Mapping Methodism - Coverack
Coverack is a coastal village and fishing port in Cornwall, UK. It lies in the parish of St Keverne, on the east side of the Lizard peninsula about nine miles south of Falmouth. This profile of Coverack Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Terry Moyle.
The First Coverack Wesleyan Chapel
Society at Coverack in 1774 (John Williams, steward, & 28 members) but ceased to exist by 1777.
Society re-started by about 1810 – services in fishing lofts and barns, especially Trevothen barn.
Led to building of first Wesleyan Chapel on lane leading to Chynalls Point from Sunny Corner
1814: Built, land cost £60 bought from Jacob Lory
Lease (1812-1814) vested in trustees – Colonel William Sandys of Lanarth, Samuel Cock & James Rule (both Coverack), Simon Rule (Borgwitha), Simon Roskilly (Kilter), Thomas James, Peter Rule (Trewillis), John Roberts & John Bolitho (both Treliever)
Peppercorn rent of 5 shillings to Anthony Tripconey, carpenter.
Description from John Thomas Frederick Halligey (later joined Ministry & served in West Africa) “dear old clay wall, thatch roof sanctuary with its two rows of backless benches, three side pews on the right and two on the left, the gallery at the opposite end from the pulpit and the place in the leader’s pew for the man with the clarinet who was supposed to lead the singing”.
Interesting note - Rev. Halligey while the minister in Nigeria, used the plans of Helston Wesleyan Chapel to build the chapel in Lagos.
The small building between the chapel and the coastguard cottages was used for stabling the preacher’s horse.
Thomas Champion (Uncle Tommy) was a longstanding member of the chapel – he visited the sick and bereaved in the village. Another leading member was Thomas Roskilly.
John T. F. Halligey converted to Wesleyanism by Tommy Champion’s evangelising
Preaching plans 1828 & 1833 afternoon service (evening service at St. Keverne)
circa 1860: Closed because too small to hold the growing congregation – sold for £30.
Now a dwelling (Old Chapel Cottage)
Notes for header image: Sunny Corner, Coverack. The first chapel is the building on the left (centre of photograph) with the white-washed wall. Beyond are the coastguard cottages and at the end of the lane the Wesleyan Chapel built in 1860-1861
The Second Coverack Wesleyan Chapel
On site of an old quarry, on the corner of lane leading to the site of the original chapel – Sunny Corner.
1860 - 1861: Built by builder William Rule Roberts. 34ft in length, 31ft in width and 20ft in height. Walls of good stone and lime washed with a slate roof.
23 February 1861: completed and registered for worship.
February 1861: opened with a capacity of 200
The two longstanding members from the first chapel lived long enough to attend services in the new building – Thomas Roskilly died in 1864 and Tommy Champion in 1874.
1861: – a room under the vestry was used for storing Coverack Life Saving Apparatus
1876: Wesleyan Census 70 members
1893: three week - long Mission – 30% increase in membership
1897-1898: lay-out altered – chapel extended at the rear and a floor inserted at gallery level to accommodate growing congregation and to form a Sunday school on the ground floor. Builder – Cook & Sons from Rosevear, Mawgan in Meneage.
Cornishman 26 February 1903: – “Some months ago a daughter of Mr. William Roskilly died at Coverack and the family and friends were determined to have a Nonconformist funeral and arranged that Rev. Wesley Davis (Wesleyan Minister at St. Keverne) should conduct the service. The gravedigger refused to dig the grave in the ground surrounding Coverack Church. The difficulty was surmounted by a workman employed by Mr. Roskilly digging the grave. The conduct of the gravedigger was severely censured by the Coverack Wesleyan Trustees and a resolution was sent to the Vicar and Churchwardens. The gravedigger should consent to dig graves for Nonconformists when requested to do so and, if he refused, he should be dismissed from office”.
1914: St. Keverne Circuit Plan – two Sunday services and Tuesday weeknight service. Two class meetings on Sunday morning before service (Mr. John Mundy and Miss Annie John, class leaders) and two class meetings on Tuesday (Mr. John Corin and Mr. George Mundy, class leaders)
May 1915: The chapel organist, Stafford Hart, enlisted in the forces.
1921: The Trustees bought the freehold of the chapel for £8-7s-0d.
1934: New organ from Chandler’s, Redruth, at a cost of £14. Francis Roskilly paid £1 for playing.
1939: Evening service changed to an afternoon service owing to the blackout requirements.
17th August 1942: chapel hit by bomb blast – four people killed in the village including a 4-year-old evacuee from Enfield and 19 people injured.
Following the bomb blast the roof of the chapel had to be covered with a tarpaulin until repairs could be completed. In 1947 a bill was sent to Coverack Trustees for the loan of the tarpaulin (£5.12s.0d) from Kerrier RDC. The trustees paid although the tarpaulin had long since disappeared but got the money back from the War Damage Committee.
1951: American organ sold for £1 and replaced by a pipe organ costing £350.
1954: fund raising began to renovate and maintain the building (completed 1957)
Long connection with Coverack Lifeboat (crew members associated with chapel) – boards from Lifeboat Station put in the chapel in 1972 after Lifeboat Station closed
