Former Methodist Chapel, Sunday School & Manse, Plain-an-Gwarry, Redruth

Location/Address

Corner of Pender's Lane with Plain-an-Gwarry (adjoining Chapel House), Redruth

Type

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Description

The original Plain-an-Gwarry Primitive Methodist chapel, built 1827 (HER No. 138930), which in1882 became the Sunday School to the new chapel built across the road to the northeast (HER No.138931), and was subsequently converted to an activity centre. Formerly, three slate tablets with the Lord's Prayer, creed and decalogue, cut by Amos Nicholls in 1827, were located at the east end of the building; these have been removed to the Wesleyan Memorial Institute adjacent to the Wesleyan chapel in the centre of Redruth. The chapel occupies a corner plot, with its main entrance on Pender's Lane, and its vestry a single-storey extension to the north. Attached to its west side is Chapel House, apparently the very first Primitive Methodist manse ever built in Cornwall (now a privately owned dwelling). The chapel is now the rehearsal rooms for the local town Operatic society, however you can still see the balcony and class rooms. See these links for more information, including photos: https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/chapels/cornwall/redruth-primitive-methodist-chapel https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/chapels/cornwall/original-redruth-primitive-methodist-chapel Identified as a Building at Risk in Conservation Management Plan. Included in the Redruth Neighbourhood Plan consultation list of Non-Designated Assets for Protection.

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Statement of Significance

Asset type

Non-Conformist Chapel, Sunday School, Manse

Age

1827

Rarity

Rare as a relatively unchanged early Methodist Chapel (most surviving chapels no longer used as such have been more heavily converted).

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Reflects the more modest scale and architectural style of Cornwall's earlier Methodist chapels.

Group Value

One of the group of Cornish Non-conformist Chapels, and the sub-group of Primitive Methodist Chapels. Forms a contemporary group with its attached manse, and probably also with the row of cottages (Chapel Row) to its south. Has a sequential relationship with the later chapel built up the road to replace it (becoming the Sunday School for the latter).

Historic Interest

Part of Cornwall's Primitive Methodist tradition. There are specific local stories attached to the past use of this chapel.