Flushing is a coastal village three miles (5 km) east of Penryn and 10 miles (16 km) south of Truro. It faces Falmouth across the Penryn River, an arm of the Carrick Roads. This profile of Flushing Wesleyan Chapel, Kersey Street / High Street, has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
Wesleyan chapel. Re-fitted late C19. Render replacing stucco to front, painted rubble to sides and rear. 2 round-arched window openings flanking wide square-headed doorway to front, original 40-pane sashes to side walls. Interior has panelled end gallery on Tuscan columns; late C19 rostrum with fluted pilasters and turned balustrade, and simple pitch-pine pews. Listed in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
The Methodist chapel is located in Kersey Road and, built in 1816, is the oldest building in the Falmouth and Gwennap circuit. There was also a Bible Christian chapel in Kersey Road (built in 1833) and a Primitive Methodist chapel in Coventry Road (built in 1866). (Wikipedia)
Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
Part of Falmouth Wesleyan Circuit. (SWChurches)
Flushing Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis 2021)
1816: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
It was part of the Falmouth and Gwennap Circuit.
The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel built in 1815, Bible Christians had one built in 1833, and Primitive Methodist had a chapel built in 1866 here. (Genuki)
1884: Tenders invited for renovating the chapel. (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 30 August 1884)
1897: “FALMOUTH. Flushing Wesleyan Chapel is be renovated and improved. Mr. Horace W. Collins, architect and surveyor, Redruth. been engaged prepare plane in order that tenders may be invited. (Cornishman – Thursday 15 July 1897)
1898: “Flushing: Wesleyan Chapel Re-opening. Flushing Wesleyan Chapel has, during the past few months, been undergoing a thorough renovation, and has been reseated and supplied with a new rostrum, Communion rail, lamps, &c. Re-opening services were held on Friday…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 27 October 1898)
1848-1904: Trust minutes, Flushing Wesleyan Chapel, Mylor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/25)
1904: Chapel re-opened following renovations. (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Friday 05 August 1904)
1908: Tenders invited for re-roofing and paining. (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Friday 26 June 1908)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Part of Falmouth Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)
1905-1948: Trust minutes, Flushing Methodist Church, Mylor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/182)
1893-1956: Minutes, Leaders’ meetings, Flushing Methodist Church, Mylor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/184)
1957-1970: Minutes, Leaders’ meetings, Flushing Methodist Church, Mylor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/185)
1948-1977: Trust minutes, Flushing Methodist Church, Mylor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/183)
2016: The chapel closed during its 200th anniversary year in 2016.
In its 200th anniversary year the chapel was closed for public worship owing to declining membership. The chapel has now been declared as “purpose fulfilled” while community leaders – supported by the Methodist Circuit – seek a new use for the building. (Wikipedia)
The chapel organ, lectern, gallery pulpit, baptismal fount, many smaller artefacts, two marble wall memorials, several brass memorial plates, some original 1816 seating and the entire contents of the Sunday School have all been preserved. Several original oil lamps from the 1866 Primitive Methodist Chapel in Coventry Road are also preserved. The Trustees gifted these objects to The Cornish Heritage Collection at Poldark Mine, 11 miles from Flushing, and they were moved there in 2016. The pipe organ is in working order and may be played by visitors. (Wikipedia)
Youtube video showing the inside of the chapel just before it shut (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StsazH3hors)
Flushing Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Barry West)