Mapping Methodism – Porthallow Bible Christian Chapel

Porthallow is a small fishing village on the east coast of The Lizard peninsula to the south of the Helford River. It sits between the two neighbouring villages of St Keverne and Roskorwell. This profile of Porthallow Bible Christian Village has been compiled by Terry Moyle.

 

First Porthallow Bible Christian Chapel

Built before 1841

Calvinistic (according to Lewis Hayden in his account of Porthallow Methodism 1950)

Bible Christian (according to life – long Porthallow resident Muriel Webb)

On Moor (Fiery Mountain field)

The Chapel stood on the site of the present house on extreme right

Both William O’Bryan and James Thorne visited Porthallow and stayed at his great grandfather’s farm at Porthkerris (Lewis Hayden)

Destroyed by fire & demolished

“Carisbrooke” built on site (home of Muriel Webb nee Bastian)

 

Second Porthallow Bible Christian Chapel

Porthallow c.1890 BC chapel on Roskorwell Hill

1970s sketch of Porthallow old chapel

Built 1841

First baptism 1841

Preaching Plan 1868 & 1878 two Sunday services & Tuesday evening service

Samuel Bryant was a BC local preacher and used to walk miles to take services – he even walked from Porthallow to Carnkie and back (an 18 mile journey each way) and called his walk to Ruan Minor (9 miles each way) a “handy journey” (Lewis Hayden)

Sunday School met in the chapel on Sunday afternoons

Choir – Edward White in choir (1840s) – he was the village carpenter

BC Magazine 1855 – Obituary – Loveday Exelby was one of the earliest BC members at Porthallow.

By 1898 poor state of repair

1838-1900 – 113 baptisms

Demolished

New BC chapel built on site

 

Third Porthallow Bible Christian Chapel

6 Foundation stones laid 14 July 1898 – Charles Tripp (Sunday School), Joseph Bryant (Trustees), Master Herbert Allen (Roskorwell), Clifford Nicholls in memory of his father, Miss Collins (Gweek) and Mrs. Edwin Rule (St. Keverne, visitor’s stone)

Bigger than previous BC chapel – both in length (8ft.) and width (2 ft.)

School room and vestries underneath

Capacity 130

Architect – W. P George, Mullion

Contractors – William John Nicholls & Sons (St. Keverne) and Cook (Rosevear, Mawgan in Meneage)

Formally opened September 1899

Porthallow c. 1920

Strong choir in 1960s – always sang “This is the Field” (Sankey type hymn) at evening Harvest Festival service

1916-1979 – 86 baptisms

Family names associated with Porthallow chapel – Bryant, White, Tripp, Rashleigh, Hayden. Pearce, Bastian, Nicholls, Pill, Tonkin, Jewell, Sobey, Noye, Smitheram and Peters

Strong link with fishing, farming and coastguard families

1970s sketch

Porthallow Chapel 1970s

Easter 1975

Closed 1987

Members joined St. Keverne Methodist Chapel

Dwelling