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Churches of the British Isles

Gallery: Churches of Cornwall

by Jo Lewis, 1 February 2025

Carrick (North & West) Part 34: Churches of Hicks Mill to Crofthandy

Hicks Mill Bible Christian Chapel, Hicks Mill, Cornwall

Hicks Mill Bible Christian Chapel is found by heading a short way west of Higher Bissoe (see 'related links'). The chapel can clearly be seen from the Coombe Lane junction with the Hicks Mill lane, and can be accessed directly by dropping down onto that lane. It was opened by William O'Bryan and James Thorne in 1821. It has since twice been enlarged. Hicks Mill was an important Bible Christian centre for mid-Cornwall, with conferences being held here for many years.

Hicks Mill Bible Christian Chapel, Hicks Mill, Cornwall

The Hicks Mill chapel is associated with its most famous member, Billy Bray, who joined the society in 1823 and who later signed a total abstinence pledge in the chapel (and see links for two chapels attributed to him). At the 1907 union it became United Methodist and, at the 1932 union, Hick's Mill Methodist Church, when it was part of Truro St George's Methodist circuit and then Truro Methodist circuit. It is now an independent Bible-loving Christian fellowship.

Twelveheads Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Twelveheads, Cornwall

Twelveheads Wesleyan Methodist Chapel can be found in the village of the same name, about three kilometres north of Hicks Mill. The chapel is on the east side of the main northwards-heading lane in the heart of the village. Built as a Wesleyan chapel, it can be seen on Victorian maps with a possible build date of 1828. A small chapel may already have existed when Billy Bray was born here in 1794. Records show a thatched chapel of Twelveheads, perhaps of about 1760.

Twelveheads Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Twelveheads, Cornwall

In 1891 the Twelveheads Methodist chapel was enlarged and renovated and, in 1924, further additions were made to the main building. Set back to the left of the chapel on the eastern side of the lane is the church Sunday school, with a date stone of 1886. In 2022 the Twelveheads congregation joined with that of Chacewater Methodist Church (see 'related links') to become active in the new Mid-Cornwall Methodist circuit.

Bethel Bible Christian Chapel, Twelveheads, Cornwall

Bethel Bible Christian Chapel (or 'chapels') is down an unmade track, marked by a stone, between Twelveheads and Cross Lanes (in effect the next north-south lane to the west of Twelveheads). The older schoolroom is reportedly one of the three chapels built by Billy Bray. The newer chapel was built in 1842. It was Bethel United Methodist Church from 1907 and Bethel Methodist Church from 1932, closing and being sold about 1963. It is now a studio.

Crofthandy Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Crofthandy, Cornwall

Crofthandy Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is found when coming into Crofthandy via Higher Goongumpas Lane and turning south into this hamlet. The chapel sits at the south-east corner of the junction between Higher Goongumpas Lane and Lower Goongumpas Lane. Built in 1844 as a Wesleyan chapel, old photos show it virtually unchanged today. The chapel became Crofthandy Methodist Church in 1932, but it closed in 2014 and has since been converted into a private dwelling.

All photos on this page by Jo Lewis.

 

 

     
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