Mapping Methodism – Blackrock Bible Christian / Wesleyan Methodist

Blackrock is east of Crowan. This profile of Blackrock Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.

 

An early C19 wayside Wesleyan Chapel, now converted to house. It is a small vernacular example with stucco detail including plinth and quoin strips. Converted and altered in the early 1980’s this included roof dormers. (Heritage Gateway)

 

First Chapel

1859: First recorded lease which assumes a build date around this time.

Circa 1859: Build date.

1887: Maps show an early chapel on the east side of the road south of the crossroads. It is marked as a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

 

Second Chapel

28 May 1877 Assignment of lease, chapel, Black Rock, Crowan. Parties: 1) Henry Berryman of Cargenwen, Crowan, miner, William Carah of Praze, builder, William Edwards of Crowan, builder, and Thomas Corey of Black Rock, Crowan, miner. 2) Henry Berryman, William Carah, William Edwards and Thomas Corey [as in 1)] with John Roberts and Christopher Roberts, both of Carne, Crowan, farmers, John Carah, farmer, and Henry Williams, miner, both of Cargenwen, Thomas Faull of Trethanus [Trethannas], Crowan, miner, and James Dower of Bolitho, Crowan, miner. Consideration: £4 by 2) to 1) Recites: lease of 31 October 1859 by The Reverend Hender Molesworth St Aubyn to Henry Berryman and John Carah, both now deceased, Henry Berryman [as above], William Berryman [now deceased], William Carah, William Edwards and Thomas Corey [as above], John Williams, Henry Walters and William Fall [Faull], all now deceased. Assignment of 99-year lease of a Chapel erected on Black Rock Downs then formerly in the occupation by a branch of the Wesleyan Society called Bible Christians, then of the lessees as members of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, in Trust. Chapel, hereditaments and premises. (Kresen Kernow RH/1/121)

 

Build date unknown.

Located at the crossroads.

Built as Black Rock Wesleyan Chapel.

1910 circa: Black Rock Chapel (Photo: courtesy Mac Waters)

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

1932. Became Black Rock Methodist Chapel

1859-1937: Notes, chapel leasehold, Black Rock Methodist Church, Crowan. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/272)

1965: Letter concerning lease, Black Rock Methodist Church, Crowan. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/273)

1968: Certificate of registration, marriages, Black Rock Methodist Church, Crowan. Certificate of registration for solemnising marriages. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/274)

1978: Closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)

1978/79: Sold and became residential.

1978-1979: Correspondence, sale of chapel, Black Rock Methodist Church, Crowan. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/275)

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

1984: File, correspondence and papers, property, Black Rock Methodist Church, Crowan. Superintendent minister’s file of correspondence and papers relating to property, Camborne Methodist Circuit. Includes bequest to closed chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/802)

(Photo: Paul Phillips)