Mapping Methodism – Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel

Carnkie is a village in west Cornwall approximately one and a half miles south west of Redruth. This profile Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

1799 Wesleyan Chapel

1799: Build date. (SWChurches)

Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)

Part of Redruth Wesleyan Circuit. (SWChurches)

The site of the early Wesleyan Chapel is on the right before the existing chapel and Sunday school in the grounds of a house and may have been on the site of the later, 1840, chapel.

“Somewhere I have a very old map before 1880 which I found at Truro record offices showing the 1799 chapel to be located in the lane way within the grounds of the 1905 chapel (not in the garden adjacent). Newspaper articles were kindly found by a colleague at Truro record offices stating that the 1841/42 chapel was build; partly for ten years without a roof due to lack of funds, whilst still using the 1799 chapel at the roadside. This building in 1905 become the sunday school, now the village hall. Mapping is vague due to the building taking so long to construct.” (Ben Martin)

A chapel is shown on early maps (1880) and the chapel was leased the Basset family in 1797.

 

The 1840 Wesleyan Chapel

A Wesleyan chapel is near to the site of an earlier chapel. Local rubble with granite dressings including inscribed foundation stones. Italianate Gothic style. Front gable end has coped gable with finial and kneelers; tripartite ventilator over tripartite window with round arches, the central part larger and with traceried head; leaded glazing with coloured glass. Ground floor has small 4-light window flanked by segmental-arched doorways with moulded hoods. Dressed granite forecourt walls curved in towards gateway with granite piers with moulded caps. A memorable architectural statement in this small mining village. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

1840: Lease renewed.

1840: Build date.

Built as a Wesleyan Chapel.

“Newspaper articles were kindly found by a colleague at Truro record offices stating that the 1841/42 chapel was build; partly for ten years without a roof due to lack of funds, whilst still using the 1799 chapel at the roadside. This building in 1905 become the sunday school, now the village hall. Mapping is vague due to the building taking so long to construct.” (Ben Martin)

Seating for 250.

1875 – 22^nd July: “Burrows Brass Band played for the Carnkie (Illogan) Wesleyan Sunday School annual tea.

1880: Sunday school built behind the 1840 chapel.

A circa 1880 Sunday school built to serve former early C19 Wesleyan Chapel and used since for its 1905 replacement chapel. Local rubble walls under a steep roof. It is a simple vernacular building with original 12-pane sash windows to side walls and small gabled porch at the front gable end. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

1881: Carnkie: “The tea treat was held on Saturday, when the school (numbering about two hundred) marched from the chapel, headed by the St Agnes Brass Band, through the little village. Tea was provided in a field opposite the chapel and the weather being fine.” (30 June 1881 – Cornishman)

1885: “The annual tea treat in connection with Carnkie Wesleyan Sunday School was held on Saturday last. Headed by [the new] Redruth Independent Brass Band, the school went to Wheal Basset and South Frances Mines and through Mr Rogers’ gardens.” (26 June 1885 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)

Carnkie Wesleyan Sunday School held its June 1886 annual tea treat in the school-yard and afterwards the children moved to an adjoining field. St Agnes Independent Brass Band was engaged for the occasion but during the evening, the Carnkie Fife and Drum Band arrived and began playing in opposition. We can guess what the St Agnes Band members thought of it but the “Cornubian and Redruth Times” reported that: “These proceedings were productive of much amusement”.

Circa 1904: The 1840 chapel closed and demolished.

 

The 1904 Wesleyan Chapel

The 1904 chapel stands on land formerly occupied by three cottages, part of a row of five, with only now two remaining.

c1900-1903: Application, erection of new chapel, Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel, Illogan. Application form for permission from Wesleyan Chapel Committee to erect new chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1607)

1 Apr 1903: Sanction, grant for new chapel, Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel, Illogan. Grant of £120 from Wesleyan Chapel Committee towards cost of new chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1609)

3 Feb 1904: Sanction, grant for new chapel, Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel, Illogan. Grant of £100 from Wesleyan Chapel Committee towards cost of new chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1610)

1903-1904: Correspondence, grants for new chapel, Carnkie Wesleyan Chapel, Illogan. Correspondence received from Wesleyan Chapel Committee. (Kresen Kernow MRR/1608)

The Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)

Circa 1904: Build or opening date. (SWChurches)

1905: Build or opening date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

CARNKIE NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL. new Wesleyan chapel at Carnkie, near Redruth, was opened on Thursday. The building, which Mr. Sampson Hill was architect, was erected at a cost of £1,000, and provides seating accommodation for 200 persons. It is granite and elvan, the frontage including large circular headed window set in an arched recess with Cathedral glass. The interior is of pitchpine, with floor oak blocks. On either side are vestries, while in the basement are store rooms and heating chamber. A luncheon, presided over by Mr. J. Wickett, Redruth, preceded the opening ceremony, performed by Mis* Agnes Wickett, who was cordially thanked. A public service followed, the preacher being the Rev. G. Dawson, Camborne. At public meeting in the evening it was intimated that in short time the chapel would probably be free from debt. (Cornishman – Thursday 13 July 1905)

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

1932: Became Carnkie Wesley Methodist Church. (SWChurches)

(Photo: Terry Knight)

Part of Redruth Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)

1970: The 1880 Sunday school sold to become Carnkie village hall.

The 1880 Sunday school which became Carnkie Village Hall (Photo: Jo Lewis)

2010: The 1904 chapel closed.

The congregation then met in Carnkie Village Hall.