Churches of the British Isles

Waterside Chapel (Wesleyan), Chapel Court, was perhaps also located on the waterfront. The site shown here can be reached by turning left (east) at the southern end of Church Street, turning down an alley known as Old Chapel Yard and proceeding to the far end. The building has been converted into flats, one of which is a holiday home. Details about it state that it has been converted from a chapel, although no chapel can be found on easily-available OS maps.

The Church of King Charles the Martyr stands large at the south end of Church Street in Falmouth. The foundations were laid in 1662, with the first sermon preached in 1664. The dedication was for Charles I to commemorate his execution in 1649. Charles II fled to nearby Pendennis Castle during the English Civil War, vowing to build a chapel in Falmouth when the wars ceased. It was the Killigrew family which sought his permission to do just that on their own land.

This Grade 2 listed church has undergone many alterations since its consecration. By 1813 it needed further extending, so an 1684 chancel was demolished, the church was lengthened, and the chancel was rebuilt. The building's fabric slowly deteriorated and, in 1896, another major reconstruction was needed. It is said to have been the country's most altered church. Charles Henderson observed in 1925: 'it is interesting for its curious mixture of Gothic and Classical styles'.

Quay Street Quaker Meeting Place may be a confusion with a later meeting house. Falmouth's Quakers were established in 1670, and various references put them here, with an initial meeting at the house of Francis Hodge. Another house was leased in 1667-1698, after which they met in Thomas Gwin's house. A meeting house was built in Market Street around 1791 but was converted to a dwelling in 1803 when the Gyllyng Street meeting house was built (see links).

Seaman's Bethel & Institute is noted by Kellys 1902 directory. Situated on the northern side of Quay Hill, this Christian institution was established in 1849, and was rebuilt in 1893. It contained a mission room for seven hundred and a large reading room for seafaring persons. A mission boat was presented to the institution in November 1896. Now owned by University College of Falmouth, the building's history is remembered by a plaque and a foundation stone.

Arwennack Street Catholic Chapel succeeded an oratory in a loft above a quay warehouse which had been set up by French sailors by 1800. When this burned down it was replaced with the chapel and priest lodgings. Franciscan priest Ignatius Casemore was appointed in 1803. Both house and chapel were later demolished to make space for the Custom House at the north-east corner of Arwennack Street and Custom House Quay. Today (2025) that is 'The Stable'.

Arwennack Street Quaker Meeting Room was located within Bank House, on the western side of Bank Place, opposite Falmouth Watersports Centre. The Quakers moved here in 1988 when their premises on Gyllyng Street were sold (see links). From here they later progressed to the Dracaena Centre (see links). Bank House was a family home of the Quaker Fox family until 1864. Today it is a Grade 2 listed multi-use building which has been converted into apartments.

The Mission to Seafarers (Falmouth Docks) is today located within the Flying Angel centre which itself is located inside Falmouth Docks. The view here is on the southern side of Pendennis Ship Yard road, about one hundred and forty metres east of the Bar Road junction. The centre opened in 2005. As well as being a drop-in centre, it also serves as a seafarers wellbeing centre and can offer advice and support for seafarers, with a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas.

Arwennack Old Chapel was sited near to what these days is the renovated post-medieval Arwennack House. The modern site is located on the western side of Grove Place, twenty metres north of the Cambeltown Way junction when returning from the docks. A chapel here in the Arwennack area of Falmouth was licensed in 1374 and 1421. It was burned down during the English Civil War and was not rebuilt. Evidence also exists of a medieval mansion house.

Eight photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and two copyright © Steve Barnes and David Dixon via Geograph, reused under a cc licence.