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CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP | METHODIST CHAPELS

TURNCHAPEL METHODIST CHAPEL

Updated: 05 July 2011

Turnchapel Methodist Chapel is in Saint John's Road, Turnchapel, Plymstock, Plymouth. Although the building is still in existence, it is now a private residence.

It is known from documents held by the Plymouth & West Devon Record Office that the Wesleyan Methodists first met at Turnchapel in either 1809 or 1810. There were 13 members in October 1813 but stood at only 12 in December 1817. [1]

The first Chapel was erected at Turnchapel in 1817 and cost £312. It had seating for 200. [2]

It would seem that the Chapel fell into disrepair because at the time of the Wesleyan Conference in Plymouth in 1913 it was described as having 'unquestionably seen better days'. However, the Sunday School was flourishing: 'this is certainly an indication of brighter prospects in the future'. [3]

Sources:

[1] Wesleyan Methodist Church Circuit Book, 1813-1847, held at the Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, Plymouth, accession number 1133/1.

[2] Source not recorded.

[3] "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.