Crowlas is about three miles east of Penzance. This profile of Crowlas Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1834 Chapel
Large Wesleyan chapel now used as commercial premises. Refenestrated probably late C19. Local rubble walls under a hipped roof, stuccoed at the front end. Symmetrical 2-storey, 3-window front with stucco hoodmoulds to round arches; spoked fanlight to doorway; all windows with wide margin panes. Interior not inspected but full gallery may survive. Listed in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
The 1834 Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)
1835: Founded. (West Penwith Resources)
Seating for 800. (West Penwith Resources)
1851: Edward Champion was steward. (West Penwith Resources)
1873: Not mentioned in survey. (West Penwith Resources)
1906: Sunday school built.
Wesleyan Sunday school was used as the Methodist chapel when the original 1834 chapel opposite was sold for conversion to commercial premises. Granite rubble with granite dressings under a slate roof with shaped barge boards; brick stack over rear gable. Symmetrical 2-storey, 2-window front end with round ventilator over date plaque; round-arched windows (the upper windows possibly lighting an end gallery); tripartite lean-to porch with central gable over round-arched doorway. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
The Sunday School and 1977 chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)
1895: “Crowlas Wesleyan Band of Hope held their annual festival on the 28th ult. Having paraded the villages, headed by the Marazion Artillery Brass Band, the members numbering about 250, partook of tea in the chapel. A capital entertainment was afterwards given …” (2 February 1895 – Western Morning News)
The 1834 chapel contains a stained glass war memorial window. (Cornishman – Wednesday 26 April 1922) https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/33565
1929: “Crowlas Wesleyan Sunday-school held their annual tea on Saturday, the parade being headed throughout the village by Towednack Band. Tea was served in the schoolroom and sports were held in a field …” (27 June 1929 – Cornishman)
1940: Seating for 424. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1977: The 1834 chapel closed. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1977: Sold and the organ went to Valkenburg in Holland. (Esther Benney Fb)
The 1834 chapel was sold and the congregation moved to the 1906 Sunday school. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
The 1834 chapel became a surfboard workshop. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Chapel building now 6 flats!