Porkellis is a village in Cornwall approximately three and a half miles north-east of Helston and is in the heart of the old Wendron mining district. This profile of Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Tony Mansell.
Porkellis has two chapels, both of which are Grade II listed. The original chapel was built in 1814, whereas the later Wesleyan chapel was bigger and built in 1866 alongside the older one. When the latter chapel was built the original was converted into a schoolroom. Services now take place in the earlier 1814 Chapel, sympathetically refurbished as the 1866 building has been sold and is currently under renovation. (Wikipedia)
Medium-sized Wesleyan chapel (now redundant) built to supersede the original chapel that subsequently became the Sunday school and that has now become the place of worship again. Local rubble walls; scantle slate roofs. Virtually unaltered late classical style design with a pedimented front end and round-arched openings. Original sash windows with fanlight heads and spoked fanlight over central doorway. Later central memorial window above. Rear has semi-circular plan apse for choir (later organ) over vestry. Fine virtually unaltered interior has good ceiling rose and moulded cornice, fine panelled gallery of horse-shoe plan plus straight end to choir area. Original panelled and grained box pews plus loose “free” benches at the sides at ground-floor level (compare Penmennor, Stithians and Voguebeloth, both with a similar arrangement). Good arched and balustraded rostrum and turned communion rail. One of the best surviving Nonconformist chapels in Cornwall.
with the contract for the mason and carpenter’s work being awarded by the Trustees to Joseph Pryor. Pryor did a fine job and produced a fabulous building, resonant of the restrained but imposing grandeur of many mid-nineteenth century Cornish chapels. (David Thomas)
Circa 1814 Chapel
Small Wesleyan chapel, probably early-mid C19, converted to Sunday school when superseded by the adjacent now redundant 1866 chapel (Listed Grade II*) and the original chapel now extended and used as the place of worship again. Local stone with granite dressings under a hipped slate roof. 3-bay front side with fine concentric spoked fanlight to central doorway. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
The first Wesleyan chapel was built in the village of Porkellis in the parish of Wendron in 1814 but the local congregation soon outgrew it and a second much larger and more substantial chapel was constructed in 1866. (David Thomas)
1814 or earlier: Build date.
10 Oct 1814: Deed of trust, Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Parties: 1) William Reed, yeoman, of Wendron 2) William Reed, Bennett Johns, Joseph Jenkin, John Bosacoe alias Bosanko, John Jenkin, John Pascoe, Nicholas Pascoe, Richard Dunstone, Francis Johns, all yeomen, of Wendron and Isaac Watts, yeoman, of Gwennap. Deed of trust by assignment of lease from 1) to 2) of a building and premises called the Preaching House and the linneys or other buildings adjoining and a piece of ground adjoining, containing eight poles, taken out of a meadow called the Long Meadow, bounded on the north by the remainder of the Long Meadow, on the west by the highway from Porkellis Village to Helston, on the south by a garden now occupied by William Reed and on the east by a field called Parkandrean, currently occupied by 1) to be held upon trust by 2) that they will permit anyone who is or becomes a member of the society now subsisting within Wendron parish called the Methodists’ Society belonging to the connection of the late Reverend John Wesley, clerk, deceased to assemble in, occupy and enjoy the premises. Term: residue of 99 years or three lives: Ann Watts, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Watts, aged 23 years; Martha Johns, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Johns of Wendron aged 8 years and Ann Jenkin, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Jenkin of Wendron aged 6 years. Rent: 10 shillings. Recites: lease from Francis Enys to 1) dated 10 May 1814. Witness: John Pascoe. Endorsed: the son of Francis Johns is the only surviving trustee and is a bankrupt, could he surrender the original lease so a new one can be obtained to one or more members of the Methodist Society?, not dated. (Kresen Kernow MRH/566)
18 Sep 1862: Memorandum of agreement, land for stable and vestry, Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Parties: 1) William Jewell, esquire, of Perranzabuloe 2) Wearn Dunstan, Methuselah Tregoning and others, trustees and stewards of the Methodist chapel situated at Porkellis, Wendron. Agreement of 1) to grant 2) a piece of ground being wastrel situated at the western end of a lease held by 1) from J S Enys, esquire, at Porkellis, for the purpose of building a stable and vestry in connection with Porkellis Methodist Chapple. Rent: 3 pence. (Kresen Kernow MRH/567)
It is a Grade 2 listed building.
1866: Became a Sunday school / hall when new chapel built.
1995: The 1866 chapel closed and the congregation moved back into the refurbished 1814 building which became Trinity Methodist Church.
1866 Chapel (The Trinity and Monkey Puzzle Chapel)
The second chapel (sat back from the previous) known as The Trinity and Monkey Puzzle Chapel, was built in 1866 by villagers using stone from the winding engine house of Wheal Enys Mine (about 1/4 mile north of the village) which closed in 1859.
Medium-sized Wesleyan chapel (now redundant) built to supersede the original chapel that subsequently became the Sunday school and that has now become the place of worship again. Local rubble walls; scantle slate roofs. Virtually unaltered late classical style design with a pedimented front end and round-arched openings. Original sash windows with fanlight heads and spoked fanlight over central doorway. Later central memorial window above. Rear has semi-circular plan apse for choir (later organ) over vestry. Fine virtually unaltered interior has good ceiling rose and moulded cornice, fine panelled gallery of horse-shoe plan plus straight end to choir area. Original panelled and grained box pews plus loose “free” benches at the sides at ground-floor level (compare Penmennor, Stithians and Voguebeloth, both with a similar arrangement). Good arched and balustraded rostrum and turned communion rail. One of the best surviving Nonconformist chapels in Cornwall. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
Porkellis Chapel is an attractive example of a Victorian Wesleyan Chapel, dated 1866, with a complete and unaltered interior which includes a cantilevered gallery on Tuscan columns. The building is one of five similar chapels that were quite recently upgraded to grade II* following a resurvey. The local authority describes the chapel as a huge problem as it is in a poor condition and has no obvious re-use potential. It could function as a theatre or performance area, but is far from the nearest towns. As it is the interior of the building which is of particular importance, residential use would not be appropriate. (From the SAVE Buildings at Risk register)
Methodist chapel. Dated plaque 1866. Granite rubble with granite dressings.
Grouted scantle slate roof with pedimented gable at the south-east entrance front.
Cast-iron ogee gutters. Plan: Rectangular aisle-less plan with semi-circular organ loft over vestry projection at the rear (ritual east) end. Gallery on 3 sides. Exterior: 2 storey elevations. Symmetrical 3 window entrance front with triangular stuccoed pediment and round-headed openings. Wide central doorway has original pair of 6-panel doors and traceried fanlight. Window over doorway has later C19 coloured memorial glass. Tall flanking stair windows have traceried heads. 3 window side walls have square-headed openings to ground floor with original 16-pane hornless sashes and round-headed openings above with original sashes with traceried heads. Interior: Complete and unaltered interior with cantilevered panelled gallery on paired brackets over Tuscan columns and rostrum with canted front. (British Listed Buildings)
The windows and fenestration over the entrance are simple and of the ‘engine house’ type with intersecting glazing bars while the scene is completed by an attractive ironwork gate between granite posts and crowned by a lamp with scroll work terminations. An elegant front indeed. (David Thomas)
12 Jun 1867: Lease, Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel, Wendron. Parties: 1) John Samuel Enys, esquire, of Enys 2) Alexander Penaluna and Thomas Roberts, miners, of Wendron. Lease from 1) to 2) of a piece of ground at Porkellis on which a Wesleyan Chapel has lately been erected containing 28 perches. Includes plan showing the plot and the adjacent plot containing the old chapel which is now a Sunday School. Premises not to be used for any other purpose than as a place of worship or a public school. Term: 99 years or three lives: John, son of William Rapson, yeoman, aged 12 years; Martha, daughter of Thomas Pryor, yeoman, aged 11 years and Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Henry Moyle, yeoman, aged 10 years. Consideration: surrender of parts of two leases dated 1800 and 1827. Rent: 2 shillings 6 pence. Witness: Joseph Newton, land steward, of St Agnes. Endorsed: Wendron Lands part of 5 and 6. (Kresen Kernow MRH/568)
The early 19th century chapel on the left and the 1866 chapel (Photo: A Sillence courtesy Betty Pascoe)
The 1866 Chapel (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
1866: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
1880: Re-opening services following a thorough renovation. (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Friday 18 June 1880)
Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel circa 1905. The image captures the imposing front with the enormous plaque ‘Wesleyan 1866’ leaving no possible doubt as to the denomination of this Nonconformist place of worship. (Photo: courtesy David Thomas)
1915: TO PAINTERS, DECORATORS. TENDERS are invited for the PAINTING all the Exterior Work of the Porkellis Wesleyan Chapel property. Specifications can be seen at Mr. T. Rapson’s, Ruby farm, to whom tenders must be sent on or before September 1st 1915. (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 05 August 1915)
Porkellis Tea Treat 1916 (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
Porkellis Wesley Pre-1918 (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
Porkellis Wesley Pre-1918 – written on back: “I can see 10 oil lamps” (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
Porkellis Sunday school – date unknown
The 1866 Chapel with box pews in the centre and free benches each side (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
1940: Seating for 396. (David Eason, Methodist Minister and historian)
Local Chapel Choirs gather at Porkellis Chapel during the Second World War (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
(Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
The Beautiful Ceiling Rose (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
The Choir and Organ Recess (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
(Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
(Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
(Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
The interior is lined with circular oak-built balconies and pews, which look down to a central pulpit. (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
(Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
1995: Closed (David Eason, Methodist Minister and historian)
1995: The 1866 chapel was refused Planning Permission consent for conversion to a dwelling.
July 1997: The 1866 chapel was sold by auction realising £18,000 plus £2,000 for fixtures and fittings.
It is Grade 2 listed2007: Porkellis Chapel had a new owner. There were plans to carry out gradual repairs.
The 1866 Chapel following Closure – September 2000 (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
Converted into a studio and residence.
1998 Trinity Methodist Chapel
The congregation vacated the 1866 chapel and worshipped once more in the original 1814 chapel as the Trinity Methodist Church in Porkellis, which became the Sunday School after 1866. History has turned full circle. (David Thomas)
January 1998: The members of the Trinity Methodist Chapel moved into their newly renovated chapel. (The Lizard Briton Thursday 15th January 1998)
The New Trinity Chapel Official Opening 18th April 1998 – this is the 19th Century Chapel/Sunday School (Photo: courtesy Betty Pascoe)
Both the exterior and interior of the former Wesleyan Chapel featured in the Wycliffe episode ‘The Pea Green Boat’ in 1994 before its closure.