Mapping Methodism – Carnkie Bible Christian Chapel, Wendron

Carnkie is a village situated half a mile west of Rame, approximately three and a half miles west of Penryn and approximately five miles northeast of Helston. This profile of Carnkie Bible Christian Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Early Chapel

A new Bible Christian chapel was built in 1857 replacing an earlier one. (SWChurches)

 

The 1857 Bible Christian Chapel

Bible Christian Chapel, including adjoining former trap-house, earth-closets, courtyard walls, gate-piers and gate, now a Sunday schoolroom. Datestone 1857. Dressed roughly coursed granite rubble with granite dressings, otherwise rubble or painted rubble. Chapel has asbestos slate roof with pedimented gable at the front and chimney over the rear gable. Trap-house and one earth-closet have scantle slate roofs; there is a brick chimney over the front end of the trap-house and cast-iron ogee-section gutters. Plan: Small rectangular-on-plan aisle-less chapel with rectangular-on-plan trap- house adjoining its front left-hand corner and earth closets by the front left-hand corner of the trap-house. 2-window chapel has original doors and windows: Pair of 2 panel doors in round-head opening with plain fanlight; vermiculated rusticated voussoirs to door arch; 12-pane sashes at first floor (formerly gallery) level and pediment with moulded cornices, and with name and date plaque; over. Side walls have square-headed window openings with C20 windows except for round- headed window with original hornless sash with traceried head towards rear of left- hand side. Trap-house has right-hand wall at front with C19 6-pane horned sash on the left and partly blocked original wide doorway on the right. Interior: Not inspected but said to have no original fittings. Rubble courtyard wall adjoining right-hand front corner of chapel has dressed granite copings; gateway with pyramidally-headed dressed granite monolithic piers and original wrought-iron gate with fleurs-de-lys and scrolled detail. Listing NGR: SW7149034236 (Historic England)

Bible Christian wayside chapel, later the Sunday school when superseded by 1900 chapel (chapels linked by trap house), now appears to be disused. Built of rubble with granite dressings. Late classical example. 2-window pedimented front with round-arched doorway with rusticated arch. Interior not inspected but probably has end gallery. Good group. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

It is not the building seen from the road (which is the trap house) but is directly behind the 1902 chapel.

 

1857: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway/Date stone)

Three 2023 Photos from Barry West

1857: New Bible Christian chapel was built in the village, replacing an earlier one. (SWChurches)

1877 to 1907: Indicated on maps but as a Wesleyan Chapel. (old.maps.co.uk)

1893: Carnkie Bible Christians Sunday School: “The 28^th annual festival of the Bible-Christian Sunday-school was held on Thursday. To the music of the Carnmenellis Brass Band, teachers and scholars paraded the village …” (20 July 1893 – Cornishman)

1902: The 1857 chapel became the Sunday school. (SWChurches)

It is grade 2 listed.

 

1902 Bible Christian Chapel

(Photo: Wikipedia)

Bible Christian Chapel, including courtyard walls, gate-piers and gates in front and at the sides. Datestone 1900. Dressed granite, brought to course, with granite dressings. Dry slate roof with pedimented gable at the front, hipped end at rear. Plan: Unaltered rectangular aisle-less plan with narrow organ loft over vestry at the rear plus original entrance porch midway to the left-hand entrance front, another porch clasping the rear left-hand corner and another porch clasping the rear right- hand corner with steps up to its front doorway. Classical style with some Gothic detail. Exterior: Tall elevation with chamfered plinths. Symmetrical 1:1:1 window road front with wider central bay broken forward and surmounted by a pediment and flanking bays surmounted by balustrades with terminal newels surmounted by ball finials. The bays are flanked by buttresses with moulded weatherings. Central bay has tall 4- light transomed mullioned window with stepped round-headed lights and tracery over the central lights. Pediment has machicolated cornice under, large moulded kneelers supporting a moulded coping, name and date in bold relief, memorial plaques and a central quatrefoil. Flanking bays each have single light round-headed windows. All the windows have hoodmoulds. Original coloured leaded glazing. Side walls have simple glazing in original round-headed openings. Porches have original panelled doors. Principal porch has traceried fanlight with coloured glass. Porch on the right has granite steps and original iron handrail carried on stanchions. Interior: Front walls are low with dressed granite copings originally surmounted with iron railings which have been removed. Wide central gateway has dressed granite square-on-plan piers like columns with fluted necking; terminal piers have rusticated shafts but all piers have moulded caps with ball finials. Original elaborate cast- iron gates. Taller flanking walls are rubble with cemented copings. Listing NGR: SW7148234251 (Historic England)

Disused Bible Christian chapel built to replace original 1857 wayside chapel that then became the Sunday school, the two chapels linked by a later trap house. Local rubble with granite dressings; dry Delabole slate roof. Very rich eclectic style 3-bay show front end: Italianate style windows, pilasters and balustrade, Gothic style end buttresses. Central bay broken forward and surmounted by pediment with central quatrefoil over inscription in relief: Bible Christian Chapel A. D. 1900 (1). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

 

1900: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

1900: “New Bible Christian Chapel at Carnkie. The Bible Christians of Carnkie, in the parish of Wendron, long since outgrew their chapel accommodation, and decided to erect a new building to seat 300 people. A site was selected in front of the old chapel, built in 1858, and plans were prepared for a fine building of blue elvan, with granite dressings. On Wednesday week memorial stones were laid. The programme opened with a luncheon, presided over by Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence, who was accompanied by Lady Durning-Lawrence. The Rev. W. A. H. Babidge, superintendent of Helston Circuit, of which Carnkie is a part, expressed pleasure at seeing present the member for the division, and the Rev. V. H. Culliford (Falmouth) referred with pleasure to the improved financial position of the Bible Christian district. Short speeches were made by the Rev. R. Squire (Redruth), Mr. Isaac Ede (Wesleyan lay preacher), and Mr. S. Hill (Redruth), the architect…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 12 July 1900)

May 1902: New Chapel opened. (SWChurches)

1902: “OPENING OF NEW BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHAPEL AT CARNKIE. A new chapel has been opened Carnkie, village midway between Helston and Falmouth, by the Rev. J. Luke, president of the Bible Christian conference. The building is of classic design, built of Penelrick elvan with finely-axed granite tracings. Internally the chapel measures 43ft. x32ft. 6ins., and it has an orchestra with provision for a large choir and an organ. The chapel is well lit, heated, and ventilated. The joinery throughout reflects great credit on the contractor, Mr. W. H. Moyle. of Chacewater. In carrying out the work, the trustees, who are largely interested in the granite industry of the district, undertook to provide all the stone, and the granite was dressed under their supervision on the site. The building was designed and the plans and specifications were prepared by Mr. Sampson Hill, architect, Redruth. The richness and harmony of the construction, together with the very efficient and courteous manner in which his duties have been discharged, reflect the highest possible credit to Mr. Hill. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. John Pryor, Tregedna, Breage. After the singing of a hymn at the door the architect presented Mrs. Pryor with a silver key, which bore the following inscription: ‘Presented to Mrs. John Pryor at the opening of the new B. C. chapel, Carnkie, Wendron, May Ist, 1902. Sampson Hill, architect.’ Mrs. Pryor then unlocked the door and welcomed the people to the new chapel…” (Cornishman – Thursday 08 May 1902)

1 May 1902: Copy, order of service, opening, new Bible Christian Chapel, Carnkie, Wendron. (Kresen Kernow AD1840/1)

1903: “A Notable Event. The first anniversary of the Carnkie Bible Christian Chapel, Helston circuit, was held on Thursday last. The first and most important ceremony was the opening of the new gates leading into a newly enclosed yard round the chapel. The function was performed by Mr. Percy Harvey. The key bore the inscription; ‘Presented to Percy Harvey, esq., the trustees of Carnkie Bible Christian Chapel, the unlocking the entrance gates of the first anniversary. May 7th, 1903.” A meeting was held in the evening, under the presidency of Mr. A. R. Thomas, J.P., Mayor of Helston. The mayor congratulated the members on the building of such splendid church, and having the present time only balance £418 to be raised. Addresses were given the pastor. Revs. W. Gilbert, E. Coombe, and G. H. Squires, B.A.” (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 14 May 1903)

1903: Carnkie Bible Christian Sunday School: “… was held in glorious weather on Saturday. The officers, teachers and scholars assembled in the schoolroom, and headed by the Penzance Town Band, marched through the village to the top of the hill and subsequently adjourned to a field near the chapel, …” (25 July 1903 – Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser)

1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.

1907: Became Carnkie United Methodist Chapel. (SWChurches)

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

1932: Became Carnkie Methodist Chapel. (SWChurches)

1840-2007: Photographs and news cutting, Bible Christian Chapel, Carnkie, Wendron. Laminated sheet of photographs of old and new Chapels, 1840-2007, with copy of West Briton account, opening of new Chapel, 9 May 1902. (Kresen Kernow AD1840/1/2)

2002: The society celebrated the centenary of the 1902 chapel. (SWChurches)

2010: Closed – the last service was held on the 22^nd August. (Wikipedia)2013 The Methodist Church notified the authority of the sale of the chapel also confirming that the chapel is now no longer covered by ecclesiastical exemption.

Carnkie chapels have been approved for conversion and have been or are being renovated.

The Sweetland Organ has been removed to Creed Parish Church.

The building is Grade 2 listed.