Mapping Methodism – Crowntown Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel

Crowntown is a village to the south of Nancegollan. This profile of Crowntown Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Crown Town is north of Sithney. The chapel was on the east side of the road (B3303) through the village, just north of the old turn to Chynhale, now a dead-end road.

Wesleyan Association chapel is first recorded on the c1840 Sithney Tithe Award and Map. Later shown as a Free United Methodist chapel on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 1880 and 1907 OS Maps. Now converted to a dwelling. (b1). (b2). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

 

1840s Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel 

1840s: Build date.

Built as a Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel.

It was a thatched building.

25 Dec 1841: Lease, site of Crowntown Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel, Sithney. Parties:. 1) Christopher Wallis Popham of Trevarnoe. 2) Chapel trustees. Parcel of Prospednick Common, Sithney with thatched Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel. Term: 99 years. Rent: 6 pence. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/234)

1857: The Wesleyan Methodist Association and the Wesleyan Reform Church amalgamated to become the United Methodist Free Churches

 

1871 United Methodist Free Church

Crowntown Chapel

24 Mar 1871: Lease, land for Crowntown chapel, Sithney. Parties: 1) C W Popham 2) William Clifton Odger. Two plots of land. One plot contains the old chapel and is adjoined by the plot for the new chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/236)

23 Dec 1871: Assignment of lease, site of Crowntown United Methodist Free Church, Sithney. Parties: 1) W C Odger. 2) Chapel trustees. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/237)

1871: Build date. (Plaque)

Built adjacent to the 1840s chapel.

1898: Certificate of registration, Crowntown United Methodist Free Church, Sithney. Certificate of registration as a place of religious worship. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/239)

Crowntown Chapel organ (Photo: courtesy David Philp)

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

1907: Became Crowntown United Methodist Church.

1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain and this led to the closure of this chapel which became surplus to requirements.

Circa 1935: Closed.

Western Morning News Circa 1935

1935: Consent, sale of chapel, Crowntown United Methodist Church, Sithney. Consent given by the president of the Methodist conference. (Kresen Kernow MRPL/241)

1935: The organ moved to Godolphin Chapel. The delightful instrument is now in store at Poldark Tin Mine & The Cornish Heritage Collection.

Chapel demolished and housing built. The field behind is called Chapel field and there is currently new building going on the site.

Interestingly the pub (The Crown) which is further south notes the following: “Local folklore believes that the Methodist John Wesley opened the attached former chapel, which still retains its gothic arched front door”. This implies that the chapel was next to the pub and certainly the Gothic arch is still there, looking at Google maps but the OS maps show it further north where these is now newer buildings. So, this may indeed be folk lore or perhaps it was a temporary meeting place.

Also – in terms of Methodist history, John Wesley certainly preached in the area. The Trevarno Estate contains an old trough on which he is reputed to have stood “and a large granite trough, thought to have been stood on by John Wesley when he preached in the area”. There is reported to be a grotto built on the site.