Penryn is a town on the Penryn River about one mile northwest of Falmouth. This profile of Penryn Bible Christan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
There was a Bible Christian society in Penryn from 1822-1824 onward, at first in people’s homes. The Trade Directories from 1830 onward refer to a Bryanite or Bible Christian ‘Place of Worship’ in the town so it was built around or before that time. The Bible Christians flourished in Penryn in and 1866 a new chapel was built on West Street. (https://www.penryncornwall.com/bible-christians-in-penryn.htm)
“The said Indenture of September 12th 1829 identifies the understanding that the first Bible Christian Chapel in Penryn was on Lower Street [then known as Fore Street] near the junction with Truro Lane. The agreement was between a Mr Francis Major of the Borough of Penryn and Mr Joel Morcom, a mine agent acting on behalf of the Bible Christians. We must assume that the Bible Christians built their Chapel there in 1829/1830 because [1] the Trade Directories from 1830 onward refer to a Bryanite or Bible Christian ‘Place of Worship’ in the town; [2] that when they moved into their new Chapel in 1866, reference is made to an older Chapel; and [3] the Tithe Map of February 1845 identifies a Chapel belonging to the “Wesleyan Methodist Society” on Fore Street. As on the same document a Wesleyan Society Chapel is also identified on Chapel Row, it seems that there is an error concerning the designation of the Fore Street Chapel.” (https://www.penryncornwall.com/bible-christians-in-penryn.htm)
1820s Chapel
Believed to be the first chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)
The first Bible Christian Chapel was on the North side of Lower street approximately opposite Chapel Lane. Exact location is lost. But this low white building stands out from the houses around it.
12 Sep 1829: Assignment of lease, West Street Bible Christian Chapel, Penryn. Parties: 1) Francis Major, mason, of Penryn. 2) Joel Morcum, mine agent, of Penryn, on behalf of the people called Bible Christians. Piece of land (34×24 feet) for building chapel. Recites lease of 24 June 1818. Consideration: £10. (Kresen Kernow MRMRC/164)
27 Nov 1848: Assignment of lease, West Street Bible Christian Chapel, Penryn. Parties: 1) Officers of Devon & Cornwall Banking Co, mortgagees of Joel Morcum. 2) Chapel trustees. Bible Christian Chapel. Consideration: £19 19 shillings. (Kresen Kernow MRMRC/165)
1866 Chapel
Coming into Penryn from the north on West Street (from the West side) the old chapel is on the left.
Built as a Bible Christian chapel. It later became a United Methodist Chapel following the amalgamation of the Bible Christians, United Methodist Free Church and Methodist New Connexion. It then became a Methodist Church following further amalgamation in 1932 (1, 2, 3). It is now converted to six flats and altered. Rock-faced granite with plain granite dressings; dry slate roof. Pedimented front with terminal piers surmounted by ball finials. Round-arched openings to ground floor, altered above. Name and date plaque defaced. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
(Photo: Jo Lewis)
1866: Bible Christian Chapel in West Street (also known as New Street) build date. (Genuki / Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
1866: West Street Bible Christian Chapel opened. (SWChurches)
Sunday December 23rd of 1866: Chapel opened for worship.
1902: “Penryn Bible Christian Chapel was reopened Thursday after restoration. An organ and choir loft has been built, vestry and have been added, the ventilation of the building has been greatly improved, and brass chandeliers and pulpit lights have been in…” (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 19 September 1902)
1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.
1907: Became West Street United Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became West Street Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating for 400. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1942: The West Street society joined together with Penryn Wesley when both sets of premises were damaged by bombing. (SWChurches)
A small group broke away and returned to the West Street premises as an independent society not included on the circuit plan or contributing to the Falmouth circuit. (SWChurches)
1940s-79: The West Street premises used by ‘semi-detached’ Methodists. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
December 1979: The members amalgamated again, and the West Street premises were sold. (SWChurches)
Converted to flats. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)