Mapping Methodism – Nanquidno Wesleyan Chapel

Nanquidno is a hamlet near St Just in Penwith in west Cornwall about half a mile southwest of Kelynack. Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell have compiled this profile of Nanquidno Wesleyan Chapel

A Wesleyan Methodist chapel is recorded on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 1880 and 1907 OS Maps. Now converted to 1 & 2 Wesley Cottages. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)

NANQUIDNO METHODIST CHAPEL. By HERBERT RICHARDS. It is always interesting to learn the history of the small way-side places of worship seen in West Cornwall and built in the dim past. The following was published in the ” Wesleyan Methodist Magazine” for January. 1833. by the Rev. J. Hobson, circuit minister. Although St. Just parish it was at this time in the Penzance Methodist circuit.

1832: “NANQUIDNO CHAPEL OPENED. This chapel is 34 feet by 23 feet without. All the stones for the building were cheerfully given. It is on a lease of 999 years. The building cost £6O. We have already raised £5O. It was opened on Monday. November 5^th 1832, a very cold and stormy day, yet more than 300 people were crowded within its walls. Various circumstances connected with this district tend to make it very interesting. The magnificence of its scenery, and the roar of the ocean… About a mile south, on a rock, is a lighthouse called the Longships. and two miles north is a headland 299 feet above the sea called Cape Cornwall. It is in the parish of St. Just and two miles south of St. Just churchtown. It was in this place that the congregation was obliged during last spring to hold prayer meetings out of doors by moonlight. Our members here have increased from 25 to 70. The chapel is a strong well-built edifice, and is likely to stand for centuries, and I doubt not that generations yet unborn will praise God for its erection.” (Cornish Post and Mining News – Saturday 3 June 1944)

The chapel after conversion to dwellings (Photo: Barry West)

1829: Founded. (West Penwith Resources)

1832: Opening date.

1835: Build date. (SWChurches) Although this states the year it was built, it is possibly the registration date.

“If we except the erection of an end-gallery in the church-town chapel, which took place in 1818, nothing remarkable remains to be recorded of the St. Just society, till the great revival of 1832-1833; an account of which the reader will find in the following pages. In consequence of the increase which thus accrued to the societies and congregations, it became necessary to build three new chapels. Of these, in the order of time, the first was at Nanquidno, a place about two miles to the south of the church-town, where up to this period no similar accommodation had been required. This situation is remarkably bold, and is traditionally connected with some interesting historical asso- cations, particularly the landing of Stephen and of John on his return from a visit to Ireland. To the north lies the noble promontory of Cape Cornwall; and to the south, opposite the Land’s End, the rocks called the Long Ships, with their lighthouse. In the centre of this wild scenery, and exposed to the Atlantic winds, our small but substantial chapel is erected.” (Memoirs of Mr John Edwards Trezise of St Just – Extract from his Diary with some account of Methodism in St Just by Richard Treffrey Jun.)

Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)

Part of St Just Wesleyan Circuit. (SWChurches)

Seating for 150. (West Penwith Resources)

This chapel is 34 by 23 feet without; all the stones and carriage of materials, besides a great deal of labour, were cheerfully given. It is on a lease of 999 years: ground-rent, 2s. 6d. per annum. The building cost 60; towards which, by subscription and public collections, we raised upwards of 50. It was opened on Monday, Nov. 5th, 1832, a very cold and stormy day; yet more than three hundred people crowded within its walls; and surely the presence of our Redeeming Lord consecrated the temple. Joy and gratitude filled the hearts and gladdened the countenances of our worthy friends in this place, on this interesting occasion. Various circumstances and recollections connected with this neighbourhood tend to render it peculiarly interesting: the magnificence of its convulsed scenery, the occasional roar of the ocean, combine to awaken sensations of awe and admiration. It was near this place that Stephen landed on his first arrival in England, as did King John on his return from Ireland. About a mile south, on the rocks called the Long Ships, is a lighthouse; and about two miles on the north is a promontory, 229 feet above the level of the sea, called Cape Cornwall. It is in the parish of St. Just, and two miles south of St. Just Church town. It was in this place that the congregation was obliged, during the last spring, to hold the prayer-meeting out of doors by moonlight. Our members here have increased from twenty-three to seventy; we have divided them into three classes; and I believe nearly every member, if not indeed everyone, can give a sound and scriptural reason for the hope that is in them. The youngest member in this society is more than twenty years old; so much for the truth of the “Christian Observer’s” insinuation, that they were young people that were led out to the prayer-meeting. I believe they were nearly all married. The chapel is a strong, well-built edifice; and is likely to stand for centuries; and I doubt not be generations yet unborn will praise God for its erection. (West Penwith Resources)

From the Christian Observer and Methodists 1833 Speaking of St. Just. Mr. Hobson says, ” The houses of prayer, in the different parts of the parish, all became too small for the congregations; and hence they made use of the largest barns in the neighbourhood. At one place, Nanquidno The péople used to worship in a dwelling house but on Friday the barn could not con tain them. Not one half of the people could gain admittance so they held their prayer-meeting by moon light, upon the moor, by the sea-side. (Provided by Barry West)

1851: E I Sturges, minister. (West Penwith Resources)

1873: Survey states 100 seats. (West Penwith Resources)

1881: Chapel re-opened following closure for painting. (Cornishman – Thursday 18 August 1881)

1911: Seating for 120. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

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

1932: Became Nanquidno Methodist Chapel. (SWChurches)

Part of St Just Methodist Circuit. (SWChurches)

1930s: Closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1944: This chapel is now a farm building. (Cornish Post and Mining News – Saturday 03 June 1944)

1952: Closure date. (SWChurches / West Penwith Resources) The previous statements suggest that the closure date was some time earlier.

1952: premises were sold. (SWChurches)

1952: Correspondence, sale of Nanquidno Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith. Correspondence with Borlase & Venning, solicitors, concerning sale of chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRSJ/176)

Became a dwelling. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

April 2023 (photo: Barry West)