History
Some interesting dates in the history of Bealbury Methodist Church
- 1871- September 29th- Conveyance of land
- 1872- Original building opened for worship
- 1873- Registered as a place of worship
- 1954- July 29th- Registered for Solemnisation of Marriages
- 1960- March 7th- Conveyance of extra land
- 1961- April- Mains electricity installed
- 1961- May 18th- Opening of a new guard hall
- 1970- Chapel featured on Westward televison
- 1972- Redecoration of church hall
- 1972- April 29-30th Centenary Celebrations
- 1991- Whole of Chapel and Hall redocorated (own labour)
- 1994- April 7-8th Theft of slates from Chapel roof
- 1994- August 24th Chapel reslated on south side
- 1996- Oct- Purchase of 50 new stacking chairs for hall
- 1996- Dec- Installation of new microphone and speakers
- 1997- April- External & internal decoration of Chapel
- 1997- May 23-26th 125 Years Celebration
- 1999- Nov- Featured on Radio Cornwall, Nina Davey's Cornwall Celebrates programme
- 2000- July- Exterior of chapel cleaned and treated with weathershield
- 2001- Oct- Ramps in place for wheelchair access
- 2001- Two extra fire extinguishers in place
- 2002- March- Loop system installed
130+ Years of Christian Witness
We have not been able to discover the actual date when Methodism was first established in the St. Mellion area, but it seems fairly clear that it all began at Dunstan Farm just a short distance away from the present Chapel, in a farmhouse kitchen occupied by Mr. Webb. Under his personal direction Methodism was put on the map and Dunstan became a 'preaching place'. This happened either late in the 18th century or very early in the 19th century. It appears Mr. Webb had a genius for establishing Methodist Societies because he afterwards went to Wisewandra, in the Parish of Landrake, and opened up yet another preaching place there.
Following on from Mr. Webb it seems that a Mr. Sampson Garland and his wife took over the leadership of the Society and they kept open the farm-house kitchen for worship for over thirty years, until Mr. Garland died in 1866. The services were then held in a cottage also at Dunstan which was fitted up as a preaching place and rented from the Coryton's and used for worship until he required to use it for his own purposes.
The services were again moved back to the old farm-house kitchen occupied by Mr. B Garland, son of Mr. Sampson Garland, and Miss Dunstan, his grand-daughter. The services were held here unitl 1872 when a scheme was started for the erection of a new Chapel at Bealbury.
The site was the only bit of land in the Parish that was available. It was on the borders of the then uncultivated Viverdon Common. The land belonged to a Miss Jennifer Hodge of Bealbury who generously gave the site and subscribed towards its erection. The Rev. Joseph Mole was the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit at the time and took a very active part with Mr. J Venning of Callington in collecting subscriptions towards the new chapel which cost over £300. The stone-laying service was held in May 1872 when the Rev. J. Jenkin of Plymouth preached the sermon. £100 had been raised up until that time and the Chapel was completed and opened for worship in November 1872. The sermon at the opening of the Chapel was preached by the Rev. J B Butcher of Launceston. A Sunday School was opened in the following year, 1873, through Mr. Venning and Mr. N Thomas of Haye and then afterwards help was given by Messrs Brendon and Hancock of Callington. It is interesting to note that Mr. Venning was called the 'Bishop of Bealbury' and the 'Perpetual Curate of Frogwell' because of his interest and involovement with the two places of worship and their Sunday Schools.
May 1961 saw the erection of a new spacious Hall with kitchen, cloakroom and toilets. This new building was named the Gard Hall after the minister at that time, the Rev. Robert Gard who worked tirelessly with the members of Bealbury Chapel to achieve this remarkable enterprise. Centenary Celebrations took place on April 29th & 30th 1972.
In 1997, the Chapel inside and the whole of the premises outside were redecorated.
Most recently, the 11 am Sunday Service at Bealbury is very well attended, with visitors often coming from the nearby Caravan Park and St. Mellion Leisure Complex. In November 1999 the Chapel was featured on Radio Cornwall's programme, Nina Davey's Cornwall Celebrates. This was so well accepted that there was a repeat broadcast a few weeks later.
