PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The first religious service conducted by the Wesleyan Methodists in what was then Knackersknowle was held in a small room in the village. The year was reputedly 1789, according to a document in the Plymouth & West Devon Reord Office. Some sort of religious gathering had been taking place in George Hancock's residence in the parish of Eggbuckland since April 18th 1799 but there is no reference to a denomination. The meeting was registered on February 21st 1812 by Mr John Foot, Messrs James and George Hancock, Mr Thomas Down, Mr Samuel Tozer and Mr Robert Martin. A Sunday School was started in June 1815 by Mr John Ellis. On May 21st 1817 a chapel was opened capable of holding about 100 worshippers, at a cost of about £200. There were apparently only 13 members in December 1817. In 1862 during the superintendency of the Plymouth circuit by the Reverend James Loutit, the trustees received notice from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department that the property was included in a plan for contemplated fortifications and might be wanted immediately. As a consequence it was sold to the Government for £500.
This is said to be the first
Wesleyan Chapel The memorial stone of the replacement chapel was laid on a rather inclement Wednesday May 3rd 1871 by Mr John Allen junior, of Ivybridge, a great benefactor of the Methodist congregation in Plymouth. Members of the Plymouth congregations made the journey out to Knackersknowle either aboard Mr F Ellis's roomy, four horse waggonette or on foot. Built on a plot 125 feet by 50 feet and in an excellent position fronting on to the road to St Budeaux, the Chapel was designed in the Gothic style by Messrs Ambrose & Snell, of Plymouth. It was built of Pomphlett limestone with fire brick and Bath stone dressings. The front was some 32 feet in height and had a long narrow window on either side of the main door, with a wheel-shaped window above. Internally, the Chapel was 40 feet long by 24 feet wide, with side walls of some 13 feet in height and an overall height of 23 feet to the ceiling. The open timber roof was varnished. Seating was provided for 168 persons on varnished, red deal timber open benches, of which 70 will be freely available to worshippers. At the far end was the communion table, surrounded by rails, and the pulpit stood to one side. There was a small vestry behind the table. The purchase of the land cost £150 and the building itself, which was erected by Mr Stevenson, of Newton Ferrers, cost £450. A collection was made during the service and realised over £16. A further £80 was contributed in purses paid upon the memorial stone, among which may be mentioned one containing £4 10 shillings from a Miss Tiny Balch, who was described as 'a very little lady of three summers'. Mr Allen himself added a further £20. Knackersknowle Wesleyan Chapel was officially opened on Wednesday July 5th 1871. The morning prayer meeting was led by the Reverend F S Balch (no doubt the father of Miss Tiny, mentioned above), who also preached the last service in the old Chapel the previous Sunday evening. Following an afternoon service, about 100 people sat down in the old Chapel to a tea provided by Messrs Carter and Gentle, with the assistance of Mrs Ellis, Mrs Wingrave, Mrs Middlemiss, Mrs Carter, Mrs Gentle, Miss Quick, Miss Richards, Miss Lonsdale, Miss Knight, and Miss Neale. In the evening the Reverend J R Webb was the preacher, after which the Plymouth contingent made the journey home on Mr Ellis's waggonette. Mr John Ellis who founded the Sunday School died on August 8th 1882. During 1889 Knackersnowle seems to have been renamed Crownhill. At that time it is said there were only nine members of the Chapel but the rapid development of housing in that area soon brought about a need for an extension, the foundation stone of which was laid on November 28th 1906. Like the original Chapel, this was designed by Messrs Ambrose and Snell and built by Mr Stevenson of Newton Ferrers. The construction was of Pomphlett limestone with fire-brick and Bath stone dressings. The extension was opened on Saturday February 9th 1907. An organ was not installed until after the Second World War. It was dedicated on November 8th 1950.
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