Mapping Methodism – Madron Wesleyan Chapel

Madron is a village in west Cornwall, a few miles west of Penzance. This 1848 map shows the Chapel on the right side of the Fore Street leading out of Madron towards Morvah: the Penzance Union Workhouse is shown on the same side. There were two chapels on this road, Primitive and Wesleyan and this article concerns the latter. This profile has been compiled by Val Thomas.

1760: John Wesley’s journal says he preached at Madron then rode to St Just.

1799: The 100-year lease for a piece of land was obtained from “the grandfather of the late Mr Adams” on 29^th September. Prior to this, services appear to have been held in various places.

1800: A chapel is mentioned in writings as being present opposite the current building.

1815: Services were held at 10.30 and 6.00pm. Methodists also attended Sunday School and services in the church. This co-operation between places of worship still carries on today.

1819: The Sunday school was opened by Rev James Carne. Hours were from 9.00am to a little before 11.00am when the scholars were marched in procession to the Church. The church service lasted until a little before 1.00pm

1821: There was midweek service and the chapel had a membership of 34 with two class leaders.

1824: An excerpt from “In Spite Of Dr Borlase” gives the names of the 26 Madron Methodist chapel members. My Grandfather Dale’s family have three members and my Grandmother Jenkin’s family have three members.

1826: The morning service is no longer held but the walls of the chapel were raised high enough to admit a new gallery being erected at the opposite end to the pulpit. There were no pews besides the choir pew. Forms without backs occupied the body of the chapel.

1833: A Wesleyan Chapel was erected in St Clare Street, Penzance, due to rising numbers. Presumably, people attended the Madron chapel from Penzance until then.

1833: Bishop Philpotts came to confirm candidates from all the Parishes in the west. They wore black silk gowns and Methodists were confirmed as well as young church people.

1839: Boswarthen chapel was opened by the curate of the church, the Rev John Hall (more information on this chapel in a separate document)

1840: Wesley Rock chapel was built in Heamoor. Heamoor was at this time a relatively small settlement between Madron and Penzance.

The religious census says that the Primitive Methodist chapel was built. It seated 60 and on census day 20 people attended. The chapel was on lease.

1851: Madron Chapel is the oldest one recorded in the circuit.

1856: Midweek services are now fortnightly.

1873 December 3^rd: A newspaper article mentions that the old chapel had two levels. The “Good Anchorage” lodge of the independent Order of Good Templars held a meeting in the chapel building and it was filled with scores of people unable to gain admission. This was a Temperance meeting at which there was dialogue and singing.

1885: The harmonium was sold for £20.

1888 June 21^st: The Cornish Telegraph states that the Madron Wesleyan Chapel had been closed for renovation and the services had been held in the Local Board Room. On the Sunday previous to the article the chapel had re-opened and the collection was £3.5s, which was good. There had been a storm two years earlier which had caused damage to the chapel and the roof of the Union Workhouse.

1899: The Adams family continued to allow worship in the chapel and in September, the 99^th anniversary was held.

1902: Notice was given to quit and deliver up the chapel to Ambrose and Beatrice Taylor, the landowners. A new lease was obtained from the Bolitho family on a piece of land opposite the chapel and the first stone laid in the June.

1903: The new chapel was opened in January but it is thought services did not begin immediately.

No images remain of the chapel as such, and the land it stood on has been redeveloped. However, it does appear in the background of an image which the Friggens family have agreed to share. It was probably taken in the 1950s and shows the chapel in disrepair on the left, with a patched roof. The replacement chapel is on the right. In the photo are: John, Angela, Randal. Liz, Caroline and Jeff Friggens. This photo was kindly shared by Phil Westren who married into the family.