Bolenowe is a village in west Cornwall approximately one-and-a-half miles southeast of Camborne. This profile of Bolenowe UMFC has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
United Free Methodist chapel, now converted to house, extended and altered. Probably mid C19. Granite rubble with moorstone dressings. Small vernacular example. Demolished and rebuilt as single-storey house using materials from original chapel. (Heritage Gateway)
It was a small vernacular chapel built of granite rubble with moorstone dressings.
Walk down the lane and turn right at the bottom into the thoroughfare through the village. In a very short distance on the right, we arrive outside the rival chapel in Bolenowe, the former United Methodist Free Church, now also a private residence.
Once again it is amazing that such a small community as Bolenowe, consisting of scattered cottages and adjacent farms, could support a second place of worship but this is indicative of the post-1849 divisions between the Wesleyans and the United Methodist Free Church, formalised after 1857, divisions which put down roots into the smallest of Cornish communities and where rival groups led entirely separate religious existences. Allegiances to particular chapels were very strong indeed.
This second chapel on the road through the village was certainly in business by 1893 as this is the date of its earliest surviving baptism register at Kresen Kernow Archives at Redruth. Its Trust and Church Council accounts cease in 1982 and this marks the date at which this last Methodist place of worship ceased to function. Subsequently it was converted into a dwelling.
Bolenowe was also of course the birthplace in 1820 of the miner poet John Harris, who lived until 1884 and whose early years were spent working at the Dolcoath tin mine. He came into the world at a house called Six Chimneys which stood on a hill on the southern side of the village called Bolenowe Carn. His early poetical works were compiled using blackberry juice for ink, as he could not afford the latter. Fortunately, he was assisted in the publication of his stupendous work by the prominent Camborne Wesleyan Methodist worthy, George Smith of Trevu. Bolenowe therefore has an important place in Camborne and Cornwall’s literary history. In his early years Harris would have had an intimate knowledge of the village. His religious allegiances were Wesleyan, though, like many early Methodists, he married his wife Jane Rule of Troon in the Anglican parish church at Camborne on 11 September 1845. (David Thomas of Camborne)
This photograph shows a lovely image, unattributed, but probably by Beacon resident photographer W J Bennetts of the chapel with four of the local younger residents on its entrance steps, who had probably gathered and were intrigued as he set up his heavy glass plate camera in the road to record the scene. We don’t have a precise date for this photograph, but I would say it is around 1905-1910. The building was of a very simple design with a small entrance porch. This is the only older picture I have of this chapel and once again I would love to find an interior view of its layout arrangements, if anyone can oblige. (David Thomas of Camborne)
“At first a private house was used for the meetings.” (Cornishman – Thursday 19 October 1899)
Circa 1850 Chapel
1899: “… useful work which had been carried on in the old chapel for some 50 years.” (Cornishman – Thursday 19 October 1899)
Between 1877 and 1893: Build date. It seems that the second chapel was an enlargement of the first. “They were not going to remove the old chapel, but were going to bring it up-to-date, add about 18 feet, so that it would then meet the need.” (Cornishman – Thursday 19 October 1899)
Further down Bolenowe, the second village chapel can be found on the left.
From 1892: Records exist.
Originally Bolenowe United Methodist Free Church.
1899: Chapel being enlarged. (Cornish Post and Mining News – Thursday 19 October 1899)
1899: Bolenowe Free Church Methodists. Laying a New Foundation-stone. About mile from Troon, and three from Camborne, stands the little building in which the Free-church community of Bolenowe have worshipped for some 50 years, holding Sunday-school on each Sabbath afternoon and a service in the evening. But of late years it was seen that the edifice was too small to contain the numbers who weekly wished to attend it, and it was determined to make effort to enlarge it; a successful bazaar was held, collecting-books sent out, and, Wednesday afternoon, the foundation-stone of the addition was placed in position by Miss Winifred Holman, Tregenna, Camborne. The new part of the chapel will be built of elvan, with granite dressings and a brick porch. When completed the building will measure feet 18 feet and will! provide sealing accommodation lor about 120 worshippers. The contract has been secured by Mr. William Trevithick. builder, Troon, and Mr. Joseph Rodda, Troon, has arranged the plan and will superintend the building. The cost will be about £100. of which about three-quarters had been raised previous to Wednesday, when the money was practically obtained… the useful work which had been carried on in the old chapel for some 50 years. In the village of Bolenowe the first services held were entirely of social character consisting of class and prayer meetings but lately they had had the preaching and teaching of the Gospel and a Sunday-school. At first a private house was used for the meetings, but later on it was seen that some other provision would have been made, and built not a pretentious structure, for the word of the builders was not beauty nor comfort, to say nothing of luxury, but convenience, and so they sought meet requirements. It was but a little sanctuary, and it was very plain, and yet it was dear to the hearts of many of them, for the building, though it was so simple, plain and insignificant, was the house of God. They wanted more room for their work, for Sunday-school of over could not be taught in a room of that size, nor could services be held, and so they had been brought together that day to help to erect a larger one. They were not going to remove the old chapel, but were going to bring it up to date, add about 18 feet, so that it would then meet the need. He hoped that with increased accommodation they would have a large attendance. (Cornishman – Thursday 19 October 1899)
1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Lower Bolenowe Methodist Church.
Seating for 100. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1949: Amalgamated with Higher Bolenowe Methodist Church and continued to be the village church.
1982: Closure date. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Congregation joined Troon. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Demolished and rebuilt as single-storey house using materials from original chapel. (Heritage Gateway)
A comment received by Shirley Harvey:
Bolenowe chapel was never demolished, the chapel is as it was originally . The porch was removed and replaced as the brick work was crumbling. The chapel was extended by 10 feet to accommodate extra living space. I know this to be a fact as I am sitting in the building with my family who live here and carried out the work back then.
Bolenowe chapel was never demolished, the chapel is as it was originally . The porch was removed and replaced as the brick work was crumbling. The chapel was extended by 10 feet to accommodate extra living space. I know this to be a fact as I am sitting in the building with my family who live here and carried out the work back then.
Thank you Shirley.