This profile of Delabole WMA/UMFC has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1784: John Wesley sent Adam Clarke to Delabole Quarry to preach and the spot was named after him as ‘Clarke’s Hole’ and is still called that locally.
A Wesley Chapel was erected in the village in 1806, the first Methodist in the area (see Delabole Wesleyan Methodist Chapel). (Tony to hyperlink?)
1839 Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel
Located in Grove Street.
Grove Street no longer exists but Heritage Gateway places this chapel which allows us to locate the Street in Lower Pengelly; part of the lane that goes up to the Fire Station. The cottage on the corner (which is grade 2 listed) stands at the entrance to the Old Delabole Slate Quarry.
The old chapel is now numbers 1 and 2 Wesley Court, extended eastwards for further housing.
1839: A breakaway group from the Wesleyans left to build a chapel in Grove Street.
26th March 1842: A chapel was erected at Pengelly and registered at the Archdeanery Court of Cornwall for the Wesleyan Methodist Association.
Early Wesleyan Methodist chapel, now converted to residential use (https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO32708&resourceID=1020)
In 1847/48 and 1855 there were big religious revivals in the village.
1857: The Wesleyan Methodist Association and the Wesleyan Reform Church amalgamated to become the United Methodist Free Church.
1857: Became a United Methodist Free Church.
Delabole Pengelly 1865 United Methodist Free Chapel
Turning south down Pengelly, this building stands out, sitting back on the north side of the road in what is called ‘Mid Pengelly’.
1865: Built as a UMFC to replace the earlier building on Grove Street.
June 1965: The chapel obtained a piece of land higher up in the village for £131. The land was conveyed to Thomas Greenwood Yeoman and others. The conveyance was on behalf of the United Methodist Free Churches. There was a Sunday school under the chapel and a small burial ground at the front.
5th June 1867: The chapel opened.
The new chapel was built to seat 550 and it flourished. At one time the school had 130 scholars on the books.
United Methodist chapel, now commercial premises. Pre 1880 (shown on 1st Edition OS map). Simple early Gothic style with pointed arches. Front gable end has paired lancets to light former probable gallery, central doorway enclosing plate tracery over pair of arched doorways (now blocked) and there are flanking lights with shouldered heads. (https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO32706&resourceID=1020)
The old Chapel premises on Grove Street were then sold off and occupied. Described by Cyril Hicks as becoming cottages, Pengelly Terrace. Pengelly Terrace (like Grove Street) can no longer be found but may be the name for the building(s) before being called Wesley Court.
1903: The Pengelly Chapel seating was redesigned.
1907: The Methodist New Connexion, Bible Christians and United Methodist Free Churches amalgamated to become the United Methodist Church.
1907: Became Delabole United Methodist Church.
1910: A Pipe Organ was installed.
Pengelly Chapel 1920s
(Photo: Chris Hore 2000 – 2020 (https://www.delabole2020.uk/pengelly/) We hope there is no objection to this photo being reproduced here.
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the
Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Pengelly Methodist Church
1940: Seating capacity 400. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and Researcher)
1979/80: The Delabole chapel congregations merged to become one Society located at Delabole Medrose Methodist Chapel.
The Pulpit from this chapel was modified and reused at Medrose.
The Pengelly organ was sold to Twelveheads Methodist Church together with the Medrose Organ.
1981 Pengelly Chapel and Cottage were sold, and the burial ground taken over by the council.
It later became a carpenter’s workshop. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and Researcher)
The Plaque on the chapel has now been removed but can be seen here: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2659784/united-methodist-free-church#view-photo=166380839
Former Pengelly Methodist Chapel 1998 (Photo: Bill Harrison https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3314459)
Gravestones can still be seen against the north wall of the small graveyard.
in 2026 it remains a joinery – Chapel Workshops https://www.nigelhicksjoinery.co.uk/