Mapping Methodism – Hayle Mount Pleasant Teetotal Methodist Chapel

Hayle is a port town at the mouth of the Hayle River and is approximately seven miles (11 km) northeast of Penzance. This profile of Hayle Mount Pleasant Teetotal Methodist Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

Built in 1843 as a Teetotal Methodist chapel and later becoming a Free United Methodist chapel 1871, at which time it was shared by the Baptist community in Hayle and had a full immersion baptistery. Recorded on the 1877 1st edition OS map and the 1907 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS Map. The chapel was demolished in the late C20. (C. Noall, The Book of Hayle, 1984, 34 – 35). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

This chapel sat on what is now Mount Pleasant / Chapel Hill, almost opposite the junction with Mount Pleasant next to the Bay View Terrace junction with the Sunday school next to it.

Victorian Journalist and Philanthropist John Passmore Edwards came to Hayle and lectured at the Chapel, where his brother worked as the Sunday School Superintendent, and he later opened an institute and reading room.

 

1843: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway / Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961)

A Teetotal Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961)

Circa 1860: Became a Methodist New Connexion Chapel. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961) The New Connexion had taken over the St. Ives Teetotal Societies in 1852.

1871: Building sold to the United Methodist Free Church. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961)

1897: Hayle Sunday Schools: “… walked in procession, by way of Copperhouse and Phillack, to the Towans, where tea was provided …. Copperhouse Rifles, Deveral Band, and the Wesley Guild Drum and Fife Band supplied the music. The procession was a large one, over 1,700 children …” (24 June 1897 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)

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

1907: Became a United Methodist Church.

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

1932: Became Mount Pleasant Methodist Chapel.

1936: “BAZAAR AT HAYLE MOUNT PLEASANT METHODIST CHAPEL EFFORT. As the result of the labour given by the young men of the church, the Sunday schoolroom of Mount Pleasant Methodist chapel, Hayle, has been redecorated, and on Thursday it was reopened by Miss Dorothy Hawkins…” (Cornishman – Thursday 23 April 1936)

1940: Seating for 292. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1944: “WHERE GENERAL BOOTH PREACHED FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATED AT HAYLE. Hayle Salvation Army Corps celebrated the annual Founder’s Day Sunday. Special services were held to commemorate the centenary of William Booth’s conversion. It was in the first year of the existence of the Salvation Army, 66 years ago, that Mrs. Capt. Sayers inaugurated the Hayle Coups. Because William Booth had held a revival meeting in the Mount Pleasant Chapel, Hayle, 80 years ago, before he became General, all the meetings on Sunday were held. there (by kind permission of the trustees) …” (Cornishman – Thursday 13 July 1944)

1960/61: Closed. (David Easton., Methodist Minister and historian / Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961))

Became Commercial. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31^st August 1961)

Circa 1969 (Photo: courtesy David Philp)

Demolished and replaced with residential.

Adjacent to 1970s Methodist Chapel.

1970s: A new church built to replace Highlanes, Foundry, Mount Pleasant and Copperhouse chapels, near to the site of the former Mount Pleasant Chapel.