Kestle is a hamlet in the Parish of St. Ewe about 1 ¾ miles West of Mevagissey. This profile of Kestle Bible Christian Chapel has been complied by Mark Mitchley.
Denomination: Bible Christian
Location: Gilley Lane, St. Ewe
Opened: c. 1849
Closed: 1937
Sunday School: Yes
Sunday School building: No
Sunday School anniversary: June
Current status: Still standing but its use and occupation are unclear. It is somehow connected to a building resembling a chapel behind it.
It looks as though The Bible Christians at Kestle moved into an existing chapel building recently used by Primitive Methodists, who left in September 1847 and who had paid £2 a year rent. The chapel is sometimes confused with Kestle Mill Chapel in Newquay and Kestle is sometimes recorded as ‘Kessell’.
1842 Tithe map
Shown as plot 2530 and owned by the Richard Johns and leased by Joseph Sparshott and Richard Glasyon. Described as a chapel occupied by Primitive Methodists.
1849 Mevagissey Bible Christian Circuit quarterly meeting minutes
The volume at Kresen Kernow (MRA/283) has the first mention of Kestle Bible Christian Chapel at the Midsummer’s Day meeting in 1849 and records that there were two members and two others on trial.
9th September 1850
First baptism recorded in the Mevagissey Circuit register for an unnamed child of Walter and Ann Barbary.
1851, Religious census
Completed by St. Ewe Parish Churchwarden and he states 1850 for the founding and estimates room for 100 worshippers available at the chapel with services in the afternoon and evening attended by 50-60 people each.
Royal Cornwall Gazette, 2nd August 1878
‘Kestle: The anniversary of the Bible Christian Sunday school was held recently. Sermons were preached on the Sunday by the Rev. T. C. Jacob. The congregations were large, necessitating the holding of the evening service in the open air. The Mevagissey Bible Christian choir, assisted by Mr. H. Rowe, were in attendance. On the following Monday, the children, teachers, and friends had their annual tea in a meadow kindly lent by Mr. D. Burnett. A public meeting followed in the open air and was addressed by the Revs. G. A. Joslin and T. C. Jacob. The attendance and collections were in advance of last year. The Rev. G. A. Joslin has accepted an invitation to remain in the Mevagissey circuit the third year. The Rev. T. C. Jacob will leave at the ensuing Conference, having accepted an invitation from the Camelford circuit.’
Royal Cornwall Gazette, 10th June 1887
The chapel collected 5s 2d for the Royal Cornwall Infirmary along with all the other chapels under the care of Rev. H. Ellis.
St. Austell Star, 23rd September 1892
Notice of annual missionary meetings for the Bodmin Bible Christian District and circuits including Mevagissey. Kestle to be visited by Rev. R. Kelly on 22nd April at the same time as Portholland, Veryan and Tregoney.
Western Morning News, 15th July 1895
‘St. Austell election: Sir, – The young man who asked Mr. Williams for a collection at the Trudgeon Demonstration, is named Edward Whitehair. He was delegated long before the election was thought of, as his book shews, by Mr. Webber, the Bible Christian Minister at Mevagissey, to collect for a harmonium for the chapel at a small hamlet called Kestle in this parish. he states that he simply took the book to the demonstration with the hope of picking up a coin or two, and he thought he was asking Mr. J. C. Williams when he gave the book to his brother. Whitehair was not disappointed at the refusal, and nothing more was thought of it; indeed he regrets exceedingly that he should, though quite innocently, have been the cause of so much annoyance to Mr. Williams.
Nigel Neville, Rector of St. Ewe.
Joseph William Seccombe, Farmer.’
Royal Cornwall Gazette, 5th February 1903
At a collection for the Mevagissey and St. Ewe District Nursing Association, the chapel contributed 2s (c.f. Polmassick Bible Christian Chapel’s 10s 6d).
The Cornish Guardian, 1st January 1904
‘Kestle: Kestle Bible Christians held their school tea on Christmas Day. Public tea at six o’clock, presided over by the Misses Mitchell, Lobb, Husband and Moses. In the evening there was a public meeting presided over by the Rev. Faull. There were duets by Mrs. Rawlings and Miss A. Lobb; recitations and dialogues by the scholars; readings by Mr. Ball; and special hymns by the choir. Miss Mitchell presided at the harmonium.’
West Briton & Cornwall Advertiser, 16th April 1908
The chapel collected 4s 6d for the Royal Cornwall Infirmary presented by John Teague.
The Cornish Guardian, 25th June 1909 ‘Mevagissey: On Sunday last the anniversary services of the Kestle United Methodist Sunday School were held; but the proceedings were somewhat marred by the inclement state of the weather. The services were held in a barn, Kindly lent by Mr. B. Burnett. The Rev. J. Datson was the preacher.
Operations in connection with the hay harvest have commenced in this district, a splendid field of grass having been cut out on Saturday last by Mr. J. C. Rowe.’
The Cornish Guardian, 2nd November 1923
‘Kestle: At the U. M. harvest festival services, there were crowded congregations to hear the Rev. F. T. Bennetts, of Mevagissey. At the public meeting on Tuesday, Mr. O. Hill presided, an address being given by Mr. Bennetts. Mr. John Teague sold the fruit afterwards.’
The Cornish Guardian 17th October 1924
‘St. Ewe: Kestle United Methodist Chapel harvest festival services were held on Sunday and Monday and proved one of the most successful harvest festivals held at the chapel. The preacher on Sunday was Mr. John W. Crago (of Tywardreath). On Monday, a public meeting was held presided over by Mr. O. Hill when the newly-appointed minister (Rev. E. Hill) delivered an address on “Harvest and its Responsibilities”. After the service, the gifts of fruit and vegetables were offered for sale by Mr. John Teague. The chapel was crowded for each service the total proceeds being close on £9.’
The Cornish Guardian 11th June 1926
‘The Kestle United Methodist Sunday School anniversary was held on Sunday last; the services being held in the afternoon and evening. An unusual feature was that the afternoon service was held in a large barn, kindly placed at their disposal by Mr. Dungey, and the evening service took the form of an open air gathering in an adjacent field. Rev. E. Hill, of Mevagissey, presided in the afternoon, when recitations were contributed by Misses Lily and Edith Husband, Ruby Towner and Phyllis Stephens. A solo was rendered by Miss Isobel Dungey and a duet by Misses Ruby Tower and Mabel Dungey. The choir and scholars rendered appropriate hymns. A large number were attracted to the evening service, which was conducted by Rev. E. Hill. A solo and recitations were also given at this service. Miss Irene Lobb and Olive Dungey acted as accompanists throughout the day.’
The Cornish Guardian 30th July 1926
‘Kestle: Kestle U. M. annual Sunday school outing took place on Monday last, the scholars, teachers, parents and friends journeyed by charabanc to Newquay, where a most enjoyable day was spent. They were accompanied by their pastor (Rev. Hill).’
The Cornish Guardian, 26th November 1926
‘Kestle: Kestle United Methodist missionary services were held on Sunday of last week, Rev. J. Ware of Portloe, and Mr. A. Langford of Polgooth being the speakers. On the Wednesday, Mr. W. Kent presided, and addresses were delivered by Revs. J. Ware and E. Hill, Miss Irene Lobb presided at the organ. The building presents a pleasing appearance having been recently re-decorated.’
The Cornish Guardian 6th June 1929
‘Kestle United Methodists: The anniversary services in connection with Kestle United Methodist Sunday School were held on Sunday last in a field kindly placed at their disposal by Mr. Dungey. Pastor E. J. Cole presided at a service in the afternoon, when lessons were read by Miss Lily Husband and Master Geoffrey Lobb. Recitations were given by Miss Lily Husband and Miss Edith Husband; duets contributed by Misses Dungey and Trythall, and by Miss Lily Hunkin and Pastor Cole, of Mevagissey, while Miss L. Hunkin also rendered solos. The unfavourable weather kept down the attendance at the evening service, when a programme of enjoyable selections was rendered by Mevagissey Male Voice Choir, under the conductorship of Mr. S. Rowe, with Miss N. May presiding at the organ. Miss Dorothy Burnard, the well-known vocalist of St. Austell, rendered a very impressive solo, and Pastor Cole delivered an interesting and appropriate sermon.’
The Cornish Guardian, 24th June 1937
‘Zion Circuit Quarterly Meeting: It was reluctantly decided to close Kestle Methodist Church, owing to lack of support.’