Mapping Methodism – Chynhale (Trevarno) Wesleyan Chapel

Chynhale is a village in west Cornwall to the south of Nancegollan. This Profile of Chynhale Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Taking the east turn from Crowntown to Chynhale, the chapel is on the left (north of road) after the crossroads, having passed the old school on the right.

Listed Building (II) 65925: GATE PIERS, GATES AND FLANKING WALLS SOUTH OF CHYNHALE METHODIST CHURCH. Listed Building (II) 65924: CHYNHALE METHODIST CHURCH. Wesleyan Methodist chapel by James Hicks for William Bickford-Smith of Trevarno (donor and leading Methodist, the son of William Bickford who invented safety fuse for use in Cornish mines and elsewhere). Built of local rubble with granite dressings with plate traceried windows and porches with nook shafts. Organ apse with vestry transepts. Good interior with hammer-beam roof structure and original fittings. Good forecourt walls with granite gate-piers and cast-iron gates. An excellent Gothic style example with Anglican influence on the plan and features. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

Designed by James Hicks of Redruth for William Bickford-Smith and built by W. Broad of Porthleven. Faced granite rubble brought to course, otherwise dressed granite architectural features with some Bath stone. Concrete tile roofs with coped gable ends. Rendered chimney over the north (ritual east) gable end.

 

15^th April 1878: The concept of building a chapel at Chynhale at a meeting at Trevarno, then home of the Bickford-Smith family. William Bickford-Smith designed the chapel and became its first treasurer, with Mr JR Glasson appointed secretary. (Falmouth Packet)

8^th January 1879: Foundation stone laid. (Falmouth Packet)

1879: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)

1879: Chynhale, or Trevarno, chapel opened. (My Wesleyan Methodists)

Designed by James Hicks of Redruth. (My Wesleyan Methodists)

1^st February 1880: First baptism took place – John Ivey, son of William and Elizabeth Ivey from Prospidnick. (Falmouth Packet)

1880: Two manual organ by Sweetland presented by the three daughters of William Bickford Smith (Annie, Margaret Elizabeth and Emily Venning) in memory of their mother, Margaret Leaman Bickford Smith who died in 1868.

(Photo: Barry West)

(Photo: Barry West)

23^rd November 1881: Stringent rules of burying in the Wesleyan Cemetery at Chynhale Chapel. One interesting snippet is that the sexton’s fees for sinking brick graves was ten shillings (50p) for adults and five shillings (25p) for those of 12 years and under. (Falmouth Packet)

March 1899: Chynhale registered for marriages – prior to that the local registrar had to be present.

20^th April 1900: First marriage recorded in the Chynhale chapel register is that of Thomas Faull, a tin miner, and Mary Williams. (Falmouth Packet)

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

1932: Became Chynhale Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

1940: Seating for 250. (Statistical Returns)

14 Sep 1945-6 Jun 1946: Correspondence, renovation of chapel organ, Chynhale Methodist Church, Sithney. Correspondence and estimate from Sweetland Organ Company, Bath. (Kresen Kernow MRMB/243)

1953: Electricity installed.

1953: Discus Electric Organ Blower installed.

1955: Balance sheet, chapel renovation scheme, Chynhale Methodist Church, Sithney. (Kresen Kernow MRMB/242)

1970: Seating for 170. (Statistical Returns)

1975: Organ restoration by Lance Foy of Truro.

 

These photographs are courtesy of David Philp

1997: Chapel re-dedicated following refurbishment. (Thursday 27 March 1997 West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

2013: Permission granted to convert Sunday school to a dwelling. This is a separate building down the road.

5^th April 2015: Closed as a Methodist Chapel.

2020: Attempt to remove to organ to Italy resisted by the council. Applications: PA20/00274 – Chynhale Methodist Church Chynhale Sithney TR13 0RX – Listed building consent to remove the pipe organ (Sweetland 1880) from the Chynhale Methodist Church which closed in 2015. No other fixtures or fittings will be changed or in any way affected by the organ’s removal. The organ is to be renovated and relocated to St Marks Anglican Church, Florence, Italy. Councillors voted unanimously to object to the above planning application. The Parish Council wish to see evidence that robust efforts had been made to retain the pipe organ, which is an integral aspect of this important, listed heritage building, situated within the Parish of Sithney.

 

Photos: Barry West

2023: The organ at Chynhale Chapel (Sithney) has finally been removed, after several delays and hang ups with planning – council objections etc. The intention is to relocate it to Florence Italy, where some instruments connected with the maker (Sweetland of Bath) have existed previously. It’s always a shame when this happens, but realistically there was no hope of saving it locally. (Clive Ellison)