Perranporth is a seaside resort town on the north coast of Cornwall one mile east of the St Agnes Heritage Coastline, and around 8 miles south-west of Newquay. Perranporth and its 3 miles (5 km) long beach face the Atlantic Ocean. This profile of Perranporth Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Karin Easton of Perranzabuloe Old Cornwall Society
Most of this information is taken from Perranporth Methodist Church: A Story by Michael Fairhead published for the anniversary 1893-1993, published by Perranporth Methodist Church, printed by Teagle Print, used with permission from the author.
Prior to 1893 there had been Primitive and Wesleyan Connexions holding their own services in different hamlets and villages in the Perranporth area. Bolingey Chapel was the main centre for the Wesleyans but members from Nampara, Hendrawna and the Porth (later known as Perranporth) desired somewhere nearer to home. They began meeting over Bown’s Shop at the bottom of St George’s Hill.
1868 a Sunday School was founded.
1879 The Circuit Plan showed a Sunday Service held at 2.30 pm and a meeting on Wednesday at 7.00 pm. With the rise in numbers attending services, the Oddfellows Hall in Ponsmere Road was later used until 1893.
1891 Land was purchased for a new chapel for Perranporth next to the Oddfellows Hall for the sum of £46.10s. The Chapel cost £695 to build and by the time it was opened only £213 remained to be paid. It was of simple design without the usual gallery but well lit, with three long windows on either side. Originally oil lamps were used, then acetylene lamps, followed by paraffin lamps, petrol lamps and finally electric lighting.
1893 Monday June 26th – The Chapel was certified as a place of worship, and the first service was held at 3.30 pm with Rev. W. H. Thompson preaching. The choir sat facing the congregation with an ‘American’ organ in the middle. The Chapel was crowded, and a high tea was held afterwards. Reports state that the Chapel was crowded every Sunday and the collections were exceedingly good. One of the first baptisms there was that of Donald Healey who later became well known as a car designer.
1895 More land was bought for £4 for an extension for lower and upper vestries.
1903 Further land beside the Chapel was purchased for a single-storey wooden hall, and a Sunday School was held there in the early 1920s. Also in the 1920s, the pine pews were covered in darkaline. This was very unpopular as people’s clothes stuck to the pews, especially after a long sermon.
c1910 The American organ was replaced by a new one, originally pumped by hand and later fitted with an electric blower. Mrs. Emily Tresidder was the organist for the first 40 years. In the refurbishment of the 1950s the organ was lowered to ground level.
1911 The Chapel was solemnised for marriages.
1915 The Methodist Church gave support to the Children’s Special Services Mission, or CSSM and known to the children as Sissums, which commenced in full at Perranporth. There was a break from 1917 – 1922 and then continued from 1923, with a break in 1931, even during the war years. The CSSM is a beach mission provided by volunteers from different Christian churches to entertain children and young people with activities during the daytime and early evening, usually for two weeks during the school summer holidays. Every morning a service was held on the beach with the pulpit made of sand and decorated with found beach objects.
1934 Perranporth Chapel had 144 members.
1937 A new manse was built on Liskey Hill for the minister’s residence at a cost of £850. Previously the manse had been at Penhale Villa.
1939-45 During the second world war, a canteen was set up for evacuees. Members of H. M. Forces also made good use of the hall. They were allowed to play cards, but not for money.
Late 1950s A project to modernise and re-design the layout of the Chapel was put forward and an appeal to raise £1500 was launched. The central pulpit was demolished and a new pulpit constructed on the right when facing the Communion Table with the choir chairs on the left. The organ was renovated, the darkaline pews were painted in pastel colours and the ceiling was painted in ochre, all making the building much lighter.
1962 December 8th the Chapel was re-opened with a Dedication Service followed by tea in the schoolroom.
1971 A new boiler was purchased with a legacy. The list of Trustees was renewed.
1973 As the previous wooden hall was much dilapidated, a new hall was opened at a cost of £2,500.
1975 The windows facing Ponsmere Road were replaced and later the windows on the other side were replaced too.
1978 After the closure of Bolingey Chapel, the few remaining members joined services at Perranporth Chapel. With some of the funds from the sale of Bolingey Chapel being transferred to Perranporth, a new roof and new tarmac in the car park could be completed.
1979 Redecoration of the interior of the Chapel cost £1973, with £400 being raised at the Gift Day.
1980 A further legacy provided for an extra storey above the school room (now called Wesley Hall) as the young people attending the Sunday School, or Children’s Youth Mission (CYM) were up to 100.
1982 The new Wesley Hall extension was opened.
1986 With another legacy the organ was dismantled, overhauled and rebuilt at a cost of £4,000. The interior of the Chapel was also redecorated with this same legacy.
1993 June – Celebrations for the Chapel anniversary were held with a parade in Victorian costume through Perranporth on the Saturday leading to the Inner Green for refreshments and entertainment. Perranporth Band played; there was a children’s tug of war and Cornish wrestling; tea treat buns for the children; tea and cake for the adults and a cream tea served in Wesley Hall later in the day.
On the Sunday there was a special anniversary service with the Chairman of the Cornwall Methodist District and local dignitaries, including the Chairman of Carrick District Council and the Chairman of Perranzabuloe Parish Council.
2020 Because of government Covid pandemic regulations, services were unable to continue from March 23 2020 to July 2021, although a congregation limit of 30 with no singing was permitted for a time.
Perranporth Methodist Church August 2021 (Photo: courtesy Karin Easton)
2021 August 27-30 – Organisation of a special weekend to encourage more people back to the Church after such an uncertain and difficult time for the membership during the Covid pandemic and to celebrate the full re-opening of the church – all weekend a Flower Festival with the theme ‘The Living Church’ and a Special Service of Songs of Praise on the Sunday.