Mapping Methodism - Goonbell Primitive Methodist Chapel
Goonbell is a hamlet near St Agnes and its Primitive chapel possibly dates from the 1830s. This profile has been compiled by Clive Benney & Tony Mansell.
The Goonbell Society was supposedly formed in 1846 but in a paper entitled Religion in St Agnes it said that the little Goonbell Chapel was built before 1835. Perhaps, however, that referred to the Goonbell Meeting House.
1848: The Society seems to have faltered and closed through lack of support.
1852: The Society was re-formed and it is said that there was singing and praying in the streets.
1884: According to J C C Probert the Society attempted to purchase some ground for a new chapel but they found it difficult to raise the money and had to repair the old.
1885 – 11th January: The refurbished Chapel was reopened for services.
1919: More repairs were undertaken.
1948: “It was hoped that electricity would shortly be installed.”
1940s: The congregation declined to such an extent that the Chapel closed.
1952: The chapel reopened under the leadership of the Revd F H Sims Clapp, a supernumerary Minister who had moved to the area.
1955 – 16th January: A huge storm severely damaged the building; the end wall collapsed from roof level to within a few feet of the ground and the rostrum was crushed. This seemed to signal the end of this little chapel but the members were made of stern stuff and decided otherwise. It was restored, the rostrum from the old Chapel at Trevellas was installed and a much-needed schoolroom added. While the work was carried out the congregation met at Goonown Chapel.
1956 – August: The re-building was complete and the chapel re-opened.
1957 – Saturday the 27th July: A new schoolroom was officially opened.
The numbers attending declined.
1983: The Chapel closed for the last time. (Rev. David Easton)
1985: Converted into a dwelling.
Mapping Methodism - Goonbell Wesleyan Chapel
Goonbell is a hamlet near St Agnes. The original denomination of the Methodist chapel was Wesleyan and the build date is uncertain. This profile has been compiled by Clive Benney & Tony Mansell.
We have been unable to discover when this Chapel was built or if its initial use was as a place of worship.
1850s: The first reference to it was on the Wesleyan Preachers’ Plan but, even then, it only appeared for a few years. Of course, it may well have been in use earlier and simply not provided with regular preachers.
1888 to 1895: The Plan included Goonbell again and a new entry, the tiny Chapel at White Street, Mithian Downs. Neither held regular meetings.
1899: St Agnes Wesleyan Society were paying the ground rent and cleaning costs.
1903 – March: An entry in the St Agnes Wesleyan Chapel minute book referred to its dangerous condition. It was said to be so bad that meetings had to be held at Goonown Chapel.
1903 – October: Members of the congregation had finished the repair work and the little sanctuary was re-opened. The Revd G W Thompson preached the sermon and in the evening the Revd W Hodson-Smith presented a lecture entitled “From Liverpool to Rome.” It should have been illustrated but the lantern borrowed from Mount Hawke failed to work; it was said to have given off clouds like a traction engine and filled the house with smoke.
1907 – October to 1908 January : Included on the Wesleyan Methodist Church – North Cornwall Mission preachers’ plan.
1916: St Agnes Wesleyan Society ceased paying the ground rent and cleaning costs which probably indicates that, by then, the building was no longer in use as a place of worship.
