Kernow Goth

1920: It must have been with a mixture of sadness and pride that this huge crowd gathered in the Chapel grounds on the 14^th February 1920 to witness the unveiling of the new war memorial. It was very unusual for one to be located in the grounds of a Methodist chapel but in St Agnes there was no room by the Parish Church.

Henry Letcher made “periodic” repairs to the Chapel timepiece.

1922: Mr M Hodge was paid £69 for new seats.

1926: Charles Chegwin, builder and St Agnes bandsman, built a ladies’ toilet.

1928: Electricity installed.

1936: Richard Waters (Captain Dick Waters or Cap’n Dick) had donated £600 to floor in the gallery. He could foresee that the 960-seater building would be much too large for future needs. He must have been very shrewd because he included a caveat that the money should not be used for any other purpose than that stipulated viz. to floor in the gallery. If they wanted the money, they had to comply exactly with his wishes.

1943 – January: a controversial idea was floated: John Angwin asked if consideration could be given to carrying out alterations to the Chapel in order that the congregation could be seated on one level. A sub-committee was formed with the remit to investigate the possibility of converting the gallery into the Chapel and using the ground floor as a schoolroom. The committee comprised the Revd W N Warren, J R S Bennetts, R Waters, A E Reynolds, J E Tredinnick and John Angwin.

1947: The St Agnes Methodist News Bulletin of June 1947 wrote of a double celebration on the 6^th July 1947: the 85^th anniversary of the opening of the Chapel for public worship and the 200^th anniversary of the first visit of the Revd John Wesley to St Agnes.

1947: It was interesting to find a reference to “Big Chapel” in the October 1947 News Bulletin. Perhaps this nickname has been largely forgotten but then, and possibly for some time before, it was in regular use.

1950: Building work deferred due to shortage of construction material.

1952: For many, the single floor Chapel was the answer. Funding was still a problem but the trustees felt that it was important to find out how everyone felt about the scheme in principle. It was agreed to canvass the views of the congregation. Bill Morrison wrote that many opposed the idea and that when the votes were counted those against had won the day. He recalled one old lady with a particular concern who said, “They’ll end up having pantomimes in the hall – heaven above and hell below.”

1955: The Sunday school Council pleaded that new or altered premises were urgently needed. The trustees called a meeting of interested parties to discuss possible solutions. For some, the division of the Chapel was a step too far. There was horror at the idea of scrapping the large pulpit and many felt it was wrong that people would be forced to climb the stairs to worship. Mr Tredinnick explained that it would be an easy stair, each step would only have a small rise. Matt Radcliffe was not to be swayed and said that he supposed it would be so easy that it would be like going downhill. For one reason or another the proposal was rejected once again. (Bill Morrison)

1957-1957: Proposed alterations discussed again. The traditionalists in the congregation must have wondered what they had to do to defeat the proposal as in spite of this recent rejection, the scheme for a first floor Chapel was still on the table and continued to appear on meeting agendas. Clearly the idea was not going to go away and when it was raised again, Mr A E Reynolds, Mr W C Pope, Mr L Roberts and Mr J E Tredinnick were tasked with investigating the likely cost.

1960: New kitchen was formed in the north vestry. For many, however, the creation of a single-level Chapel with schoolroom under was the ultimate aim.

1961: Most of the unused land was sold. The farm and garden where Castle Meadows now stands was sold and added to the money already set aside. The trustees pledged to raise a further £1,000 and the various sections of the chapel also had their targets. Unfortunately, Dick Waters’ original £600 had been invested in a safe Government stock and was now worth only £400. Despite this reduction in value his contribution had ensured that his scheme was adopted but, according to Bill Morrison, some felt that the opportunity for a more drastic change was missed.

1961: Trustees: Alfred Ernest Solomon, Joseph Edwin Tredinnick, Thomas Victor Trezise, John Berryman, Nicholas Charles Thomas, Maxwell Thomas Walter Hocking, William Hume Morrison, Agnes Butcher, Mary Frances Oates, Lester Roberts, Roger Williams, William Joseph Ronald Murrish, Albert Edward Reynolds, William Clyde Pope, James Redvers Stephens Bennetts, William Roy Blewett, Richard James Olds, Noel Hoskins, Christine Emily Morrison, Gertrude Margaret Davey, Elsie Irene Vanstone, Henry Russell Roberts and Bessie Edwina Tredinnick.

1961: The Trust signalled its intent as it appointed a new committee to pursue the single floor Chapel. It consisted of Mrs M Davey, Miss E Vanstone, Mr W H Morrison, Mr N Hoskins, Mr R Murrish, Mr A E Reynolds and Mr J E Tredinnick; they set to work.

1962: The Revd Raymond Foster took over the reins at St Agnes and inherited the plan for the building alterations. There was renewed impetus amongst the trustees and according to the minutes, three schemes emerged:

1. To floor in the well of the gallery.
2. To remove the gallery and build a new first floor.
3. To erect a new building with two vestries.

The second scheme was the preferred option, but it was ruled out because of the cost. After considerable discussion, the first option finally emerged as favourite. The building would be divided horizontally with a ground floor hall, vestries, kitchen and toilets and a first floor Chapel to seat 350 people – Cap’n Dick’s caveat had won the day. Tony Gribben was asked to prepare some sketch plans for Mr K E Rundle of Cowell, Drewitt and Wheatley of Truro who was appointed architect.

“Raymond Foster steered the trustees through many meetings and problems after the architect’s first plans. The heating system was an afterthought and had to be considered later, when people found that they were not warm enough. The provision of one toilet was considered inadequate despite it being continually referred to by the architect as ‘the toilets.’ The design of the front area raised some objections with the pulpit placed to one side in a Society where preaching was central, an altar for the Eucharist instead of a table for the Lord’s Supper and a heavy communion rail that seemed to fence off the leaders from the people in what is essentially a lay church. But the architect won the day, as architects often do, by warning that the work would not be finished in time for the opening ceremony if any alterations were made. The trustees did have the last word on one point, the colour of the organ pipes. Mr Rundle had wanted lime green but they insisted on shocking pink, or so some people called it, although the colour chart said terra cotta. The total cost in 1964 was £7,578, an astronomical amount. But we went ahead.” (Bill Morrison wrote)

The Vicar and members of St Agnes Anglican Church kindly gave permission for services to be held in the Church Hall while the work was carried out.

1964 – January: The Sunday school dispersed to various private houses.

The Revd B A R Morris conducted the last service in the two-floor Chapel and the artefacts were hurriedly removed to make way for the contractors. It was a major project and it was hoped that work would proceed more smoothly than back in the 1860s when the Chapel was built.

1964 – January: St Agnes builder W H Waters awarded the contract.

The “free seats” from the sides of the old Chapel were to be re-used in the centre but they had previously been set against a wall and whereas one end was ornately carved, the other was not. Jimmy Olds set to with his chisels and glasspaper and did a superb job of replicating the carving on the blank ends. When these were replaced with chairs in the late 1990s a few were retained for use downstairs, but most were sold. The pews in the original balcony were retained in place but the pew doors were later removed to aid escape in the event of a fire.