible Christian chapel. (SWChurches)

Seating for 170. (David Easton)

1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.

1907: Became a United Methodist chapel. (SWChurches)

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

1932: Became Zion or Cox Hill Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

1964: Certificate of registration, Zion Methodist Church, Cox Hill, Kenwyn. Certificate of registration as place of religious worship. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1318)

1963-1969: Register of baptisms, Zion Methodist Church, Cox Hill, Kenwyn. Entries for 1963 and 1969 only. (MRR/3081)

3 Oct 1972: Consent for closure and sale, Zion Methodist Church, Cox Hill, Kenwyn. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1996)

1972: Closed. (David Easton / SWChurches)

(Source West Briton 24^th September 1972 / David Philp)

(Source West Briton 24^th September 1972 / David Philp)

Premises sold. (SWChurches)

Converted to dwelling. (David Easton)