Churches of the British Isles

Prince Street Independent Chapel stood on the lost Prince Street (now merged into the High Street between Victoria and Beacon streets), near Victoria Quay. A pre-1880 Sunday school was on the left where the steps now connect to Victoria Quay, lost in the 1950s-1970s to road widening. Sources suggest an independent chapel was erected on this street in 1713-1715, predecessor of the later Congregational chapel (below), probably the Sunday school building itself.

The exact location of High Street (First) Congregational Chapel is uncertain. A Thomas Tregosse formed Falmouth's independent congregation in 1662, with the early meetings at the Sunday school building mentioned above. This chapel may have been the same place as the Independent chapel (also above), but there is much confusion in the research, even that of Susan E Gay. It was succeeded by the surviving 1710 chapel which later became the town hall (below).

The High Street Congregational Chapels collectively are uncertain, most likely all being located in this same bit of High Street. Local history notes an Independent chapel of 1723 (see above), and then new Independent chapels in 1753 and 1790 (below, with Mr Wildbore as minister), all in the High Street. How these all overlap with each other is unclear. The terms 'Independent' and 'Congregational' were often used interchangeably, being recorded here for completeness.

High Street (Third) Congregational Chapel was a little way up the hill. Pre-1880 maps show a Congregational chapel seating eight hundred, on the west side of the street. The modern link bridge here is on the same spot. It was built to replace the 1710 chapel (see below), possibly as early as 1715. Other sources note a new chapel here in 1853 (perhaps a rebuild or renovation), seating 750 persons. High Street clearances included the removal of this building.

High Street (Second) Congregational Chapel stands next door to its lost successor (see above), on the western side of the High Street. This Grade 2 listed building is the 1710 Congregational chapel. When it was replaced by the bigger, third chapel, the building was purchased by Martin Lister Killigrew who presented it to the town corporation in 1725, for use as a town hall. It was also used as the court house, but today it houses a shop.

Webber Street Baptist Chapel stood on the northern side of the street, around forty metres west of the junction with High Street and Market Strand. Falmouth's Baptists date back as far as 1663, with a 1769 meeting house being used on Well Street (see 'related links'). The 1804 chapel here on Webber Street was built at what then was Saffron Court, set back from the road and accessed via an arch. It was to be extended in 1814 but was found to be in a dangerous state.

Instead the chapel was completely rebuilt to serve the Baptists for the next sixty years. The Baptist congregation moved in 1877 to a new, larger chapel on Market Street (see below). The Webber Street chapel was sold to the Salvation Army in 1881, but they moved to their present building in 1970 (see links). Although listed, the building was vandalised and was more recently demolished. The gated archway (as seen here) remained for a while until construction started in 2025.

Market Street Baptist Chapel was on the west side of the street, where Nos 22-24 now stand (in 2025 these slots were occupied by Clarks and The Works, with Clarks being visible here on the right of the shot). The large chapel was built in 1877 to sit eight hundred with a Sunday school behind it. Its congregation moved to Western Terrace when Woolworths offered to buy the building. Woolworths itself is now long gone, as is the Wilko store which replaced it.

Fish Strand Quay Jewish Meeting could be found at the point at which Market Street becomes Church Street, spliced by Fish Strand Hill to the west and the quay to the east. Located here was the fish market. The Jewish community was established in 1740 by Moses Alexander. The first synagogue was located near Fish Strand in 1776 (in Hamblyn's Court, later known as Dunstan's Court or Jeffery's Court). The members moved to the new synagogue (see links) in 1806.

Seven photos on this page by Jo Lewis, one copyright © Stephen McKay via Geograph, reused under a cc licence, one via The Falmouth Packet, and one kindly contributed by Ben Sutherland via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.