Bojewyan is a settlement on the Penwith Peninsula on the B3306 road which runs along the north coast and connects St Ives to St Just. It is located between the villages of Pendeen and Morvah. Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell have compiled this profile of Bojewyan Wesleyan Chapel.
A wayside Wesleyan chapel, at Bojewyan is now converted to house after being neglected for many years. It is a simple vernacular example with a small porch to the front side. This chapel had retained its original sash windows until it was converted. Listed in Stell (b1). (Heritage Gateway)
April 1840: Chapel and Sunday school opened. (Cornishman – Thursday 16 June 1938)
Chapel reopened in May 1879 after alterations and repairs. (Wiki)
1883: The enlargement of Bojewyan Chapel discussed. (The Cornish Telegraph – Saturday 13 January 1883)
1883: Permission granted for alterations and improvements to Bojewyan Chapel. (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Friday 01 June 1883)
1896: The enlargement of Bojewyan Chapel discussed. (Cornishman – Thursday 26 March 1896)
1910: Memorandum of appointment, new trustees, Bojewyan Wesleyan Chapel, St Just in Penwith. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/61)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1938: Report included that Bojewyan Chapel and Sunday School had been “opened 98 years ago”, in April 1840. (Cornishman – Thursday 16 June 1938)
1940: Seating for 100. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1971: Bojewyan Methodist Sunday school tea treat processing down Ponds Hill with Pendeen Silver Band
1975: Sunday school seemingly closed.
1975: Chapel closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1998: Planning permission for conversion to dwelling. (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser 16th April 1998)
Converted to dwelling and called “Sleepy Hollow”.
Re: Bojewyan Methodist Chapel –
I am quite possibly the oldest living person (81) who attended Bojewyan Methodist Chapel. My grandmother, (Mary Nicholas), with whom I stayed during my summer holidays, between 1946 and 1952,was more or less the backbone of that chapel, having been going there from about 1908 to 1965 when she came to live with us in Redruth. If the preacher did not show up for the service, my grandmother would take the service and preach the sermon. Only about 8 to 12 people attended and the farmers did not come in the morning as they had to do their farm work. The tea treat which you pictured was a very enjoyable occasion and was attended by other children who did not regularly go the chapel. For this occasion we had delicious saffron buns which were baked by Butters Bakery in Pendeen and were very much looked forward to. The tea treat involved the band playing and various games for the children in the field next to the chapel. I have other memories of the chapel which I will not detail here. I believe the tea treat continued until the chapel closed down in 1975.
This is just a short comment on the very happy memories I have of Bojewan Methodist Chapel – I last saw it about five years ago and noted the unfortunate skylight which the owners had somehow got away with putting in – otherwise it looks much the same. .Pamela Urquhart – Toronto, Canada
I would also like to mention that I do not see anything about Boscaswell Chapel (Pendeen) – I believe it was Bible Christian but it was one of the three main chapels in that area,(the other two being Bojewyan and Trewellard). It was turned into a house in the latter 1980s or so. Do you have any information about it?? Pamela Urquhart
Hello Pamela
I have some information pertaining to your family (Nicholas and Williams) which may greatly interest you. Contact me on annablainey@gmail.com and we can compare notes
Cheers
Anna Blainey Warner
Dear Anna – I would love to hear whatever information you may have so please do get back to me. Pam Urquhart
I’m not sure whether you got my email saying that I would love to hear from you but I’m trying to send an email again – please do contact me. Thanks. Pam Urquhart
Dear Anna – I would love to hear whatever information you may have so please do get back to me. Pam Urquhart
That’s great Pam. Could you please contact me with your email address? I’m at annablainey@gmail.com
Anna
Hi – my email address is pamelaurquhart@rogers.com. I do hope to hear from you soon! Pam Urquhart