Mapping Methodism – Redruth South Downs Road Wesley Chapel

South Downs is an area of Reduth located on the road to Lanner. This profile of Redruth South Downs Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

From the A393 roundabout, take the South Downs Road towards Redruth. The chapel is seen on the right just opposite South Drive.

 

1849 Chapel

21 Mar 1849: Lease, South Downs Wesleyan Chapel, Redruth. Parties: 1) Jane Annear, wife of David Annear of Carnmarth, Gwennap. 2) Simon Davey, James Eddy, William Pryor and others, chapel trustees. Piece of land for purpose of building a house for divine worship on Carnmarth Downs lately [in 1847] enclosed by David Annear, measuring ten laces, bounded on north by the Church Road, on south by the path leading to David Annear’s dwelling house and on west by meadow. Part of Tolcarne manor. Consideration: yearly rent of 6 pence, due on Christmas Day. Term: 99 years on lives of David Annear (aged 40 in 1847), William Annear, his brother (27) and Martha Annear, his sister (25). Chapel to be built and society formed to be a branch of Lanner Wesleyan Methodist Society. [This document was originally dated 15 September 1847 but could not be executed because David Annear died. His wife Jane, ‘believing the above to be the will and wish of my husband’, executed the lease as his administrator.] (Kresen Kernow MRR/1718)

1849: Build date. (SWChurches) Although this may have been 1857 – see below)

Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)

A branch of the Lanner Wesleyan Society. (SWChurches)

1880: Appears on maps. (old-map.co.uk)

1886: Chapel said to be in a bad state. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 26 March 1886)

 

1887 Chapel

Wayside Wesleyan chapel and attached Sunday school, now used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Local rubble with contrasting granite dressings. Simple Gothic style with coped front gable (with acroteria ledges and moulded kneelers) and pointed arches. 2 window front has Y-traceried windows with diamond-leaded glazing; name and date panel over central doorway. Sunday school has gabled porch set back on the right with date plaque over doorway (left) and window (right). Coped forecourt walls with capped granite gate-piers. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

South Downs Road Wesley Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)

1887: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)

Built on the same site as the 1849 chapel. (SWChurches / Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 10 June 1887)

1887: NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AT SOUTH DOWNS, REDRUTH. Memorial stones were laid on Wednesday afternoon in connection with new Wesleyan chapel South Downs, Redruth. It has long felt that the old chapel was altogether inadequate to the requirements of the place, and a new and larger building has been commenced on the same site. When the building is completed there will be commodious vestry well chapel accommodation. The scheme will cost altogether about £220, of which over one-half has been already raised. The plans were drawn and presented free of cost by Mr John Odgers. the contractor for the masonry. Mr R. James, the clerk of works, will also give his services gratuitously. Mr W. H Lee the contractor for the carpentry, and Mr J. James for the painting. The four memorial stones were laid by Messrs. S. Chellew, Tom Moore, R. Thomas, and Master S. G Chellew… Mr Tom Moore performed the next ceremony, and a gave brief history of the old chapel, which was built thirty years ago. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 10 June 1887) If the statement “30 years ago” is correct then the first chapel was built in 1857 and not 1849.

1887: Certificate of registration, South Downs Wesleyan Chapel, Redruth. Certificate of registration as a place of religious worship. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1399)

1887: “South Downs’ new chapel had £44 contributed to it last week and only owes now about £40.” (Cornishman – Thursday 15 December 1887)

1887-1888: Vouchers, construction of South Downs Wesleyan Chapel, Redruth. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1400)

1900: Renovations taking place. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 21 September 1900)

1902: New school room built. (Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 21 November 1902)

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

1920s: The old Twelveheads chapel the organ transferred to here and later moved again to Redruth Highway Methodist Chapel.

1932: Became South Downs Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

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

1940: Seating for 120. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1902-1962: Trust papers, South Downs Methodist Church, Redruth. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1403)

1887-1962: Trust minutes, South Downs Methodist Church, Redruth. (Kresen Kernow MRR/3186)

1975: Chapel closed. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1976: Chapel closed. (SWChurches)

Chapel sold. (SWChurches)

1974-1976: Correspondence, closure and sale of South Downs Methodist Church, Redruth. With additional correspondence concerning use for Jehovah Witnesses worship, 1992. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1978)

1976: Converted to a funeral director’s chapel of rest.

1992: Used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

2005: Converted to housing.