Townshend is a small village near Leedstown and Godolphin.
1852 Chapel
Wesleyan chapel at Bunkers Hill, plus stable and trap house, used as Sunday school after 1871 chapel built across the road (138235), now used as a village hall. Early C19. Lime-washed rubblestone; scantle slate roofs (with gable ends). 3 x Picturesque Gothic sash windows; doorway left of centre of front side wall. Colour-washed rubble forecourt walls. Good vernacular example. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
1852: Wesleyan Chapel build date. (Check list of Churches in the Hayle Circuit – 31st August 1961)
1871 Chapel
Wesleyan chapel at Bunkers Hill, built 1871, replaced the original chapel across the road (138236). The chapel has been converted for residential purposes. Grouted rubble walls; dry slate roof. Good late classical style example with 2-window front gable with shaped bargeboards reading as pediment with enriched freize below and enclosing date plaque with round hoodmould. Round-arched openings with original sash windows and panelled doors with Gothic detail. Forecourt walls with balustrade and granite gate-piers plus wrought-iron gates. Good galleried interior. Listed in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
Methodist chapel and associated walls, gate piers and gates. 1871. Painted rubble walls with dressed granite quoins, jambstones, sills and lintels. Some slate sills and brick arches. Dry Delabole slate roof with gable ends, the front gable in the form of a pediment. Plan: square aisle-less plan with gallery to 3 sides, extended at the rear (east) circa late C19, to accommodate organ and vestry. 2 storey elevations. West entrance front has central round-headed doorway, 2 first floor (gallery) round-headed windows and the gable in the form of a pediment with brick dentils to the cornice. In the middle of the pediment is a round-headed date plaque with dentils under the hoodmould. Pair of doors and the side elevations each have 2 windows to each floor, the ground floor windows are flat-headed and the first floor windows are round-headed. All original horned sashes with glazing bars, the first floor windows have fanlight heads. War memorial in front, right. Interior: contemporary round-ended gallery and rostrum with shaped brackets under, all carried on Doric columns. Original box pews. In front of the chapel are low coped walls with splat balustrades. Entrances to middle and left, both with granite monolithic square-on-plan piers. Wrought-iron gates: the middle gate has shaped top rail and scrolled and acanthus detail; the gate left, is braced and has spiked bars and adjoining the rear left of the chapel is a similar gate with granite piers. Sources: Christopher Stell, RCHM, Listing NGR: SW5919632931 (Historic England)
Townshend Chapel (Photo: Paul Phillips)
1871: Build date. (Plaque)
The 1852 chapel then used as a Sunday school. (Check list of Churches in the Hayle Circuit – 31st August 1961)
Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
Replaced an earlier Chapel. (Check list of Churches in the Hayle Circuit – 31st August 1961)
29 Jun 1889: Lease, Wesleyan chapel, Townshend, Kirthen, Crowan. Parties: 1) Sir Theodore Henry Brinckman of Berkeley Square, Middlesex, and The Right Honorable Walter John, Earl of Chichester, trustees of the will of Francis Godolphin D’arcy, Duke of Leeds 2) George Godolphin, Duke of Leeds. 3) The Reverend William Jones of Hayle, superintendent minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Circuit, Hayle. 4) Rosevear Rosewarne of Breage, gentleman, William Woolcock, mine agent, Peter James, grocer, John Woolcock, farms, all of Townshend, Crowan; William Carah, mason, Thomas Stephens Symons, grocer, both of Praze, Crowan; William Edwards of Crowan churchtown, carpenter; James Gilbert, shovel manufacturer, and William Cardell, farmer, both of St Erth; Charles Trevithick, miller, and John Hambly, merchant’s clerk, both of Hayle, and Joseph Pascoe of Perranarworthal, insurance agent. Term: 60 years. Rent: 12 shillings. Oblong plot of land, 65 feet west to east and 54 feet north to south, being the south west corner of a field at Kirthen in the occupation of Peter James, with a chapel or place of religious worship for Wesleyan Methodists now built there. Plan at end of lease. Number 18, Manor of Godolphin. (Kresen Kernow RH/1/1885)
Early 20th century: Notice, stewards’ duties, Townshend Wesleyan Chapel, Crowan. (Kresen Kernow MRMB/89)
Early 20th century: Burial fees and rules of cemetery, Townshend Wesleyan Chapel, Crowan. Believed to be early 20th century. Shows scale of burial fees. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/250)
1904: Townshend Wesleyans: “… the festival on Saturday and although the weather was not all that could be desired, a large number attended. Headed by Falmouth and Camborne Bands they went to Leedstown, where they formed a circle and then back Dr Vivian’s lawn, Townshend, where they had tea …” (7 July 1904 – Cornishman)
1929: Leaflet, appeal for new vestry and chapel restoration, Townshend Wesleyan Chapel, Crowan. (Kresen Kernow MRMB/91)
1930: “Townshend Wesleyans. Re-Opening Services. Townshend Wesleyan Chapel was reopened for public worship on Friday. The Chapel has been enlarged, newly decorated, and electric light installed. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. C. L. Rosewarne, of Chvangove, Gwinear, and was introduced by Miss A. G. Carkeek, of Hayle…” (Cornishman – Thursday 25 September 1930)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Townshend Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating for 253. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1947: “Townshend School Treat. Townshend Methodist Sunday school treat on Saturday began with Camborne Silver Band heading the march through the village, followed by a short service at the school. On the sports field children had tea and buns and a public tea …” (10 July 1947 – Cornishman)
1990: Closed. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Now a dwelling with access to the Chapel Yard to the rear. (Paul Phillips)
My Mother Father and Uncle are all buried in the last row under the Chapel Wall.
My Grandfather and Great Grand father are buried earlier down the grave yard