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CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP |
METHODIST CHAPELS
EDGCUMBE STREET
WESLEYAN CHAPEL
This The Edgcumbe Street Wesleyan Chapel,
East Stonehouse, was located on the north side of Edgcumbe Street, at the corner with Brownlow
Street.
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It was built in 1813 at a cost of
£1,600. [1]
The Chapel required enlargement
as it was used by the Methodist worshippers from the Royal Marines.
Because of that, it was an unusual Chapel in that it had a representation of
the Royal coat-of-arms on the front of the choir stalls. Work started
on the enlargement, which amounted to almost a rebuild, in 1857. [1]
Edgcumbe
Street Wesleyan Chapel was
re-opened for services on June 20th 1861. [2]
Sunday Schools were erected in George Street,
East Stonehouse, in 1862 at a cost of £1,178 [1].
These were quickly found to be inadequate
and in 1867 thoughts were being given to erecting a new Sunday School. About £300
was raised by subscription and Mr Ambrose, a Plymouth architect, was approached to draw up
plans. A builder, Mr N K Verren, gave them a quote of £535 and the project was
immediately put into operation. [3]
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On the ground floor contained classrooms and
an infant schoolroom, while upstairs was a room measuring 66 feet by 35 feet, in which the
older children would be accommodated. Around 800 children were expected to be
enrolled.
Mr Treverton laid the foundation stone on
Thursday February 13th 1868 and during the ceremony a further £27 13s 3¾d was collected,
of which Mr Treverton contributed £15. [3]
The Chapel having survived both the Blitz and the post-war demolition spree,
finally succumbed to the bull-dozer in 1987. [4]
Sources:
[1] Typescript
copy of article entitled "Wesleyan Methodists in Plymouth",
Western Daily Mercury, May 19th 1879, held at the Plymouth Local
Studies Library, Plymouth.
[2] "Opening of
the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at Stonehouse", Western Daily
Mercury, Plymouth, June 22nd 1861.
[3] "Laying the
Foundation Stone of Wesleyan Sunday Schools at Stonehouse",
Western Daily Mercury, Plymouth, February 15th 1868.
[4]
Source not recorded.
Photograph - "Wesleyan
Methodist Church: Conference Handbook and Souvenir: Plymouth 1913",
printed by Messrs William Brendon & Son Ltd, Plymouth, 1913,
courtesy of the Reverend John Haley of Ridgeway Methodist Church,
Plympton, and and Mr Chris Crouch, the Property & Facilities Officer
at the Circuit Office, Devonport.
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