Churches of the British Isles

The site of Trelion Bible Christian Chapel can be found by skipping straight through St Stephen from High Street via the A3058. The Terras Road turn-off at the River Fal crossing leads to this spot at a junction which heads south. The bench seemingly marks the location of what seemingly was a box-like chapel (possibly temporary). It is marked on maps of 1880, becoming Trelyon Methodist Church in the 1930s. It closed around 1965 and was soon demolished.

Scarcewater Bible Christian Chapel lies even further to the west along the A3058, on the northern side just a hundred metres east of the Penhale and Grampound Road crossroads. It was built in 1869, later becoming Scarcewater Methodist Church at the Methodist union of 1932. According to the BBC's 'Domesday Project' it was still active in 1986 but was no longer in use by 1992. Planning was approved in 1994 for conversion into a private dwelling.

St Stephen's Church, St Stephen-in-Brannel is on the east side of Fore Street, with Churchtown Road on its north flank, and the A3058 just ninety metres or so to the south. It was dedicated on 20 August 1261 by Bishop Bronescombe of Exeter, probably replacing an earlier structure dedicated to St Helen (Elent). The tower was damaged by lightening in 1784, after which the old spiralet was replaced by a fourth pinnacle. Restoration took place in 1854-71 and the 1900s.

St Stephen Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is on the western side of Fore Street in St Stephen-in-Brannel, opposite the northern end of the cemetery. It was constructed in 1870 according to its datestone and was refitted in the 1890s. A Sunday school was added in a small extension at the back which still exists. The church closed in August 2010, with documents and baptismal records ending at the same time. Plans were made to put it up for sale.

Trethosa Bible Christian Chapel on the eastern side of Trethosa Farm, around 180 metres from the 'Trethosa Turn' bus stop on the northbound Trevisco road from St Stephen. Early 1800s Methodist activities were at the farm itself. The chapel was built in 1876, with a Sunday school attached. Jack Clemo, the deaf-blind Cornish poet, was christened and married here. The chapel organ was still playable in 2013 but the chapel closed in the same year and is now a horse stud.

All photos on this page by Jo Lewis.