Mapping Methodism – Wall Wesleyan Chapel

Wall is to the west of Camborne. This profile of Wall Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

The chapel is situated north of the Wall Road, to the east of the village, next door to the old school.

John Wesley is said to have visited Wall in 1743, and to have slept in Box Tree Cottage. (https://gwinearparishchurch.org.uk/about/about-us.php)

Non-Conformist. There is a Methodist Church at Wall, and a Meeting House at Carnhell Green. John Wesley preached at Wall in 1747. (Genuki)

1789 Chapel

1789 (Build date. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961)

1829 Chapel

Wesleyan chapel. Re-fitted and re-fenestrated early C20. Near ashlar front with granite dressings including rusticated quoins, plinth, string and pediment, otherwise granite rubble with granite dressings. 3-bay front with round-arched windows to 1st floor and round-arched doorway. Interior not inspected but likely to retain horse-shoe gallery. Good group with Sunday school. Listed in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

Sunday school/hall next to grade II listed Wesleyan chapel and listed as being within its curtilage. Probably mid C19. Coursed local granite with granite dressings including ashlar plinth. Round-arched openings with original windows. Rubble road-frontage wall. Very attractive group with 1829 chapel. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

Methodist chapel. Date plaque 1829, remodelled slightly circa early C20. Regularly coursed dressed granite front with granite dressings. Scantle slate roof with pedimented gable at the front (south) and half hip at rear. Plan: large rectangular aisle-less plan with gallery presumably on 3 sides; rostrum at north (ritual east) end and entrance at south. Later vestry and organ loft at rear. Exterior: 2 storey elevations. 3 window south entrance front: plinth, mid floor band, pediment gable with central blind oculus plaque and chamfered rusticated quoins. Central round-headed doorway flanked by segmental arched windows. Round-headed windows to first floor. Circa early C20 pair of doors and leaded windows. 4-window side walls with mid-floor bands and circa early C20 6-pane sashes in square-headed openings. Interior: not inspected. (British Listed Buildings)

The Chapel at Wall was opened in 1829**. It is at the centre of four villages – Carnhell Green, Gwinear, Reawla and Well in the parish of Gwinear. For many local people this is where they were baptised, went to Sunday School, got married and continue to hold their ancestors’ funeral services. (The Methodist Church)

** The date “1829”is not the date the chapel was opened but the date the foundation stone was laid. The chapel was officially opened on St. Gwinear Feast Day, first Sunday in May, 1830. There is no visible sign of the foundation stone. It is possible that the stone was made invisible when the handicap access ramp was built. Richard Saundry)

It is grade 2 listed.

Wall Chapel (Photo: Paul Phillips)

Pre 1829: Society already well established. (SWChurches)

1829: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway / SWChurches)

Built as a Wesleyan Chapel (SWChurches)

1853: School building erected adjacent for Wall Wesleyan Day School. This became a council school, Wall Council School, in 1910. It merged with Gwinear Church of England School to form Gwinear Council School which opened in different premises in April 1931. (SWChurches)

6 Jun 1867: Certificate of registration, marriages, Wall Wesleyan Chapel, Gwinear. Certificate from John Haye, Superintendent Registrar of the Redruth District to certify that the Chapel was registered for the solemnization of marriages on the 30th May 1867. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/1377)

1887: “Wanted to Borrow, immediately, £250 at 4 per cent, by the Trustees of Wall Wesleyan Chapel, Gwinear, Hayle.” (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 08 September 1887)

Renovations in progress. (The Cornish Telegraph – Wednesday 25 December 1901)

1914-18: Not only did the children of Wall Sunday school enjoy their tea treat buns but, according to Cedric Appleby in “Wall Methodist Church”, they also sent these delicious treats to ex-scholars serving in the forces.

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

Part of Hayle Methodist Circuit.

1935: Wall Sunday School closed. (https://gwinearparishchurch.org.uk/about/about-us.php)

The former Sunday School had 250 pupils using footpaths from as far as Praze an Beeble to get their education. (https://gwinearparishchurch.org.uk/about/about-us.php)

Part of Camborne-Redruth Methodist Circuit of which it is now part. Currently (2014) (SWChurches)

There was a manse at Wall which was sold in the 1970s. (SWChurches)

1974-1976: Papers, sale of manse, Wall, Camborne Methodist Circuit. Including correspondence with Methodist Property Division, Michael Prisk estate agent, Chellows solicitors and others. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/349)

The church is in a Local Ecumenical Partnership with the Parish Church of St Gwinear and they still have an active Sunday. (SWChurches)