Mapping Methodism – Lanner Moor Primitive Methodist Chapel

Lanner is a village situated on the A393 about 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of Redruth. This profile of Lanner Primitive Methodist Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

The chapel is in Lanner Moor, just beyond Lanner on the Redruth to Falmouth Road, on the right next to the petrol station.

Primitive Methodist chapel. Probably mid C19, re-fronted 1903 (the same date as the re-fronting of the Wesleyan chapel and the build date of the Wesleyan Sunday school in the village). Rubble with granite dressings plus front end of dressed granite brought to course and with granite dressings. Vernacular example embellished with Italianate style front end. 3-bay pedimented front has central finial over traceried round window over round-arched doorway with spoked fanlight and planked doors. Tall flanking round-arched windows have fanlight heads. Sash windows including original 12-pane sash window to left-hand return wall recently replaced with inappropriate uPVC windows! (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

The Primitive Methodists were also represented in Lanner village by their chapel at Lanner Moor and this was constructed in the boom years of Cornish mining during the 1850s, when the local economy was doing well. Lanner was a fertile hunting ground for souls as the Primitives were particularly adept at working in industrial communities, with their no frills approach to the faith. The chapel was originally a very plain affair, lying on the western side of the road from Redruth to Falmouth and obtained its certificate for religious worship in 1858. In the early Edwardian period however a new, attractive and imposing granite frontage was put on to the existing chapel, with a doorway and three windows in 1903 (the same year as a new front was put onto the large Wesleyan chapel in the centre of the village!!). The chapel was only registered for the solemnisation of marriages in 1957. In 1958 the Society obtained, for the princely sum of £20, the redundant pipe organ from the closed Methodist Church at Adjewhella, near Penponds in Camborne. (This organ later had a third incarnation at Carn Brea Village chapel). The organ was re-opened with much ceremony with a week long programme of events from 11-17 October 1958. The building’s surviving archives are at Kresen Kernow, Redruth and include accounts commencing in 1860, alterations plans of 1903, Trust minutes from 1902, roll book for 1941-1957, an abstainers’ roll for 1959-1964, baptism registers after 1935 and sale correspondence from 1975-1976. After its closure in the mid-1970s the building ended up as a dance studio. (David Thomas, Kresen Kernow)

Mid-1800s: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

1830s: Primitive Methodist Society formed in Lanner. Variously called Lanner, Rough Street and Lanner Downs.

The Society met in members’ homes.

The Society failed but re-started.

1858: Blacksmith Shop used for services.  A house in Tresavean Terrace was used for Sunday school.

Circa 1858: Lanner Moor Primitive Methodist Chapel build date. (SWChurches)

Built as a Primitive Methodist chapel. (SWChurches)

1858: Certificate of registration, Lanner Moor Primitive Methodist Chapel, Gwennap. Certificate of registration as place of religious worship. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1334)

Part of Redruth Primitive Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)

Circa 1860: Chapel built.

1884: 90-year lease signed for chapel.

Became Lanner Primitive Methodist Chapel. (SWChurches)

1903: Plan, proposed additions, Lanner Moor Primitive Methodist Chapel, Gwennap. Plan by Horace W Collins, architect. Size: 33×22 inches. Scale: 1 inch to 8 feet. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1335)

1903: Chapel re-fronted. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway) Extended by 20 feet with granite front and seating for 200.

 

Lanner Primitive Chapel circa 1905 which clearly shows the new 1903 stonework of the chapel’s side walls, north front and roof (indicated by the lighter colour of the cement). The grocer’s shop with its small-paned windows is also very much in evidence. A group of children pose outside the chapel itself. (Photo: E A Bragg courtesy David Thomas)

Lanner Primitive Chapel 1906. The grocery shop keeper stands in the shop doorway with a child and an older lady with a black parasol is on the left. (Photo: Argall of Truro courtesy David Thomas)

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

1932: Became Lanner Moor Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

Part of Redruth Plain-an-Gwarry Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)

1935: Freehold chapel purchased by the Trustees of Lanner Moor Methodist Church.

20th century: Printing block, photograph of Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1113)

Mid-20th century: Plan, proposed alterations, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. Proposed alterations and additions to premises. (Kresen Kernow MRR/3110)

1940: Seating for 198. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1902-1945: Trust minutes, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow MRR/3098)

1934: All six existing or former Lanner area chapel congregations: Wesleyan Chapel, Primitive Methodist Chapel, Bible Christian Chapel, Carn Marth / Sandy Lane Primitive Chapel, South Downs Chapel and Trevarth Wesleyan Chapel, amalgamated at Lanner (Wesleyan) Chapel to become Lanner Methodist Chapel. https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC75971_church-micro-10946-lanner-methodist-church?guid=015f5546-74c3-4026-bcf6-6bf664831f22

1937: Plan, proposed vestries and toilets, Lanner Moor Church, Gwennap. Size: 16×9 inches. Scale: one-eighth of an inch to one foot. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1336)

1937: Block plan, proposed vestries and toilets, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1337)

1937-1949: Trust papers, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1338)

1946: New heating system installed.

1951-54: Chapel enlarged and vestry added.

1957: Certificate of registration, marriages, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1339)

11-17 Oct 1958: Programme, organ opening, Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. (Kresen Kernow AD2029/47)

1959: Centenary celebrations.

1975: Closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1976: Closure date. (SWChurches)

8 Oct 1976: Letter, vestibule alterations, Lanner Methodist Church, Gwennap. Also discusses moving the war memorial to a new site. From Les, Clovermead, Lanner Moor, Redruth to W Pascoe, Granite Quarries, Trenoweth, Penryn. (Kresen Kernow MRFG/11)

Oct 1975-Feb 1976: Correspondence, sale of Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. Correspondence from Treglowns, auctioneers of Redruth, to the Reverend Underhill, Lanner, concerning the sale of Lanner Moor chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1639)

Chapel sold. (SWChurches)

1975-1983: Correspondence, closure of Lanner Moor Methodist Church, Gwennap. Correspondence relating to the closure and sale of the Chapel, 1975-1976 and the lifting of restrictive covenants, 1982-1983. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1945)

Became the band room of Lanner and District Silver Band. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

It later became a dance studio.

Former Lanner Moor Primitive Methodist Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)