Churches of the British Isles

West Looe (Second) Congregational Chapel replaced Trelawny's chapel when it opened in 1797. That building was replaced by the present one in 1881 (or perhaps 1874). The interior was surrounded by galleries on three sides, sitting 370 people. Funds were mainly voluntary contributions. It became West Looe United Reformed Church in 1972, later being joined by members of the two Methodist chapels (see links) to form Riverside United Methodist Church.

Now as Riverside Church, the building was fully refurbished at the age of one hundred and fourteen, in 1995. The old pews downstairs were removed to be replaced by comfortable seating which can be arranged so that better use can be made of the sanctuary area. The Riverside Church was the first of its kind in Cornwall to receive an 'Eco Bronze' award for the ecologically-friendly standard of its upgrade and operations. It remained active in the community into 2026.

The medieval Chapel of St Anne was located along the old Looe bridge. It was erected between 1411-1436 but was destroyed 1853. It stood at the centre of the old bridge, having been dedicated in 1436. Leland recorded twelve or sixteen arches in the old bridge, and Bond described it as being a hundred and seventeen metres long with eighteen arches. It was demolished during the construction of the canal and railway, and today's bridge replaced it.

East Looe Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is at the bridge's far end (see above). It is on the east side of Shutta Road, about sixty metres north of the junction with Fore Street's eastern side. Records show a chapel being built in 1809, but a land lease exists from 1816, also given as a build date. That implies an earlier meeting from 1809. It was rebuilt in 1841 with a school room (1877) at the back. It closed in 1966 to be converted into flats ('Chapel Court') and book shop (the 'Old Hall').

East Looe Barbican Methodist Church is at the south-west corner of the Trewint Crescent and Pendennis Road junction. Built in 1968, this modern but now-closed church (since about 1996) presumably was placed here as a modern chapel-of-ease to support the local East Looe population once the older Methodist chapels had merged into Riverside Church (see above). It was designed by G R Vaughan Ellis of Liskeard. It is now a children's centre and community hub.

Four photos on this page copyright © David Dixon, Jaggery, Richard Rogerson, and Paul Barnett, all via Geograph, reused under a cc licence, and one kindly contributed by Mapping Methodism. Additional information from Mapping Methodism.