Churches of the British Isles

The location of the former Mount Hawke Primitive Methodist Meeting has been lost to time, with its few members likely having joined the Wesleyans (see above). A 'Primitive' congregation was stabilised in the village around 1834 with a preacher by the name of William Driffield. A piece of land was identified for a chapel in 1835 with documents recording rent being paid in 1836. The society closed in 1842, briefly reformed in 1845, but closed for good in 1847.

The site of the former 'Two Traps' Bible Christian Chapel can be reached by leaving Mount Hawke on Banns Road to reach a t-junction at Towan Cross. The chapel or meeting house was located in a field to the left of the turning into the main road. It can be seen on 1835 maps, with this area also being known as Bryanite corner (an alternative name for early Bible Christians) and Two Traps Corner. The chapel probably originated around 1830 but soon disappeared.

Porthtowan Soul Church is easily found by heading to Porthtowan from Towan Cross. Turn right into the village on Beach Road. The village hall and car park can be seen when entering the village. Soul Church appears to have started up in 2013, being described as a 'Fresh Expression' church. Its congregation met up every Sunday in the village hall as part of the 'Atlantic Cluster' of churches on this stretch of the North Cornish coast. The church disbanded in 2020.

The Porthtowan Wesleyan Methodist Chapel site is located on the left-hand side of Chapel Hill when leaving Porthtowan village, about a third of the way up the hill. Methodists have worshipped hereabouts since 1796, when a small group met in a cottage or under a cherry tree in the garden. The chapel (at the front of this photo) was built in 1820, later becoming a Sunday school for its successor, and is now Porthtowan Methodist Church, otherwise The Chapel on the Hill.

The second site for Porthtowan Wesleyan Methodist Chapel sat in what is now the current Methodist church car park (see above). Old maps suggest this was already in existence in 1880 with the older chapel acting as a Sunday school (on the left here). At the Methodist union in 1932 it became the first Porthtowan Methodist Church, but it was demolished in the 1970s, after which a modern extension was added to the original building.

Five photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and one reproduced with the permission of the Porthtowan and Towan Cross book which looks at both chapels.