Edgcumbe is a hamlet 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Penryn on the A394 road from Helston to Penryn and is in the parish of Wendron. This profile of Edgcumbe Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
It seems that the Society existed before the building of the 1834 chapel. The Sunday school existed from 1814 and one Kresen Kernow report referes to papers from 1790.
1834 Chapel
From St Gluvias, head through Mabe Burnthouse to the A394 and take the road west to Edgumbe.
The first Wesleyan Chapel, shown on early maps was up a track on the right (north) before the second chapel (see below). It is now the site of a barn or industrial buildings).
This chapel likely existed from 1834 (documented lease in archives) and was replaced by the later chapel and graveyard.
1834: Thought to be the build date.
1879 & 1888: Indicated on maps. (old. Maps.co.uk)
Not shown on 1907 map so presumably demolished. (old. Maps.co.uk)
1885 Chapel
The Chapel can be found on the A394 Helston to Penryn road through Edgcumbe. The Chapel was built in 1885 possibly with design by by Sylvanius Trevail to replace first chapel (see above).
Edgcumbe Chapel is situated on the main Helston Falmouth Road. It was built in 1885 by local craftsmen. A war memorial is sited at the front of the Chapel and a cemetery at the back. The Chapel is listed and has a Cornish Heritage rise leading up to the door. Inside there is a pipe organ, a choir and an attractive pulpit and two vestries. An internal staircase leads to the Sunday School and kitchen and a further two vestries. It also has ornate railings and gates. (http://fandgmc.org.uk/j3/index.php/churches/edgcumbe)
Wesleyan chapel, said to be designed by James Hicks of Redruth, alternative source indicates Sylvanus Trevail. Designed with facilities for Sunday school in the basement and built by WJ Winn and Sons from Helston for £670. Services were held in a barn during building work, moving for a few weeks into the Sunday school. The building was fully open by March 1886. Good Italianate style example in dressed granite. Imposing but austere road frontage. Ramp entrance to right-hand side. Interior not inspected. Unusual example. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
Wesleyan chapel. Datestone 1885. Dressed rock-faced granite brought to course, with granite dressings. Dry Delabole slate hipped roof with pedimented gable in the middle of the front gable end at rear. Cast-iron gutters. Plan: Rectangular aisle-less plan with basement schoolroom under and entrance into 2-storey porch at right-hand side of chapel with its doorway approached by a wide ramp from the front courtyard. Italianate style. Exterior: 2 storeys (principal floor over basement schoolroom). Symmetrical 1:1 bay road front with pedimented central bay broken forward. Plinth, moulded mid floor string, ashlar band and moulded cornices to the pediments. Central bay has 3-light Venetian window with coloured glass with marginal panes. (Similar single light to basement window under). Otherwise windows are C20 in original segmentally-headed openings with moulded voussoirs and projecting keystones, moulded eaves cornices. Similar window openings in the side walls, some still with original windows. Porch has wide central arched doorway with original panelled doors and open pedimented gable above. Interior: Not inspected but may have its original fittings. Front courtyard walls are rockfaced granite with dressed granite copings and piers. Central part of wall is lower and surmounted by original cot-iron railings. There is a central gateway with square-on-plan piers and ornate cast-iron gates. Gate-piers and terminal piers have elaborate pyramidal caps. Side walls are rubble with dressed granite copings. The ramp has its original wrought-iron railings. Listing NGR: SW7207533190. (Historic England)
1884: Edgcombe Wesleyan Chapel. By Silvanus Trevail. (Kresen Kernow AD396/128)
1885: Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
Details of benches. Assumed Trevail, scale one and a half inch and fullsize, 38 x 56 cms, pencil, colour wash on card. (Kresen Kernow AD396/128/1)
Floor plan. Assumed Trevail, scale 4 feet to 1 inch, 35 x 50.5 cms, pencil on drawing paper. (Kresen Kernow AD396/128/2)
9 Sep 1884: Floor plan. Stamped Trevail, scale 4 feet to 1 inch, 34.5 x 51 cms, pencil, colour wash on drawing paper. (Kresen Kernow AD396/128/3)
1884: Plan showing layout of chapel interior and seating plan, Edgcombe Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Stamped Trevail, scale 4 feet to 1 inch, size: 37 x 47 cm, pen and ink on tracing linen. (Kresen Kernow AD396/99/13)
Floor plan. Assumed Trevail, Scale unknown, not unrolled, pen & ink on lightweight tracing paper. (Kresen Kernow AD396/128/4)
1885: “The building of Edgcumbe new Wesley chapel has been entrusted Mr. W. J. Winn, of who will forthwith carry-out his contract, which includes the masonry and carpenters’ work. Numerous tenders were opened on Tuesday evening last by the trustees, but Mr. Winn’s was unanimously selected. Mr. Kemp, Carnkie, submitted a tender for the masonry separately. On Saturday seven carts were employed carrying stone from Mr. Joseph Harvey’s quarry, Helegan in Constantine…” (Cornishman – Thursday 19 February 1885)
1885: “Edgcumbe New Wesleyan Chapel: The new building just being roofed in. near Half-way House, on the road between Penryn and Helston, is the Edgcumbe new Wesleyan Chapel. The front towards the road is a very striking object, and is greatly admired for its boldness and the correct simplicity of its classic design. Mr, Winn, builder, of Helston. is erecting it under the direction of Mr Trevail, architect, of Truro.” (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 07 August 1885)
Circa 1892: The burial ground opened. (SWChurches)
1892: Letter, consent for burial ground, Edgcumb Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Letter from Home Office, giving consent for burial ground at chapel. Includes plan of site. (Kresen Kernow MRF/490)
1790-1894: Papers, Wendron. Deeds, leases and papers. X14/6/12, 17 and 18 relate to Edgcumbe Wesleyan chapel at Wendron including lease from 1834, letter about the new chapel 1885 and a lease of the vestry 1873. (Kresen Kernow X14/6)
1903: Tender and agreement, erection of orchestra, Edgcumb Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Notice of tender and agreement with contractor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/491)
1903: Notice of tender and agreement with contractor. (Kresen Kernow MRF/491)
1904: “Edgcumbe Wesleyan Chapel was re-opened Thursday after renovation and the addition orchestra, choir lobby, and vestry…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 28 April 1904)
1912: “Penryn Sunday School tea treat – Edgcumbe Wesleyan Sunday School held their annual treat on Thursday. Headed by Helston Temperance Band, they marched in procession to Buttris Gate, thence to London Wells, and afterwards to field at Buttris, …” (11 July 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1919: Order of service, dedication of Wendron parish war memorial. (Kresen Kernow MRF/510)
1920: “The annual tea in connection with the Edgcumbe Wesleyan Band of Hope was held on Thursday. Headed by Porkellis Brass and Reed Band, members of the Band of Hope paraded to the top Retanna-hill, back to Rame Cross to the Sunday School. Tea was served …” (12 August 1920 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1917-1927: Attendance and minutes, Sunday School, Edgcumb Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Attendance register and minutes of teachers’ meetings. (Kresen Kernow MRF/496)
1908-1929: Pew rents, Edgcumb Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. At back of volume, summary trust accounts, 1908-1926. (Kresen Kernow MRF/487)
1887-1930: Trust minutes, Edgcumb Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/456)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Edgcumbe Methodist Church.
Part of Falmouth Methodist Circuit.
1926-1945: Plans, Sunday School, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. Plans listing whose turn it is to open and close the meeting and give the address. Plans for 1926, 1927, 1932,
1940, 1942 and 1945. (Kresen Kernow MRF/504)
1930-1949: Pew rents, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. At back of volume, summary trust accounts, 1928-1948. (Kresen Kernow MRF/488)
5 Jun 1949: 134th annual report, Sunday School, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron . (Kresen Kernow MRF/612)
Circa 1952: 137th annual report, Sunday School, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/613)
6 Jun 1954: 140th annual report, Sunday School, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/614) This would date the Sunday school from 1814.
3 Jun 1956: 141st annual report, Sunday School, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/615)
1934-1957: Attendance and minutes, Sunday School, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. Attendance register and minutes of teachers’ meetings. (Kresen Kernow MRF/497)
26th May 1962: Unlocking the door of the chapel after its renovation. This was performed by Rev Athanasius Rickard and his wife, from Detroit. He was a preacher in the Falmouth Circuit, and connected with Treverva Methodist Church, before he emigrated. (Photo: Denys Bryant. courtesy Sonia French of Camborne. his daughter)
1965: Balance sheet, renovation and repairs, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/600)
1 Dec 1965: List of duties, cemetery caretaker, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/609)
1963-1966: Accounts, renovations and repairs, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/580)
1 Jun 1968: Conditions for use of cemetery, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. Kresen Kernow MRF/610)
1930-1970: Trust minutes, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/457)
Circa 1970: Programme, re-opening of organ and Harvest Festival, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. Re-opening of organ celebrated on 17 September and Harvest Festival on 20 September. Year not given, possibly about 1970. (Kresen Kernow MRF/604)
1959-1973: Trust correspondence, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. Includes correspondence relating to work on organ, 1964. (Kresen Kernow MRF/596)
1969-1973: Membership tickets, J and L Evans, Edgcumbe Methodist Church, Wendron. Tickets for Jack and Lylie Evans for 1969 and 1973. (Kresen Kernow MRF/616)
1948-1974: Trust correspondence, maintenance of organ, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow MRF/493)
1931-1976: Trust correspondence, Edgcumb Methodist Church, Wendron. Subjects include repairs, gas and electricity supply, caretaker and burial ground. (Kresen Kernow MRF/492)
It is still active on the circuit.
It is a grade 2 listed building