Map: This profile of Tresco Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
The chapel is reported to be the site of Tresco and Bryher Primary School, in Old Grimsby on Tommy’s Hill looking over the bay.
Tresco and Bryher Primary School, Old Grimsby – children from Bryher have a return boat trip every day.
(https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2372702)
1775: The SPCK, “The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge”, who were dedicated to communicating the Christian faith by means of education, sent their missionaries to the off-islands. It clearly was no easy posting as many ministers seems to arrive and then quickly leave. The Society however, had a significant and positive influence on schooling in Scilly, with 80 students in Tresco in 1822. Thus Anglicanism was fairly rooted here although a Baptist Mission flourished here until the 1840s.
Non-conformism came relatively late to the island as the Lord Proprietor wanted to encourage the population to attend the Anglican Church. However, two Methodist lay preachers held prayer and worship meetings at their homes despite resistance to this. Eventually, a Wesleyan chapel was built – at some date prior to 1829, when one reference says it is shown on a map.
Other reports state that a small Chapel was built on Tresco c.1814, but ‘was not frequently used’. It appears however, that the hostility that accompanied the Methodists’ arrival continued, and they were driven from the island “about 1847”.
1899: Islands Of Scilly. Proposed New Chapel. At the Bible Christian Conference on Thursday, acting on a suggestion of the Scilly Isles district meeting, the President was requested to communicate with the Governor of the Isles with the view to the acquisition of a site for a chapel on the island of Tresco. (The Cornish Telegraph – Thursday 17 August 1899)
By1900, Tresco was the only Island without a Methodist Chapel. At this time, Mr Dorrien Smith, the Lord Proprietor, allowed Nonconformists to use the church room on Sunday afternoons, as long as those who attended also went to the Anglican Church each Sunday morning and evening.
UK churches site say that the chapel became the primary school (link to picture on site). However other references state that this was originally built in 1838 (perhaps a renovation of the chapel), and has since had many additions.
1982: A decision was made not to replace the resident Anglican clergyman who had left Tresco, and so the Parsonage was used to welcome visiting clergy to lead Sunday Services on the island. This included partnership with the Headteacher of the local school who was also a Methodist Local Preacher.
UK and Ireland site: https://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/images/scilly/tresco_wes.jpg
