Mapping Methodism - Coldharbour, Towednack
Towednack is a hamlet which has a church and had a chapel nearby which is called Towednack Wesleyan but was actually located at Coldharbour which is at a fork in the road to Towednack. In the 1868 Lake’s Parochial History it is called ‘Coldharbour Moor’. Towednack is a parish whose inhabitants were chiefly engaged in mining and agriculture. The Wesleyans had four chapels in the parish and the Teetotal Methodists’ one. This profile of Coldharbour Wesleyan Chapel, Towednack, has been compiled by Val Thomas. St Ives Old Cornwall Society.
1843 or 1845: Coldharbour Wesleyan chapel opened.
1851: There are two chapels in the 1851 returns. One was founded in 1830 and had seats for 80. This is the Georgia Primitive Methodist chapel. The other one, Coldharbour, was founded in 1843 and had seats for 202. William Burgess was the minister for both. (I don’t quite understand this – unless there were two Wesleyan chapels, one of which I have not identified). The Primitive chapel had an organ while the Wesleyan had a Harmonium.
1873: The survey reports 200 seats at Coldharbour chapel.
1880: March 10th ‘The Cornish Telegraph’ reported that a very pleasant evening had been spent at the Towednack Wesleyan Chapel when the Zennor Choir gave a service of song. Mrs Thomas presided at the harmonium.
This extract from a newspaper is from a Towednack ‘local’ who is complaining about the number of places of worship in the area. It is written in dialect!
“Dear Sir, - Just a line to let you know that we are getting on well up here in ‘Conker Downs’. (Carnequidden Downs) We have cold weather sometimes but it passes over quickly. The daily post is a great convenience to us, for lots more letters come and go from the parish now than they used to. As for the Cornish Telegraph, that sells in dozens and I won’t tell a lie when I say more are being bought every day. Success, Sir to the Liberal ideas they advocate. I suppose you have heard that we have a new sect up here. They are called the Plymouth Brethren I reckon. But I don’t know why they need to be here. Within two or three miles we we’ve got – let me see- why ten or a dozen chapels and churches. We’ve got Methodists, Bryanites, Primitives and Church people as well as nondescripts: so I don’t know why we need any more. At Nancledra there’s a Methodist chapel, a great big one: in Lady Downs there’s two chapels in a place not big enough for one. Now, sir, I don’t believe in such things myself: I call it all needless? of difficulties and sects. If the Plymouth Brethren only want to preach the pure and simple gospel; I say good luck to them, but if they want to foist on us their own peculiar views, I say the sooner they go back to Plymouth again, the better. We know plenty about creeds views, doctrines and things, but the mind that was in Christ is only in a very few of us. If ever you come up this way call in to see me will you, I have got some pretty specimens of tin and copper ore that I would like to show you, and then I would show you around. Our Church tower isn’t finished yet and when it will be I don’t know. They have fundraising concerts towards the cost. Our MP sang there too, so I heard. How he got on I don’t know because I wasn’t there. I wonder why they don’t say more in the Houses of Parliament. I think a few choice words up there would do more good than a song would. Down in St Ives some call him a silent member. But there, I suppose we will be having a new one before long. Now, sir, when I can even find time you shall hear from me again.”
From yours truly, Isaac Berryman
1904: Thomasine Trewhella Curnow had a funeral service conducted at Towednack Wesleyan Chapel on Friday 13th May. She was buried in the Churchyard.
1899: In October the St Ives Wesleyan choir journeyed to Towednack on Thursday evening and gave a capital service of song.
1894: Colan Williams was the blind organist for Hellesveor and wrote the St Ives anthem ‘Hellesveor’, which is sung each Christmas.
1905:The Sunday school treat was held on Good Friday. A public tea and meeting took place. The Towednack brass band was in attendance.
1909: The Cornish Telegraph April 29th. St Ives Wesleyan choir journeyed to Towednack on Monday last and gave a musical service in the Towednack Wesleyan Chapel. There was a good attendance, and with the help of the St Ives choir was greatly appreciated.
1913: The Chapel celebrated their anniversary on Sunday August 17th. The chapel was filled to overflowing.
1944: The funeral of Miss Wilmot Quick.
The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph Thursday April 20th 1944. There are families who are ‘local’ to the area. Quick. Nankervis, Berriman, Hollow, Curnow, Noy, Baragwaneth and Roach are some of the ‘local’ names.
1944: The Cornishman. May 4th. The funeral took place on Friday April 21st of Mr C. Hollow, late of Chytoddden Farm. The Rev. Brewer, Methodist minister, officiated. The service was held in Coldharbour Chapel, where a large number of friends had gathered together to pay their last respects. He was interred in the graveyard of the Church.
Jean Nankervis provided some information on chapels which she and Cedric Appleby had collated. They mentioned that “Many people today can remember the Sunday Schools, outings, harvest supers etc. These were social occasions: all went to the harvest supper whether church or chapel. Preachers were local and popular e.g., Wilfred John Hollow preached at the Coldharbour chapel. Reading Schools run by chapels were extremely popular among the miners. They learnt to read the Bible; this was before children went to school… John Wesley and other preachers used to stay at Rosemergy in the home of John Daniel. This is the house which is now slate hung”.
1999: Coldharbour chapel was delisted on 14th April.
2021 The chapel is now a dwelling called ‘The Old Chapel’.
Kresen Kernow:
Minutes, trustees, Towednack Methodist Church. MR1HY/37
Trust accounts, Towednack Methodist Church MR1HY/38
Resources:
genuki.org.uk
West Penwith Resources. west-penwith.org.uk
www.britishlistebuildings.co.uk/en -70547
‘Find My Past’ newspapers.
Jean Nankervis, Wicca Farm.
Cedric Appleby, Penzance
St Ives Museum
Sale particulars for ‘The Old Chapel’ – on the internet
Images are from the David Allan collection at St Ives Museum unless otherwise stated
Mapping Methodism - Georgia, Towednack
Georgia Primitive Methodist Chapel
Towednack was the village where the last service in the Cornish language was held. There were once 22 tin mines in Towednack parish alone. Towednack Feast is held on the nearest Sunday to 28th April. It is called the ‘Cuckoo Feast’ and there is a tradition that the cuckoo must be heard before it is held. It is also called ‘Crowder’s Feast’ or ‘Fiddler’s Feast’ because the fiddler formed a procession at the Church door and led the people through the village to some lively tune on his crowd (fiddle). The Old Chapel is a north west facing property on Georgia Hill. This profile of Georgia Primitive Methodist Chapel has been compiled by Val Thomas with information from ‘My Primitive Methodists’, by Christopher Hill.
1843: Charles Wesley used Matt 11:28 as his text for preaching at Towednack on 17/7/43. He was there again on 24/7/43 and used Isa 63:1. Charles and John Wesley originally came under attack for their preaching in St Ives, Pool and the village of Towednack. However, the first Methodist circuit was the large fishing village of St Ives: the largest crowds in the area gathered in the tin mining districts that surround the village. Huge crowds in these more industrial areas often listened to open air preaching by Wesley, which often took place as early as 5.00am before the start of the working day.
1851: The census shows how few people lived on Georgia Hill and Georgia at the time of the census. It also shows Thomas Chapel, aged 8 was a Sunday scholar, as was his sister Elizabeth age 11 but their sister aged 13 was a stamps girl. Charles Payn age 5 was also a Sunday scholar. This must mean that there was a Sunday school at this time. There was a day school in Towednack. Interestingly, when talking to a knowledgeable neighbour, he said there was the remains of an older chapel in the field off the track behind the Old Chapel building. I have not found evidence of this chapel yet but will continue to research for it. Could this older chapel have been used as a school?
1870: The village was missioned by the Primitive Wesleyans in 1870. The Hon Mrs Gilbert provided the land for the chapel on a 60-year lease “at a nominal rent”.
1871: The Foundation stone was laid on June 20th 1871 by Capt. R. Perry. The opening took place from October 22nd 1871, when the preachers included the ministers E. Richards and Jas Eddy. The chapel seated 100people and cost over £100 with £30. outstanding at the time of opening. Donors of money or practical equipment included Capt Perry, C. Magniac (MP), C.T. Harris. W.L. Harris and Mr and Mrs E. Richards.
1872: The Primitive Methodist magazine for January 1872 contains an account by S.J.S. of the establishment and opening of Georgia Primitive Methodist Chapel, in the village of Towednack. – Extract from ‘My Primitive Methodists’.
1883: Kelly’s directory. The chapel is named as being on Georgia Hill, which is what the position was referred to at that time.
‘The Cornishman’ Thursday May 15th. An entertainment was given on Saturday evening. Mr. P. Hampton (St Erth) presided and Mr. W. Hall was at the organ. He proceeds were on behalf of the school funds.
On July 3rd The Cornish Telegraph reported that “the Sunday school held their annual festival. The children and teachers formed a procession, headed by Towednack Bass Band, and visited the vicinity. After returning the children were regaled with buns and tea, followed by a public tea. The event was patronised by a good gathering and everything was pleasant, and a most enjoyable time was spent. ... the band disposed of a good selection of music.” under the conductorship of Mr. T. Humphries.
2nd October: The Cornishman newspaper reported that the chapel had held their harvest festival. A public tea was held on Saturday. A zonophone kindly lent by Mr A. Kunne was greatly appreciated. On Sunday the services were continued. In the afternoon the Penzance Mission choir entertained. Evening services were conducted by Mr J. White and Mrs J. Turner. The choir rendered hymns suitable for the occasion. Miss V. Turner very ably presided at the organ.
(Mr J. White seems to have been linked to Mount Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, Penzance, where his sister Miss H.A. White as the organist and many other family members were leaders. Mr J. White Jnr is also a leader in the chapels.)
2011: The chapel had been converted to residential use but still retains the stone tablet over the front door.
Resources:
‘My Primitive Methodists’, by Christopher Hill.
divinityduke.edu
‘Find my Past’ newspaper records and census
towednackrecords.tripod.com –compiled by C. Norman Hollow on his retirement in 1977 as churchwarden
National Maps of Scotland.
cornwallmapping.co.uk
The Fascinating History of Methodism in Cornwall.
John Wesley in Cornwall, 1st and 2nd visits – David Edward Pike.