Mapping Methodism – Treverva Wesleyan Chapel

Treverva is a small village at the southern end of the Argal Reservoir. It lies on the B3297 road between Mabe village and Constantine. This profile of Treverva Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

“In 1810 a license had been granted at the Bishop’s Registry in Exeter, for worship at “a house at the entrance of western end of the village called Treverva”, and in 1812 another license was issued for a “house newly built on the south side of Treverva”. The Tithe Map shows a building in the ownership of the Wesleyan Methodist Society and this continued as a chapel until the completion of the present Chapel, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1889. The previous chapel then became two cottages, as it remains today.” (http://budockparish.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Treverva-History.pdf)

“The Methodist chapel has reached its centenary and the previous chapel dated 1843 is now two cottages overlooking the Argal reservoir, which was flooded around 1939.” (http://www.visitoruk.com/Falmouth/treverva-C592-V9643.html)

 

1843 Chapel

Location shown on 1880 old.maps.co.uk: https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/

1843: Build date. (http://www.visitoruk.com/Falmouth/treverva-C592-V9643.html)

Closed.

Converted to two cottages.

 

1889 Chapel

The second Treverva Chapel is situated on the road through the village on the Constantine side.

It is Grade 2 listed.

Methodist chapel including ramp, gate-piers, gates, walls and railings at road frontage. Datestone 1889. Slightly rock-faced dressed granite brought to course. Granite brick and freestone dressings. Bitumen coated grouted dry Delabole slate roof with gable ends. Chimney over later organ loft at rear. Plan: Rectangular aisle-less plan chapel over school room on the ground floor. Chapel has ritual east end at the south-west end and a large window at the opposite end (the front). The entrance porch midway to the left-hand wall is approached by a ramp from a gateway at the road front. Later C19 or C20 canted organ loft at rear. Gothic style features. Exterior: 2 storeys. Unaltered elevation with original doors and windows in original openings. Symmetrical: l-bay north east front gable end with central bay broken forward. Brick string courses, 3 courses of moulded granite kneeler stones to the gables. Central bay has large 5-light pointed-arched freestone window with 5 lancets and a cinquefoil rose piercing an otherwise blind tympanum; coloured leaded lights; the window has low transoms and is carried on a 7-bay blind arcade of pointed arches. The hoodmould is of alternate brick and moulded freestone to produce a polychrome effect and the apex of the central gable is constructed of decorated terra cotta panels surmounted by a freestone finial. Ground floor windows (and windows to the other elevations) have brick dressings including shallow arches over the openings. Single-light windows in the bays flanking the principal window have granite lintels with relieving arches over. South-east entrance front has central 2- storey gable-ended porch with the first floor chapel doorway approached by a ramp on the right. 4-panel door. In front of the ramp is a wide gateway with square-on-plan piers with pyramidal cap. Right of the gateway is a low wall surmounted by railings left of the gateway is a high coped wall with a stepped granite stile on its left. Original wrought-iron gates and railings with scrolled decoration. Interior (not inspected) has all of its original features and fittings. Listing NGR: SW7555031596. (Historic England)

1889 Wesleyan Methodist chapel at this location in Treverva recorded on the 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS Map. Still extant and listed. Ramp, gate piers, gates, walls and railings also listed. Ornate north-east end with brick and granite coursing. Alternate brick and moulded freestone hoodmoulds over front windows create a polychrome effect and the apex of the central gable is constructed of decorated terracotta panels. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

Treverva Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis 2021)

1889: “New Wesleyan Chapel & Schoolroom at TREVERVA. TENDERS are invited for the ERECTION of the above PREMISES. Plans and Specifications may be seen at the Offices of Messrs. Rowe and Corlyon, Auctioneers, Market Strand, Falmouth. on and after May 7th. Sealed tenders endorsed “Tenders for Treverva Chapel to be sent to the Rev. J. S. Silcox, Belle-vue Terrace, Falmouth, on or before Wednesday, the 22nd May. The Trustees do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender.” (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 11 May 1889)

1889: NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AT TREVERVA. Foundation and memorial-stones of new Wesleyan chapel at Treverva, the Falmouth Wesleyan circuit, were laid on Tuesday, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The old chapel Treverva for a long time been in exceedingly dilapidated condition. A meeting was recently held, at which about £250 was promised towards the erection of a new chape!. Plans were prepared by Mr. T. Wonnacott, Falmouth, for a pretty little chapel to seat 200. The builders are Messrs. Cook and Tiddy, of Mawgan, the cost being £640… The Rev. J. S. Silcox having deposited beneath the foundation-stone a sealed bottle, containing the names the trustees and ladies and gentlemen who had been engaged to lay stones, and other information in reference to the circuit, Mrs. Bickford-Smith, of Trevarno, laid the foundation-stone, and presented a cheque for £20…” (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 27 June 1889)

1889: Built as a Wesleyan chapel to replace the original 1843 chapel which was about 100 yards away. (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 12 April 1890)

1890: Build date. (SWChurches)

Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)

1890: “Opening of the New Wesleyan Chapel at Treverva. This pretty little Chapel, to seat 250 persons opened for divine service on Easter Monday… At 11 o’clock a valedictory service was held in the old chapel, conducted by the superintendent minister … the company proceeded the new chapel, situate about 100 yards distant…” (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 12 April 1890)

Appears on 1907 maps.

1908: “… ln connection with the reopening services at Treverva Wesleyan Chapel…” (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Friday 09 October 1908)

1908: “Mrs. Hay-Morgan, wife of Mr. G. Hay-Morgan, M.P., on Thursday opened the Wesleyan chapel at Treverva, near Falmouth, which has been renovated and enlarged…” (Cornishman – Thursday 08 October 1908)

Circa 1910: Photograph, Henry Tremayne, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Photograph of Henry Tremayne, superintendent of the Sunday School for 35 years. Died 15 November 1914, aged 58. In card mount. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/108)

1921: Pipe organ built by Heard & Sons of Truro.

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

1932: Became Treverva Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

1930s: Photograph, exterior of Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Photograph showing the front of the building, with its inscribed stones and terracotta tiles at the gable, and wrought iron lamp holder over the entrance gate. Head of boy wearing a cap just visible in lower left corner of picture. Black and white. Mounted on card. Damaged by damp. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/107)

1930s: Photograph, Samuel Rail, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Photograph of Samuel Rail, superintendent of the Sunday School for 30 years. Died 30 October 1941, aged 76. Mounted on card. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/109)

1935: Certificate, Treverva Wesley Guild, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Certificate issued by the Methodist Connexional Council confirming that Treverva Wesley Guild has been enrolled as an affiliated branch. Signed by the President and two secretaries. The certificate includes quotations by John Wesley, Sidney [Algernon Sidney, 1623-1683?], Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem ‘Sir Galahad’ and Elizabeth Barratt Browning. It is illustrated by coloured drawings of a knight on horseback and also kneeling before an angel; a sailing ship; a scholar writing a document; and a man carrying a child across a river, as well as ivy leaves. Size: 70 x 50 cm. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/106)

1889-1938: Trust minutes, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Includes order of service for opening of the chapel in 1890. (Kresen Kernow MRG/46)

1940s: Photograph, Annie Sanders, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Photograph of Annie Sanders, superintendent of the Sunday School for 9 years. Died 12 July 1947, aged 56. Mounted on card. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/110)

1898-1961: Pew rents, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. (Kresen Kernow MRF/439)

1966-1977: Trust minutes, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. (Kresen Kernow MRF/478)

1981-1983: Correspondence and orders of service, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Letter from Mr and Mrs Frosdick of Yeovil to Mrs Pearce, discussing a flower stand to be purchased for the chapel in memory of Edgar Kessell, a former member, 30 June 1981. Correspondence and accounts relating to the installation of a water pipe to supply water to the chapel, June-August 1983. Two orders of service for services held annually to celebrate the anniversary of the chapel, not dated, 1980s. Kresen Kernow MRFG/103)

1955-1983: Minutes, Leaders’ meetings, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Minutes of meetings discussing church activities and management of the church. The leaders’ group was later known as Church Council. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/98)

1990: Methodist record, Treverva, Mabe. Centenary history. (Kresen Kernow AD895/4)

1973-1991: Minutes, Church Guild, Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Minutes of meetings discussing the activities of the guild. In addition to regular meetings for fellowship and entertainment, the guild was responsible for organising the church bazaar. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/104)

July 1994: Quinquennial report on Treverva Methodist Church, Budock. Report on condition of chapel premises, compiled by R Church of Bazeley, Miller-Williams & Corfield, architects. The report identifies urgent repairs and ongoing maintenance work which should be carried out on the building. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/100)

2012: Chapel closed. (Wikipedia)

2016:  Pipe organ preserved at The Cornish Heritage Collection at Poldark Mine Museum just 9 miles away. (Wikipedia)

There is no longer an active chapel at Treverva. It had been used by the famous Treverva Choir which was formed there by Edgar Kessel in 1936. For 77 years its members had rehearsed at the chapel but had to move out following the building’s sale in 2012.