Mitchell (sometimes known as Michael or St Michael’s) is a village 14 miles (22 km) northeast of Redruth and 17 miles (27 km) west-southwest of Bodmin. Mitchell straddles the old course of the A30 road but a dual carriageway bypass now carries the traffic north of the village. This profile of Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
Wesleyan chapel with attached Sunday school at rear, now being converted to house. Coursed killas rubble with granite dressings and stuccoed brick arches; dry slate roof with crested clay ridge tiles; moulded verge at the front end. Round-arched openings, hoodmoulds at the 2-window front, wide central doorway with panelled doors, late C19 2-light windows with traceried heads. Rubble and granite forecourt walls and wrought-iron railings. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
Wesleyan Chapel. 1845. Uncoursed killas stone, but coursed on south front, with granite quoins to windows. Slate roof with crested ridge tiles. Plan. Gable end to street, with central entrance to cross lobby. Four window bays with schoolroom at north end, with hipped roof. Centre panelled doors within painted arched entrance with hood moulding. Body of hall has raised choir and gallery over entrance. Tall flanking round-headed windows with ashlar red stone arches and granite keystones. Gable coped, with roundel, also with hood mould. Timber window frames of 2-arched lights and circle at head. Two transomes. stained glass of c.1910-20. Side windows similar but glazing bars recurved to form lozenge head. Brick arches and stone key. Diamond pattern glazing. Schoolroom has two round-headed closely spaced windows. Two-flue chimney on rear wall of chapel. Two windows to rear and entrance at side. Interior: Walls rendered and lined as ashlar in black mortar. Panelled boarded ceiling. Fittings probably later C19 and complete. Raised central pulpit slightly cantilevered with curved front. Organ behind, flanked by 3 tiers of choir benches. Iron openwork panelling to front. Body of hall has 31 numbered pine pews in 3 blocks. Screen to lobby under gallery with stained glass lights at centre. Railings around communion table. Side passage to schoolroom, now meeting room. Exposed ceiling trusses and wall dado panelling. Small kitchen annex. (Cornish Methodists and other non-conforming chapels in Cornwall)
Charles Wesley stayed 3 times in the village.
Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis 2021)
Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Barry West)
1845: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
1847: Build date. (SWChurches)
Built as a Wesleyan Chapel. (SWChurches)
The chapel was built as a Wesleyan chapel in or around 1845 by men of the village.
Listed as a Free United Wesleyan Chapel. (UK and Ireland Churches)
1843-1847: Lease, Chapple tenement and site for Methodist chapel, Mitchell. Chapple tenement in St Enoder, 1843, and site for Methodist Chapel at Mitchell, 1847. (Kresen Kernow J/1/328)
1872: Chapel re-opened “after a thorough renovation and considerable improvement”. (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Saturday 12 October 1872)
1890: Tenders being sought for alterations and painting. (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 01 May 1890)
Mitchell Wesley 1890 (Photo: courtesy Lyndon Sid Allen)
20th century: Photograph, Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel. Re-opened 21 September 1905. (Kresen Kernow AD413/35)
1890-1923: Trust minutes, Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel, Newlyn East. (Kresen Kernow MRN/596)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Mitchell Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating for 181. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1989: Closed due to lack of funds needed to renovate and refurbish the building.
1989: Closed. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Unfortunately, with its closure many of the social events had to stop as the Sunday school attached to the chapel was used for parish meetings, children’s parties, jumble sates, Women’s Institute and youth Club meetings.
From 1990s onwards: Planning documents exist to convert the chapel to a house plus possible offices.
Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Barry West)
Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Barry West)
Mitchell Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Barry West)