PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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A document in the Plymouth & West Devon Reord Office records that the first meeting of Wesleyan Methodists in Tamerton took place in 1803. Presumably these meetings were held in rooms in private houses. The first Methodist Chapel at Tamerton Foliot was built in either 1809 or 1814 at a cost of £250 and accommodated 80 people. In 1876, faced with an increasing population, it was decided to replace it with a modern building. A site was acquired from a Mrs Jeffery for the sum of £150 but further progress was delayed by the heavy expenditure needed on the new premises at King Street, Plymouth. In time £500 towards the cost of the building was raised by public subscription and the architect, Mr H J Snell, was asked to design a building. The resultant edifice was constructed by Messrs Maddock & Packer and was capable of seating 170 persons. Unfortunately the original estimate of £590 proved optimistic, as the site was formerly an old gravel pit and had to be excavated to a considerable depth in order to obtain a good foundation. In addition, a further £23 was spent on a boundary wall and iron railings, the latter supplied by Mr Hawkings of Old Town Street, Plymouth. The Chapel was opened during the afternoon of Wednesday June 6th 1877 and the two-hour long service was well attended by supporters from Plymouth, in spite of the heavy rain. Tea was provided afterwards in the Parish Church schoolroom, courtesy of the Reverend E Roberts. Tamerton Foliot Methodist Chapel is no longer in use because the ceiling is unsafe and there are no funds available to repair it. The Chapel and the adjacent hall will be officially closing on March 16th 2008, when a special service will be held in the Tamerton Foliot Parish Church.
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