Mevagissey is a village, fishing port and civil parish in Cornwall approximately five miles south of St Austell. This profile of Mevagissey Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1753: Wesley visited Mevagissey and preached at a house a mile from the town, Trewinney, the home of James and Mary Lelean (now Trewinney Farmhouse).
Net Loft Chapel
(Photo: Jo Lewis)
In its former days it was a net loft.
John Wesley is reported to have made his first Sermon in Mevagissey here, at the north end of West Wharf.
By 1757: This building became the first Wesleyan Chapel known as Net Loft Chapel.
The top storey was removed and it became the Wheel House Restaurant.
1967: When the 1842 Wesleyan chapel in Fore Street closed the pews were moved to this building where they were used on the first deck.
1842 Chapel
Located in Fore Street, Mevagissey.
Build date: 1842.
Built as a Wesleyan chapel.
Seating for 600.
1878: The new organ Mevagissey Wesleyan chapel was opened on Thursday afternoon, when sermon was preached by the Rev. John Barnett, of Lostwithiel. A public tea was followed by organ recital by Mr. J. O. Cox. of Falmouth. The builders are Messrs. Forster and Andrew, of Hull, and the cost is about £250. (The Cornish Telegraph – Tuesday 06 August 1878)
1878: Registered for marriages.
1889: Chapel to be re-seated. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 03 May 1889)
1892: Chapel renovation. (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 19 May 1892)
1892: Re-opening services. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 22 July 1892)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Fore Street Methodist Church.
1940: Seating for 508. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1967: Closure. (SWChurches)
1967: … that Fore Street Methodist Chapel, Mevagissey. in the registration district of St. Austell. In the County of Cornwall is no longer used as a place of worship by the congregation on whose behalf it was on 13th March. 1878, registered for Marriages In accordance with the Marriage Act. 1836. ha, can. gilled the registration . W. G. SCOWN. Superintendent Registrar. September 8th 1967. (Cornish Guardian – Thursday 21 September 1967)
1903 to 1970: Archived documents exist.
Congregation joined with River Street Chapel. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
The Wesleyan chapel was demolished.
Site developed as flats. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
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)
Photo: Jo Lewis