Mapping Methodism – Berepper (Beripper) Gunwalloe United Methodist Chapel

Berepper is a coastal village in south Cornwall on the west side of the Lizard peninsula, four miles south of Helston, near Gunwalloe. This profile of Berepper UMFC has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

By the north side of the road in the west of the village.

The site of a chapel recorded “Methodist Chapel (United)” on the 1st Edition OS map c1880 (b1) and “Methodist Chapel Free United” on the 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS map c1907 (b2). The footprint of the earlier building seems not to fit the modern OS map (b3), building which both narrower and longer building. The modern building is named “Foxgloves” and “Chapel House”, suggesting that the earlier chapel has been demolished and two semi-detached dwelling built on the site, with the only reference to the previous function of the site is “Chapel House”. (Heritage Gateway)

 

Pre 1880: Build date.

Documents show that the chapel was in use by the Wesleyans and the United Methodists and was known as Union Church.

1889: GUNWALLOE. U.M.F.C. On Wednesday the Free Methodists held their annual social tea. (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 17 January 1889)

September 1902: Plan, new schoolroom, Beripper United Methodist Free Church, Gunwalloe. Plan of new schoolroom, United Methodist Free Church, Berrepper, Gunwalloe. Includes: front elevation, section, plan, block plan. By Charles W Hodgson, architect, St John’s Road, Walthamstow. (Kresen Kernow BRA2214/1)

1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.

1920: Methodist Unity At Gunwalloe. Dedication Of Union Chapel. Union Chapel, which was dedicated at Gunwalloe on Wednesday, marks an important step in the history of Nonconformity in the locality. Formerly there were two Nonconformist places of worship in the parish, but the shortage of ministers, necessitated, as war measure, the holding of combined services conducted alternately by the preacher of the respective denominations This war measure having been attended with such satisfactory results, it was decided to continue it, and in order to accommodate the combined congregation the Wesleyan Chapel has been utilised as a school, and the Methodist Free Church has been enlarged, a pipe organ installed, and the building renamed Union Chapel. At the dedication gathering on Wednesday the event was referred to as the first fruits of Methodist Union, and as furnishing an object lesson to village Methodism. The proceedings were taken part by the ministers of the and United Methodist Churches and others. Mr. J. Thomas, who presided luncheon, said that they were forming a basis whereupon to build a greater union. One of the chief obstacles the evangelisation of England and the world was disunion among them. There was nothing divide them; they could pool their resources, and it would be a cure for overlapping in 1,200 villages England. The step taken at Gunwalloe was an example for the district and a lead to the country. In the afternoon sermon was preached to a large congregation by the Rev. E. E. Bennett, of Truro, and public meeting was held in the evening. (Cornishman – Wednesday 24 November 1920)

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

1932: Became Beripper (Berepper) Methodist Church.

1940: Seating for 150. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1964-1967: Papers, freehold, Gunwalloe Methodist Church. Papers relating to the trust and acquisition of freehold. (Kresen Kernow MRH/419)

1970: Maps show it as Gunwalloe Methodist Church.

1974: Sunday school for sale. (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 18 April 1974)

1974: Papers, sale of Sunday School, Gunwalloe Methodist Church. (Kresen Kernow MRH/420)

1975: Closure date. (SWChurches) This would appear to relate to the Sunday school.

1981: Closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1981-1986: Papers, sale of Gunwalloe Methodist Church. (Kresen Kernow MRH/421)

It is now residential

(Photo: Sarah Davis)