Mevagissey is a village, fishing port and civil parish in Cornwall approximately five miles south of St Austell. This profile of Mevagissey Primitive Methodist Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
There was a Primitive Methodist society in Mevagissey but no chapels in the early circuit.
Wesley was a friend of the Dunn family and probably also stayed at their house, now the Haven Restaurant in Fore Street. Captain James Dunn, known as the old Reprobate and his son of the same name, also a sea captain, were influential men and smugglers, though James junior gave up the occupation when he became a Methodist in 1805. In the next generation the captains son, Samuel Dunn (1798-1882), became one of the leaders of the Methodist Reformers throughout the country in the 1850s. Samuel was a minister in the Primitive Methodist Church and lived in Mevagissey. Mevagissey local history suggests that numbers 9-14 Bank Terrace housed the first Methodist chapel in Mevagissey. Although this is not marked on any maps this part of Bank Terrance is listed cottages and it is possible that this is where the first Primitive Methodist Society had their meetings.
Mevagissey Bank Terrace. Early C19 terrace. (No No.13). Stucco. 2 storeys. No 14 forms end wing at right angles. 12 windows overall, sashes with glazing bars. Modern
doors, narrow rectangular fanlights. Glazed porches. Cement-washed slate
roof, hipped wing. No 8 is earlier and slate hung above ground floor,
lower roof line. https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101210778-8-12-bank-terrace-see-details-for-further-address-information-mevagissey#.XSYvAS3MxBw
1827: Sinners were saved and societies termed at Mevagissey, Lostwithiel, New Mills, St Blazey, Polgooth, Tregonissey, Biscovey, Mendew, Kessely and Tregrehain Mills, at the last four mentioned places, chapels were erected. During the same year, 1827… ‘The History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion from its origin, by John Petty, 1860, p198-9. http://ukwells.org/wells/st-austell-circuit-primitive-methodists
1870-72: John Marius Wilson’s Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Mevagissey: There are chapels for Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists, and a national school.—The sub-district contains also three other parishes. https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/3413
Circa 1980: Note, history of Wesleyan Chapel, Mevagissey. Card printed with information about the first Wesleyan Chapel in Mevagissey built in Bank Terrace and the replacement chapel built in Fore Street. Card appears to have been used as a caption for a floral display. Found loose inside copy of ‘A History of Mevagissey Methodists 1752-1980.’ by Robert C Murrish. (Kresen Kernow MRA/1724)