Boscaswell is in the extreme west of Cornwall, a part of Pendeen. Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell have compiled this profile of Boscaswell Bible Christian Chapel.
A Bible Christian Chapel is recorded on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 1880 and 1907 OS Maps. Associated with house or manse and stables. Extant but converted to another use. (Heritage Gateway)
Non-Conformists. There were chapels here for the Wesleyans, built in 1838, the Bible Christians and United Methodists. (Genuki) We believe that Genuki’s statement is incorrect and that there were chapels for Pendeen Wesleyans and Boscaswell Bible Christians which became a United Methodist Chapel.
The Bible Christian Chapel is noted in various historical documents.
1840: Founded.
Seating for 220.
Built as a United Methodist Church. (SWChurches) Originally Bible Christian.
1851: James Reynolds was steward.
1892: “Pendeen Band played for the non-conformists. The organist at Carnyorth Free Church, Mr J H Ellis, known locally as ‘Boy Jim Henney’, got the Pendeen Band under way in 1892.” (Band website) Thought to relate to the Bible Christians Chapel.
1893: The Rev. F J Horsefield came to Pendeen from Manchester for a year and wrote “A Life in a Cornish Village” and on page 82 we read. “Dissenters have their Sunday School parades accompanied by various bands, followed by tea parties on a large scale. On Midsummer Day, the Church people hold their festival with the schoolchildren perambulating the district to the music of two brass bands, afterwards having buns and tea in a field opposite the Church – (fun, bonfires and gunpowder explosions). The hills resounded to the music produced by the bands.” Thought to relate to the Bible Christians Chapel.
1902: Renovated and re-seated. (Cornishman – Thursday 19 June 1902)
1907: Boscaswell Bible Christian Chapel mentioned. (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 03 October 1907)
1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.
1907: Became Boscaswell United Methodist Chapel.
1907: Part of St Just United Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Boscaswell Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
Part of St Just Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)
1939: “Boscaswell Methodist Sunday-school tea treat was held on Saturday. The parade in the village was headed by Pendeen Silver Band. …” (13 July 1939 – Cornishman)
1940: Seating for 144. (David Easton, Methodist minister and historian)
1944: “The festival of Boscaswell Sunday School was held on Saturday. The parade was headed by Pendeen Silver Band, the children afterwards enjoyed buns and tea in the field…” (20 July 1944 – Cornishman)
1945: “The Summer Festival of the Boscaswell Methodist Sunday-school was held on Saturday. The children paraded the village, headed by the Pendeen Silver Band, and were afterwards served with tea and buns …” (26 July 1945 – Cornishman)
1959: Letter, roof repairs, Boscaswell Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith. Letter from Department for Chapel Affairs, The Methodist Church, concerning grant for roof repairs. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/69)
1965: Letter, consent to close, Boscaswell Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith. Letter from Home Mission Department, The Methodist Church, consenting to closure of chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/70)
1965: Closed. (David Easton, Methodist minister and historian / SWChurches)
1944-1966: Accounts and valuation, Boscaswell Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith. Trust accounts, 1944-1964; valuation of chapel, 1966. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/10)
1967: Correspondence, sale of Boscaswell Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith. Letters from Department for Chapel Affairs, The Methodist Church and Jewell, Hill & Bennett, solicitors, Penzance, concerning sale of chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/71)
Converted to dwelling. (David Easton, Methodist minister and historian)
The Chapel and adjoining Sunday school are now holiday accommodation.