Churches of the British Isles

Gorran Haven Wesleyan Methodist Chapel edges into the southern side of Canton, about two hundred metres west of St Just. Originally thought to have been Primitive Methodist, recent research (2024) has confirmed it as Wesleyan, built in 1830 with a lease from 1829. It appears on Wesleyan preaching plans and in the 1867 return. It even had its own crockery labelled 'Gorran Wesleyan Chapel'. It closed around 2000, and was converted around 2013 to residential.

The site of Bodrugan Chapel was within Bodrugan Manor's grounds (now a holiday complex), outside the last corner before the sharp-descent into Portmellon on the road from Gorran Haven. Bodrugan Barton is described as 'medieval Barton owned by the Bodrugan family'. The manor comprised a farm house and chapel, possibly with a park. The chapel existed in 1372 but the entire manor was pulled down in 1786. Only a chapel wall remained as part of a barn.

The now-lost Galowras Old Chapel existed close to the equally now-lost castle of the same name, a little over 1.5 kilometres due west of Portmellon. Known as Gloeret in Domesday Book (1086) a chapel is listed here in 1309, possibly dedicated as St John's Chapel. This listing locates it at Galowras Manor House, a short way due north from Castle Hill - now Boslinney Barn B&B. The 1894-95 Comprehensive Gazetteer of England & Wales confirms the chapel's existence.

Mevagissey Bible Christian Chapel (First Site) stood at the south-east corner of River Street and Chapel Square at the centre of the town. A lease for a chapel here dates to 1818, with a trust deed of 1826, the year in which the chapel was completed. Sources reference a rebuild in 1856, but the chapel was restored in 1888 and now seated 300. It was completely destroyed by fire in 1896 and a new building replaced it (below) in 1896. The old site now contains housing.

Mevagissey Bible Christian Chapel (Second Site) is at the north-east corner of Valley Road and Chapel Square, opposite the original site (above). It was built in 1896 in the Gothic style by Squire Tremayne of Heligan. It later became River Street Methodist Church - its BCC congregation likely joined Congregationalists further down Chapel Square (see links). The Methodists also left by 1994. The building was on the market in 2015 and is now private apartments.

All photos on this page by Jo Lewis, with additional information from The Saints of Cornwall, Nicholas Orme (OUP Oxford, 2000).