Mapping Methodism – Port Isaac Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel
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Map: This profile of Port Isaac WMA Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell
A Port Isaac Wesleyan Society existed in 1748 or possibly earlier with meetings held in the home of Richard Crabb. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
John Wesley visited the village many times between 1747 and 1789. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
The first chapel was built in Middle Street circa 1750. It was rebuilt in 1770 and enlarged in 1784. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
In 1831, the Port Isaac Methodist Society had 87 members a thriving Sunday school but four years later, in 1835, there was a huge and acrimonious split when some argued that Methodism should remain autocratic as it had been under Wesley and others, the majority, felt it should be more democratic. Those in the latter group, the reformers, joined the Wesleyan Methodist Association. For a while, they occupied the Middle Street Chapel but eventually left taking the bell and candelabra for their new chapel in Roscarrock Hill. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1837 Chapel
1837 Chapel to the left of the 1867 chapel (Tony Mansell)
Located in Roscarrock Hill.
Heritage Gateway: Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel, Roscarrock Hill in fishing village. One of the most dramatically sited chapels in Cornwall with exceptional contextual interest seen as part of a group with important historic buildings within the village including one of the best-preserved fish cellars in the county. Local slatestone and rag slate roofs. Chapel has 3-bay, 2-storey-over-basement entrance end with round-arched openings and original sash windows with intersecting glazing bars to their heads. Rare Methodist bellcote over the gable. Open porch over chapel doorway approached by flanking stone staircases with basement doorway between. Converted to Sunday school rooms in 1867 when new chapel constructed on adjacent site. Listed in Stell (b1).https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO32672&resourceID=1020
Built in 1837 as a Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel with a large store under.
By 1842 the Society had 102 members. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1846: Registered as a place of worship. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1857: The Wesleyan Methodist Association and the Wesleyan Reform Church amalgamated to become the United Methodist Free Churches
Became a UMFC. (Revd David Easton)
1862: Wesley Bell replaced by the Bencoolen Bell which had been rescued from the ship, Bencoolen, when she sank. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
Adjacent land purchased from John Stephens for £100 for a new chapel. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1867: When the new chapel was built, this became the Sunday school.
1875: Sunday school renovated. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1875: Freehold purchased but a dispute over the ownership of the cellars delayed the transfer and involved the Trust in additional expenditure. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
Cellar used by Youth Club and reamed the Wesley Room in memory of the old Chapel in the Valley.
Closed: 1993.
Building sold and converted to Port Isaac Pottery by Billy and Babara Hawkins. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1867 Chapel
Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel of 1867 – built adjacent to but replacing earlier 1837 chapel which subsequently became a Sunday school. Both buildings recorded on the 1st and 2nd Editions of the 1:2500 OS Maps. Stone rubble with slate roof with hipped ends. Symmetrical five-window front with three full height openings at centre with round arch heads. Ground floor with brick segmental arches to openings and arches on the right and left with double six panel doors and fanlights above. First floor windows with radiating glazing bars and round brick arches. Interior of chapel with gallery continuing on three sides with cast iron columns with stylised capitals.https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO52395&resourceID=1020
Built in 1867 as a United Methodist Free Church.
1869: Opened.
The new chapel was lit and heated by oil lamps – some on poles in the gallery. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1875: Chapel renovated. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1891: Heating system installed. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.
1907: Became a United Methodist Church.
1913: Chapel renovated and vestries added. (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 31 July 1913)
1920: Harmonium replaced by a pipe organ. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1931: Mahogany communion rail added. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Roscarrock Hill Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating 330 (Revd David Easton)
Closed: 1993. (Roscarrock Hill Chapel through the Years)
Became Chapel Cafe.
The old and the new – side by side (Tony Mansell)
The pulpit and organ in the 1867 chapel (Tony Mansell)
The 1867 chapel which is now a café on the ground floor with a heritage centre on the balcony (Tony Mansell)