Mapping Methodism – Godolphin Cross / Herland Cross Bible Christian Chapel

Godolphin Cross is a village in the civil parish of Breage, midway between the towns of Hayle and Helston. This profile of Godolphin Cross / Herland Cross Bible Christian Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Bible Christian, later Methodist chapel. Original 1844 chapel converted to schoolroom when new chapel added in front in 1934. Original chapel granite and elvan rubble with granite dressings under a half-hipped roof; 1934 chapel dressed granite brought to course and with granite dressings. Gothic style with pointed arches under hoodmoulds; angle buttresses to front corners; gabled tripartite porch with traceried head to doorway. Rendered road-frontage wall with granite gate-piers. Interesting late example. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

Godolphin Methodist Church still (in 2008) worships every Sunday. It was a Bible Christian (BC) chapel, originally known as Herland Cross; the old BC part of it contains one of the rare Bible Christian Missionary Society memorial plaques. It became part of the United Methodist (UM) Church in 1907. The UMs became part of the Methodist Church in 1932 along with the Wesleyans and the Primitive Methodists.

 

1832 Chapel

There was formerly a Bible Christian chapel here of which there are now no remains. (Genuki)

1832: Meeting House built in 1832 at Ruth Dower, close to the centre of Godolphin. (Genuki)

 

1844 Chapel

1842: A much larger place was built in the centre of the village. (Genuki)

1844: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

Built as a Bible Christian chapel. (SWChurches)

1859: The chapel was demolished and an even larger one built on the site. (Genuki) No reference has been found elsewhere and it seems unlikely to be correct.

1879: Considerable expenditure on the chapel. (The Cornish Telegraph – Wednesday 08 October 1879)

1887-1893: Minutes, Band of Hope, Herland Cross Bible Christian Chapel, Breage. Also known as Godolphin Bible Christian Chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/29)

1904: Raising money towards the cost of a new schoolroom.) Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 28 July 1904)

1906: “To meet the needs the Society, Herland Cross Bible Christians have found necessary to have new building erected, either for a place of worship or a Sunday school. It the building be a new chapel, the present one will be utilized principally for Sunday school purposes. The success attending the efforts to made obtain funds will evidently determine the matter. However, it is generally thought a new chapel will be built.” (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 20 December 1906)

1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.

1907: Became a United Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

1914: “Helston Temperance Band, under Mr. F. James, attended the tea treats of Coverack Bridges (Tuesday), and (Wesleyan) and Herland Cross (Saturday) …” (16 July 1914 – Cornishman)

1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

1932: Became Herland Cross Methodist Church or Godolphin Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

1927-1933: Trust minutes, Herland Cross Methodist Church, Breage. Notes on organ renovation fund at rear of book, 1950-1952. Church otherwise known as Godolphin United Methodist Church. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/72)

 

1934 Chapel

Original 1844 chapel can be seen at the rear, a small building with rising seats now converted to school room.

Godolphin Chapel Date Plaque (Photo: Paul Phillips)

1934: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway / Plaque)

1934: New chapel built next to existing building. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1934: “GODOLPHIN METHODISTS OPENING NEW CHURCH. Erected at a cost of £1,600, this new Methodist Church at Godolphin was formally opened Friday afternoon. The new church is a very attractive building and marks a great advance in artistic sense from the barnlike structures of the past. It has a dressed granite frontage, and the interior has been furnished with pitch pine pews and will seat 120 people. The pulpit is of carved oak and has been built into a corner of the church, instead occupying a central position as is the case generally in Methodist churches. It has been built adjoining the old. church, which will in future be used as schoolroom. The windows are of stained glass, and electric light has been installed. Mr. S. Parsons, Holsworthy, was and Messrs. N. J. Jory and Sons, Connor Downs, the contractors. is matter of congratulation to the local society that the church has been opened practically free debt, more particularly view of the fact that the district is very sparsely populated…” (Cornishman – Thursday 03 May 1934)

1844 Chapel converted to schoolroom. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway / David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1901-1949: Minutes, Sunday School teachers’ meetings, Herland Cross Methodist Church, Breage. Otherwise known as Godolphin Methodist Church. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/73)

1949-1963: Minutes, Sunday School teachers’ meetings, Herland Cross Methodist Church, Breage. Otherwise known as Godolphin Methodist Church. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/74)

(Photo: Paul Phillips)

1949: Closure. (SWChurches / Kresen Kernow)

Circa 2016: Godolphin Chapel was put on the market and Sheikh Mohammod bin Rashid Al Maktoum bought it and gave it to the village as a community building. Godolphin House is a mere stones-throw from the chapel and was the seat of the famous Godolphin family who owned the Arab stallion from whence all thoroughbreds have been bred. The Sheik is now the owner of this very important stud and racing team. The village committee applied to him for funds and he bought it for them. (Paul Phillips, Federation of Old Cornwall Societies Dialect Recorder)

Now the village hall.