3 April 2025

Camborne Wesleyan Mission Room / Camborne Centenary Mission Room

Name of researcher/author: Suzanne Trythall

Location of mission room on 1908 map

1969 map shows former mission house which is now a dwelling

Centenary Mission Room was located at 20 Centenary Row Middle in Camborne. As a mission room, it was not fully self supporting and was under the control of the trustees of the nearby Centenary Wesley Methodist Chapel.

1885: The Cornish Telegraph reports ‘a happy evening with the poor children of the town was spent at the Centenary New Mission House, founded by J Vivian, draper’. Buns and oranges were provided by Mrs J Shakerley and a friend.

1889: George Clegg was appointed by the town mission as an aid to the mission work in the town, his headquarters were to be the Centenary Mission Room.

George Clegg in the pulpit at Praze Chapel. Photo of document MR/CB/2025 Archives and Cornish Studies Service Redruth

1891: in January about 250 old people of Camborne were treated to an annual tea, arranged by Mr Clegg, the town missionary, and several residents who took an interest in the work of the mission room. Mr Shakerley read the first annual report of the Mission which showed that in March last they were able to provide a free tea for 473 children of the poorer portion of the community and distributed 100 bags of coal.

Through the kindness of the town mission, an afternoon of ‘Holiness’ led by the Salvation Army was held in the Mission Room, Centenary Row (Cornish Post & Mining News)

1891 Census Trelowarren Street Camborne

1893: George Clegg gave a report on work undertaken the previous year:

missions at Praze (70 converted) and at Burrows (80 converted) with 53,390 persons attending

3716 visits excluding sick

1372 visits to sick

1371 prayed with

410 read scriptures to

196 hopeful conversions

4000 tracts and testaments given

38 visits on death

Cornishman 6 April 1893

1891 Census Back of Centenary Row: Jane Moyle Attendant Mission Room with five boarders

1891: West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser reported, “The people of Camborne heard with deep regret on Tuesday of the death of Mrs Clegg, wife of the respected town and district missionary. Mrs Clegg was not a native of Camborne, but came to the town with her husband a few years ago, and has greatly assisted him in the discharge of his arduous duties. She was a willing worker and helper in any good cause, and did much to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.” She died on Tuesday 22 December, aged 35years, from a severe attack of bronchitis.

1893: Camborne and District Mission spent £74 on salaries

1897: the first deaconess, Sister Thirza, was appointed to assist in the services at Gustavus and Centenary Mission centres.

1893: George Clegg appears to have remarried and he and his wife are reported as having a good congregation in Camborne’s Public Rooms, hoping to raise funds for a new mission room.

1894: The Cornish Telegraph reports that more money was needed for the mission. Finances had suffered a little through subscriptions lost by death. John Vivian, treasurer, stated that ordinary subscriptions last year were £25 and special donations £14. However, indebtedness had increased to £5.

1895: Cornishman 7^th November reported that after six years of faithful service Mr and Mrs Clegg were saying farewell. For two years so many calls had come to them for evangelistic work that they have had to neglect the mission. Now they were free to serve any church in the county. Captain Rabling said they were sorry to part with such faithful servants.

In February 1896 Mr and Mrs Clegg took up a three-month engagement at St Just UMFC.

1919: services were still being advertised in the Mission Room. Volunteers had continued the services of the mission for some years.

20 Centenary Row Middle September 2024