Canon’s Town or Canonstown is on the main road between Penzance and Hayle. It is southwest of St Erth Railway Station. This profile of Canonstown Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1843 Chapel
The first Wesleyan chapel was on Heather Lane seen on the left as you turn in from the A30. It is now a whitewashed house. Built in 1843, it was replaced by its successor in 1878.
The original Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Canon’s Town is recorded at this location on the 1st Edition 1:2500 1880 OS Map. By 1907 a new chapel had been constructed on a new site on the A 30 to the south, see Wesleyan chapel 138558.Still extant in 1907 but not labelled as a chapel. Extended and converted to a dwelling and shown on the current Mastermap and 2005 County Aerial Imagery. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
1843: Build date.
Seating for 120. (West Penwith Resources)
1851: William Burgess was its minister. (West Penwith Resources)
1873: Survey has it in the St Ives Circuit and reports 120 seats. (West Penwith Resources)
Became the Sunday school.
Converted to dwelling called Old Chapel Bungalow.
1878 Chapel
Wayside Wesleyan chapel with Sunday school added in 1898. Granite rubble with granite dressings under scantle slate roofs. Original chapel has 3-window range front with round-arched windows with glazing bars. Round date panel over later gabled porch between windows towards left. Sunday school is at right angles and projecting in front on the left and has triple ventilator over triple window to front gable end, and doorway under gable to right-hand return between 2 windows, all original horned sashes. Granite-coped road-frontage wall. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
(Photo: Jo Lewis)
1878: Build date. (SWChurches / Plaque)
Built as a Wesleyan Chapel. (SWChurches)
1892: Chyngweal New Connexion and Canonstown Wesleyan Sunday Schools: “… Each school formed a procession, led by the Lelant Downs and St Erth Brass Bands, respectively. The children were regaled with tea and buns, and a public tea followed.” (21 July 1892 – The Cornish Telegraph)
1898: Chapel extended and Sunday school added.
1898: “NEW WESLEYAN SCHOOLROOM AND ENLARGED CHAPEL FOR CANON’S TOWN. Laying Foundation Stones. Recently the Wesleyans of this place purchased the fee of the site on which the chapel stands. The old schoolroom, which was once the old chapel, the lease having expired and being much dilapidated, the trustees resolved to build a new schoolroom and at the same time to enlarge the present chapel. The contract for both was £355. The day for laying the foundation-stones was a red letter one among the young folk and will long remembered by them and others. The juveniles have taken a praiseworthy interest in collecting money for the purpose. On the day of laying the stones there was service held in the chapel instead of on the ground, owing to wet weather. The service was conducted by the circuit ministers. Revs. A. Phillips and Johns, and the Rev. J. W. Genge, of Penzance, who delivered a very interesting address on Sunday-school teaching. Then followed the laying of stones…” (Cornishman – Thursday 01 December 1898)
1932: Became Canonstown Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1935: For some smaller Sunday schools, the cost of hiring a brass band was a major expense and in 1935, at Canonstown, they considered using a radio van instead.
1939: Canonstown: “The Methodist Sunday-school treat was held on Saturday. A procession, headed by Penzance Silver Band, paraded the village, returning to the schoolroom for tea. Buns were distributed to the children …” (27 July 1939 – Cornishman)
1940: Seating for 200. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Methodist historian Cedric Appleby suggests that the tea treat here may have been saved by the war due to the inclusion of many evacuees and the resultant Food Office permits for the supply of tea and sugar. Tea treat saffron buns were, of course, provided.
1977: Printed history, Canonstown Methodist Church, Ludgvan. Canon’s Town Methodist Church, 1878-1978, by Cedric J Appleby, Christmas, 1977. With newspaper cutting showing members at chapel Centenary, 13 April 1978. (Kresen Kernow MRIHY/582)
2001: Closed. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Site used for housing.