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Penzance Methodist Circuits

• Penzance Wesleyan Circuit

  The circuit included St. Just, Paul, St. Buryan, St. Creed, Gulval, Ludgvan, Lelant, Marazion, St. Ives, Towednack, Zennor & Morvah according to notes at the front of the register ending in 1837 but note the overlap with the other circuits.

  Baptisms

  • Registers 1805–37 [inc. Births] [RG4-845] PRO. 478 entries. Register begins in 1812 but there some entries copied onto the front flyleaf from an earlier book.
  • Registers 1837–76 [MR/PZ 218] CRO.
  • Copy 1805–37 [MR/PZ 217] CRO.
  • Copy 1805–37 (microfilm) WSL.
  • Copy (LDS) 1805–37 [0590673 & 1596548] (microfilm).
  • Transcript 1805–37 [inc. births] SoG.
  • Transcript (S. Townsend 2001) 1805–37 [inc. births] (book and CDROM).
  • Transcript (Diane Donahue 2005) 1805–37 [inc. births] (on this site)
  • Transcript (Diane Donahue 2005) 1838–76 [inc. births] (on this site) In register order.
  • Transcript 1837–76 CFHS Library.
  • Transcript (S. Townsend 2005) 1837–76 (CDROM) In date order.
  • Index (Edwards 1976) 1805–37 [inc. births].
  • Index (CFHS database) 1805–37, reputed to contain 465 baptisms sourced mainly from the IGI.
  • Index (OPC Database) 1805–74 (1279 entries).
  • Index (OPC Database) described as "Madron &c W-M Circuit" 1806–37 (493 entries).
  • IGI 1805–37 [C065291].

  See also the member churches below.

• Penzance Primitive Methodist Circuit

  Baptisms

  • Registers 1844–1910 [MR/PZ 489], 1910–36 [MR/PZ 223] CRO.
  • Transcript (S. Townsend 2002) 1844–1900 (CDROM).

  See also the member churches below.

• Penzance Methodist New Connexion Circuit

  No registers are known to have survived but see the member churches below.

• Penzance Bible Christian Circuit

  Baptisms

  • Registers 1839–59 [MR/PZ 474], 1858–1901 [MR/PZ 475] CRO.
  • Transcript (S. Townsend 2002) 1839–1900 (CDROM).
  • Index (OPC Database) 1839–1859.

  See also the member churches below.

• Madron (Excluding Penzance)

  • Madron Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1800 and had seats for 222. In 1851 John Pengelly was steward. The 1873 survey reports 159 seats.

    Baptisms

    • Registers ? None on the CRO catalogue list
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2005) 1877–1900 (CDROM).
    • Transcript (Althea Barker 2008) 1877–1997
    • Index (OPC Database) 1877–1911 (95 entries).

  • Tregavarah Chapel (Wesleyan)

    This was founded in 1822 and had seats for 126. In 1851 Melchisedec James was steward. The 1873 survey reports 146 seats.

    In the 2^nd. WW it recieved a direct hit by a land mine and the Bible was still open at the page of the text for that evening’s sermon.

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1892–1950 [MR/PZ 208] CRO.
    • Copy (LDS) 1892–1950 [1596548] (microfilm).
    • Transcript (Diane Donohue 2005) 1892–1905 (on this site), 1906–1950 (offline).
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2005) 1892–1900 (CDROM).

  • Heamoor Wesleyan (Wesley Rock)

    This was founded in 1842 and had seats for 210, In 1851 Wm. Pengelly was trustee. The 1873 survey reports 220 seats.

    Note, the cemetery alongside this chapel is not Wesleyan but an early private burial ground known as Penzance Cemetery.

    Baptisms

    • Registers ? None on the CRO catalogue list
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2005) 1849–1900 (CDROM).

  • Bossullow Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1845 and had seats for 200. In 1851 Thomas Hichens was trustee. The 1873 survey has it in the St Just Circuit and reports 140 seats.

  • Boswarthen Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1842 and had seats for 96. In 1851 Jno. Jenkins was steward. The 1873 survey reports 73 seats.

  • Cranken Primitive Methodist

    This was founded in 1847 and had seats for 60. In 1851 Henry Nicholas was leader.

• Paul

  • Newlyn Trinity Chapel (Jack Lane, Wesleyan)

    This was founded in 1835 and had seats for 610. In 1851 Wm. Roberts was steward. The 1873 survey reports 725 seats.

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1859–79 [MR/PZ 232] CRO.
    • Copy (LDS) 1859–79 [1596548] (microfilm).
    • Transcript 1859–79 CFHS.
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2004) 1859–79 (CDROM).
    • Transcript (Diane Donohue 2005) 1859–79 (on this site)
    • Index (OPC Database) 1859–79 (393 entries).

  • Mousehole Wesleyan (St. Clement’s Methodist Church)

    This was founded in 1784 and had seats for 691. In 1851 Abraham Wright was steward. The 1873 survey reports 672 seats.

  • Paul Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1823 and had seats for 200. In 1851 Wm. Glasson completed the return. This chapel appears to be missing from the 1873 survey.

  • Kerris Wesleyan

    I know very little about this one but the 1873 survey reports 96 seats.

  • Mousehole Wesleyan Teatotal

    This was founded in 1848 and had seats for 450. In 1851 Nicholas Richards was steward.

  • Newlyn Ebenezer Chapel (Primitive Methodist)

    This was founded in 1835 and had seats for 700. In 1851 W. H. Boase was steward.

• Penzance

  • Wesleyan Chapel, Chapel Street

    This was founded in 1700 and moved to the new chapel in 1813/14 where there were 1318 seats. In 1851 Richard Hosking was steward. The collonade on the front was a much later addition (c1860?)

    1814—Wesleyan Chapel built. Enlarged 1864 [Saundry 1931]. The 1873 survey reports 1533 seats.

    N.B. Chapel Street is not named after this chapel, nor St. Mary’s, but St. Anthony’s Chapel which was once here.

  • Lanyon Chapel, Abbey Street (Methodist New Connexion)

    Little is known of this except that it was built in the garden of the brick house in Chapel Street next to Abbey Street, the property of Rev. Thomas Vyvyan. There was also a National School built in the same garden and Pat Banks recalls that this was in use by West Cornwall School before they moved to St. Clare’s. They used the main chapel room as a gymnasium. After that it was used as a Youth Centre.

    Baptisms

    • Registers ? None on the CRO Catalogue list
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2005) 1881–1900 (CDROM).
    • Index (OPC Database) 1881–1912 (105 entries).

  • St. Clare Street Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1833/4 and had seats for 300, In 1851 Sam Phillips was steward. It is not mentioned in the 1873 survey.

  • Queen Street Chapel (Wesleyan/Baptist)

    The first two meeting houses in Penzance are uncertain. The most likely first location was the bottom of Jennings Lane (near Abbey Slip). The second was probably on St. Mary’s Terrace, off Morrab Gardens, which was licenced in 1779 and mentioned by Wesley in 1780. A meeting house was registered for worship in Queen Street in 1790 but may have been in use in 1789 when Wesley last visited Penzance. After being vacated by the Methodists in about 1834, it was used for a short while by the Baptists (possibly those from Jordan Chapel before the one in Clarence Street was built). From 1883 is was used as Coulson’s flour stores but Pat Banks recalls it being used by the Salvation Army more recently.

    In 1851 there is recorded the Queen Street Wesleyan Association which had seats for 500 and in 1851 W. H. Rodd was steward. This is probably the same building used, perhaps, for an overflow congregation. It is not mentioned in the 1873 survey.

  • Mount Street Chapel (Primitive Methodist)

    This was founded in 1838 and had seats for 338. In 1851 William Nation was minister.

    1839—Primitive Methodist Chapel built. Enlarged 1899 [Saundry 1931].

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1910–68 [MR/PZ 223] CRO.
    • Index (OPC Database) 1910–1912 (27 entries).

  • Parade Street Chapel (United Methodist Free Church)

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1866–91 [MR/PZ 325], 1892–1926 [MR/PZ 326], 1926–48 [MR/PZ 327], 1949–67 [MR/PZ 328] CRO.
    • Transcript 1866–1926 CFHS.
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2004) 1866–1900 and 1885–1900 (CDROM).
    • Transcript (Diane Donahue 2005) 1866–1905 (on this site) 1906–30 (offline)
    • Index (OPC Database) described as "Free Methodist (various)" 1866–1905 (188 entries).

  • Alexandra Road Chapel (Methodist New Connexion)

    Marriages

    • Registers 1967–79 [MR/RG/56], 1979–94 [MR/RG/57] CRO.

  • Bible Christian Chapel (Polminick, High Street)

    This was founded in 1818/19 and had seats for 142. In 1851 James Trebilcock completed the return.

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1821–37 [inc. births] [RG4-107] PRO. 56 entries.
    • Copy 1821–37 (microfilm) WSL, SoG.
    • Copy (LDS) 1821–37 [0590673] (microfilm).
    • Transcript 1821–37 [inc. births] SOG.
    • Transcript (S. Townsend 2001) 1821–37 [inc. births] (book and CDROM).
    • Index (Edwards 1976) 1821–37 [inc. births].
    • Index (CFHS database) 1821–37, reputed to contain 55 baptisms (incorrectly ascribed to the Circuit) sourced mainly from the IGI.
    • Index (OPC Database) 1821–37 (722 entries together with the circuit above).
    • IGI 1821–37 [C065301].

  • Alverton Chapel (Bible Christian)

    This was founded in 1851 and had seats for 146. In 1851 James Gilbert was an elder.

    Baptisms

    • Registers 1957–66 [X 682/59] CRO.

  • Richmond Chapel, Tolver Place (Wesleyan)

    Pat Banks says—“It was built on the old Richmond Estate and the house was the Manse at one time. I would say it was the youngest of all the Methodist Chapels, starting in the old Scouts Hall in St.Clare Street next to West Cornwall Hospital according to my mother. According to my grandmother's obituary (she died in 1937) the chapel was built ‘nearly 30 years ago.’ It's a tall and fairly wide building which, unlike other chapels in the district, does not have a gallery. The choir area is more in the style of the Anglican Church with the choir stalls facing each other in the chancel. There used to be a huge cross on the roof at the Eastern end but this came down one night in a big storm and now sits on the ground between the chapel and the fence.”

• Sancreed

  • Sancreed Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1823 and had seats for 210 [Picture]. In 1851 James Glasson[?] was trustee. The 1873 survey has in the St Just Circuit and reports 130 seats.

  • Newbridge Wesleyan

    This was founded in 1840 and had seats for 150. In 1851 John Leggo was steward. The 1873 survey has it in the St Just Circuit and reports 100 seats.

  • Tregerest Bible Christian Chapel

    An 1851 return for this chapel has not been identified [Picture].

    Monumental Inscriptions

    are available.

  • Newbridge Primitive Methodist

    This was founded in 1835 and had seats for 120. In 1851 Jos. Jenkins was steward.

  • Brane Bible Christian

    This was founded in 1845 and had seats for 108. In 1851 William Rowe was steward.

  • Trevarthen Bible Christian Chapel

    I don't know much about this one except that it has now been converted into residential called Chapel Coth