Churches of the British Isles

Flushing Primitive Methodist Chapel is on the western side of Coventry Street, about seventy metres from the Kersey Road junction. Built in 1866, this became Coventry Street Methodist Church in 1932, with seating for one hundred and sixty-eight by 1940. It closed in 1948, with the congregation joining the Kersey Road chapel (see above) which preserved some oil lamps from this chapel. The old Primitive Methodist chapel is now the residential 'Ecclesiasticus'.

The site of the former Flushing Reading Room cannot be pinpointed. Records exist of a reading room in the village, one which had four hundred books. The National Archives catalogue a minute book and a list of books between 1865-1885, a prime period for the opening of reading rooms to help the poorest in society. Even so, a location cannot be gained, so Flushing Village Club is used here as a marker (and potential candidate), opposite No 36 Coventry Street.

The Parish Church of St Gluvias with Penryn sits on the eastern edge of Penryn, and on the eastern side of Church Hill and the River Penryn. Christians have worshipped on this site since a church was dedicated on 25 July 1318 to St Gluvias 'the Martyr'. The area upon which the church now stands was known as Behethlan, containing a monastic building when the church was built. Of that church building only the tower survives, along with the barrel-shaped roof.

The present building is the product of a restoration which was carried out by J P St Auburn in 1883. Further changes were made in the 1950s by Sir Ninian Comper, who had the Victorian chancel lowered to its original Cornish proportions, the floor laid with slate headstones, and the internal walls whitened. The church served both Penryn and Falmouth until 1664 when the parish of the growing town of Falmouth was divided out of that of St Gluvias.

St Gluvias Mortuary Chapel is accessible by car from Love Lane on the church's eastern flank, or by using the footpath from the car park to the church's south, and then walking along the riverside in an eastwards direction. The St Gluvias chapel of rest and associated cemetery is closed for new burials but can still be visited. The chapel was built in memory of Ludovicae Phillpotts, 1872, as recorded by a brass plaque on the north wall and an inscription over the inner south door.

Five photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and one kindly contributed by David J Ricketts via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.