Mapping Methodism – Trezelah Wesleyan Chapel, Gulval

Trezelah is a hamlet located near Gulval. This profile of Trezelah Wesleyan Chapel, Gulval has been compiled by Val Thomas of St Ives Old Cornwall Society.

The old Trezelah chapel apparently (Photo: Cornishman 16th December 1948/Val Thomas)

Image: The chapel at Hellesveor from St Ives Museum – David Allen collection

One newspaper article says the chapel was located adjoining the Old Sunday School, another says opposite the farmhouse. I cannot discern exactly where the original site was.

Trezelah is a hamlet which was once a more populated area than it is now: in the 1800’s it contained some 200 people according to a newspaper report. ‘Until the early 1930’s people knew it for its annual Good Friday tea treat when children paraded with a band playing, stalls lined the road, tea and huge saffron buns were consumes in the schoolroom and all the young people engaged in kissing-rings until the shades of evening fell’. (The Cornishman, Thursday August 28 1947). ‘In time all this vanished… and chapel and Sunday-school came to mean a small gathering of faithful ones in Mrs Sampson’s front room.’ Trezelah is located near to Chysauster ancient village and Castle an Dinas Quarry. It is in the parish of Madron.

West Penwith Resources – part 3 -chapels

The Centre Newlyn. Report on chapels.

The old chapel seated 100 hearers according to The Cornish Telegraph, Thursday February 8 1906.

1842 Mr Henry Hosking attended a revival service at Trezelah at which he was converted. This must have been the year the chapel was first built.

1879 The Cornish Telegraph, Thursday evening, May 27. Trezelah bought ‘the gashley-looking ammonia’ from Mousehole chapel.

1880 A service of song was held for the first time in March.

1896 The Cornishman: Thursday 20^th February – Mr Henry Hosking’s funeral account contained details about his life. Apparently he was converted at a revival-service at Trezelah on the first Sunday in May,

1904 Advert for builders. The Cornishman March 24.

The stone laying took place in June 1904 on Midsummer-day. The site was kindly given by Mr. R. F. Bolitho and £450 had already been raised towards the cost of building. Twenty-six stones were laid. Mr Charles Sampson was the treasurer. The old chapel was owned freehold by this time and had no debt. At this time, the Sunday-school had between 70 and 80 children in addition to 20 teachers and office bearers.

Removed and rebuilt at Hellesveor, St Ives. TR26 2HN

1905 Trezelah New Wesleyan Chapel opening. The Cornish Telegraph, Thursday 15^th June (abridged).

The chapel had 150 sittings and cost £880. Six massive brass lamps were suspended from the ceiling and there was a small vestry at the side of the building. It must have had an organ as there was an advert for an organist being needed in March 1905.

1907 The first wedding to be held in the new Church was conducted. John Stevens from Madron was the groom and Edith May Penberthy of Kenneggy* the bride. * Spelling as in the newspaper.

1909 The Cornishman, Thursday January 14^th: ‘Mr F. L. Cole, the organist of Trezelah Wesleyan Chapel, left on Monday morning last for Manchester. Mr Reseigh, of Fore Street Newlyn has succeeded him. …. he was also a teacher in the Sunday-school, and secretary of the Band of Hope….’

1912 May 9^th The Cornishman. The Penzance Wesleyan bazaar was held in St John’s Hall: proceeds were to help chapels in difficulty and Trezelah was in debt. Mr Holman was treasurer of the trust and said £2,000 would make their debt extinct.

1911 Trezelah chapel was advertising for an organist in The Cornishman newspaper. Apply Charles Sampson.

On August 3^rd The Cornishman: ‘Trezelah Wesleyan School, accompanied by several friends, took their outing on Saturday to Hayle Towans. Jersey cars supplied by Mr Friggens. Leaving the Sunday-school at 10 am they arrived at mid-day. Soon after dinner a thunderstorm broke over the neighbourhood which caused the party to remain indoors. The time was whiled away as best they could. A lady presided at the piano, while one or two kept up the spirits of the others by adding a few songs. The storm over, games were freely indulged until time for tea at 5. From tea time till 7.30 the majority spent on the sands. Badger’s Cross was reached at 9.30 and despite the storm the general expression was one of pleasantness.’

1935 The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph December 12th: ‘The meeting recommended that the old chapel at Trezelah, now used as a schoolroom, should be sold, and that the new chapel should be divided, one part to be devoted to public services and the other part to the Sunday-school’.

1936 The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph, Thursday March 19^th: Quarterly meeting Penzance (Chapel Street) Methodist Circuit. ‘The meeting recommended that the chapel at present in use at Trezelah be sold and the former chapel be renovated and reconditioned for worship.’

The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph, Thursday November 5^th advertised for sale

The pews and rostrum were sold separately, as was the east stained-glass window with granite surrounds and mullions.

1938 The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph Thursday 6^th January: ‘Hands across the Sea’. The chapel is now erected at Hellesveor, having been moved stone by stone. Some of the money to purchase this chapel building from Trezelah came from Cornish boys in America. Mr Colan Williams, the blind organist from Hellesveor formed a carol choir which sang in the streets to raise money. It replaced the original old church at Hellesveor which was erected in 1844. The new building seats about 160 people but so many were present at the opening ceremony that extra accommodation had to be provided. The old chapel building remained as a Sunday-school.

1939 Penzance (Chapel Street) Methodist Church Quarterly meeting: The plot of land where the chapel formerly stood at Trezelah was still on the market for sale according to The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph March 16^th.

1947 Obituary. The Cornishman, Thursday August 28^th; Mrs Charles Sampson’s obituary which describes her life and links to the chapel.

1950 Plot for sale. The Cornishman, Thursday February 2^nd, J. A. Treglown & sons, were instructed to sell by auction ‘Trezelah, Gulval, Sale of Freehold Building, being the Trezelah Methodist Church, together with Plot of Land, with Vacant Possession.’ Cornish and Birtill were the solicitors.