Lelant Down lies northwest of Canonstown. This profile of Lelant Downs Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
The Wesleyan chapel is north of Lelant Downs village, at Bowl Rock.
Methodist chapel, now converted to house. Probably mid C19. Granite rubble with granite moorstone dressings except for brick heads to the round arches; half-hipped roof but heightened when converted. 3-window range to each side plus end entrance within porch. Near the famous “Bowl Rock” that was probably used as a Methodist preaching site before the chapel was built. (Cornwall Heritage gateway)
1 Jan 1834: Lease, Lelant Downs Wesleyan Chapel, Lelant. Parties: 1) Henry Hosking, gentleman, of Lelant. 2) Roger Wearne esquire, Richard Kernick, mine agent, Henry Willey, shipwright, Chris Robins Solomon, excise officer and Richard Dennis Rodda, printer, all of St Ives, and Henry Brush, farmer, William Quick, farmer, William Cooper, gardener, William Nicholas, farmer, Richard Dunn, miner, James Pearce, farmer, John Cogar, blacksmith, Francis Perry, agent, Peter Thomas, miner and Robert Bryant, farmer, all of Lelant. Lease by 1) to 2) of three-cornered plot, part of garden in Lelant in occupation of James Leacher, extending northwards to a river or water lane, westwards to the public road, southwards to within six feet of James Leacher’s dwelling house and eastwards to extent of plot. Term: 1 year. (Kresen Kernow MRIHY/93)
Circa 1834: Build date. (SWChurches)
Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
1926: “LELANT DOWNS WESLEYANS CHAPEL RE-OPENED BY MRS. JOHN HOLMAN. The little Wesleyan chapel at Lelant Downs, which has been undergoing redecoration at a cost of £84, was formally re-opened by Mrs. John Holman, of Carbis Bay, on Saturday. The building not only looks considerably better, as a result of the work, but is, according to the Rev. W. E. Wallis (minister in charge) a good deal safer for those who worship there. It is a quiet little chapel, set well off the main road, though not so far off it was a year ago, before the corner was cut away, and the road brought between the chapel and the Bowl Rock… the Rev. Wallis reviewed the happenings which led to the re-decoration. Two years ago, he said, the friends at Lelant Downs woke to the fact that the chapel was unsafe, and so, about Christmas 1924, a bazaar held, and was realized. The work was postponed several times, for various reasons, but it had been completed, and now they had a chapel worthy of the name. He paid a tribute to the work of the contractor (Mr. Southcott) who would not accept a penny more than his tender of £84, although he had done a lot of extra work…” (Cornishman – Wednesday 25 August 1926)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Lelant Downs Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating for 140. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1964: Shown on maps as Lelant Downs Methodist Church.
1967: Closure. (SWChurches / David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1966-1967: Papers, sale of Lelant Downs Methodist Church, Lelant. Papers relating to sale of chapel premises, chapel was sold 27 July 1967 for £800. (Kresen Kernow MRIHY/98)
1967: Sold. (SWChurches)
It is now a private house.
Lelant Downs Wesleyan chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)