The History of Blunts Methodist Church

• Before Eighteen Hundred and Forty Three
  Blunts was not as today we see
  Very few houses were then to be seen
  And the people would worship in someones kitchen.

• A man lived at Blunts with the name of John Dingle,
  Who thought that somehow they must have a Chapel.
  Working by day and thinking by night.
  He belonged to the people they called Bryanites

• Having formed his plans and being Class leader,
  He called on his friends to consider the matter.
  The decision arrived at I think was grand
  That was, they should beg a piece of land

• A man with the name of Snell was found,
  Willing to give a parcel of ground.
  Then having secured their wish for a site,
  They went in for building with all their might
• Some carried the stones and some mixed the mortar,
  Each one willing to help on his brother
  So thus it turned out each working with will,
  They soon began their chapel to build.

• When the walls were a foot high so the people say
  A man came to preach called Billy Bray
  And this seemed to be the drift of his story
  Christ in the heart, the hope of glory.

• Blunts then belonged to St. Cleer Circuit
  The minister being one Mr. Abbott
  You will at once see how religion has ripened
  For then he had only ten pounds a year stipend.

• His food would consist sometimes of porridge,
  Which he would receive in some labourer's cottage.
  Sometimes he would get at the farm's his fill
  And he has been known to work in the field.

• At Luccombe I think was his principle stay
  Here he would sleep three nights they say
  The friends there were kind, I would say by the way
  They would wash up his shirt, socks and neck tie.

• Well the Chapel was built and stood up erect,
  But I can't tell who was the architect
  Lime wash floor and a little round pulpit
  A Pill Box a lawyer once said when in it.

• The pews too were of a very rough kind,
  Swing doors you know and high up behind.
  Some people thought them nice to sleep in,
  Some would take snuff and then HIc-Hic-Hem.

• The cause has been high, and again has been low,
  And some have preached to only two
  Not very inspiring, I think Mr Chairman
  After walking here from Stoke Climsland

• For thirty five years they plodded along,
  Some have worked hard, to rest they have gone,
  Others are still engaged in the fight,
  Some of them gladdened by this day's sight.

• Their labours, this has not been in vain
  For the work goes on in much the same strain
  They have laboured and sown in tears
  The Harvest has come in after years

• Our predecessors were Bible Christians
  They built the chapel, today it remains
  To keep up the cause for them was a strain.
  So they gave it up to us Wesleyans

• Some people now thought there was room to object,
  As the Chapel had got sixty five pounds debt.
  But what was that to a far seeing eye,
  Must souls perish or be left to die.

• No, No, my friends that must never be done,
  Souls were here worth more than that sum
  Our friend Mr. Dingle devised a scheme,
  And worked it out well, depend on him.

• Twas resolved to make a Circuit affair
  And hold at Callington a Large Bazaar,
  For the purpose of wiping off Blunts Chapel debt
  And other ways help in the circuit

• I remember the time, was a splendid day
  The money was raised, and the debt cleared away.
  And I know Mr. Dingle that day felt glad
  For he knew that his bargain was not very bad.

• It was surprising the interest taken
  In poor old Blunts, it should not be forsaken
  And although the Chapel looked very dismal
  Folks would come to help one and all

• And so it transpired I was called upon
  To come out to Blunts to help it on
  And you may well judge how I trembled and shook,
  When the minister gave me the Class book

• The Chapel did look so shabby and cold,
  Here and there a lamp set up on a pole.
  Water would settle in pools on the floor
  And where the window now is, was the door.
• The pulpit was fixed just there, by that screen,
  But of course no schoolroom was then to be seen,
  While just in front of it, it looked like a pit,
  Here the Sunday School children would sit

• Allow me an incident here to quote
  Which has been written in memory's book
  The boys that were sent to our school to learn
  Would stand on their head, instead of sit on the form

• Time rolled on and we thought that we were able
  To build a new schoolroom and also a stable
  But a difficulty seemed to circle us round
  How should we get a piece of ground

• Well some about this got into a flutter
  As the ground belonged to one Mr. Tucker
  But will you believe it, that gentleman
  Kindly gave us the needful land.

• That was a good start there was no more fear
  But we set out at once the ground to clear
  Some farmers sent carts without any pay
  That's how it went on day after day.

• The stones were raised and bought to the place
  When they came to be paid for no one had the face
  I won't give his name, you might think he was rash,
  But he got the bill settled without any cash

• The building went on, and soon was completed,
  And with a good number the opening was greeted
  And though the takings were really good,
  A debt on the school against us stood.

• The day at last when a stroke of the quill
  Put an end to the figures against us on the bill
  So with feelings of gratitude friends you see,
  Poor old Blunts was again living free

• Now you say you could rest your heart content
  No we couldn't for at it we went
  I'm telling the truth, it is not a fable
  For we wanted to renovate our Chapel.

Continued in the next column

Blunts Methodist Church, as it is now called, decorated for Harvest Festival. A harvest rick stands before the table of offerings. On the wall behind the pulpit is a harvest sheaf and a scroll carved and painted in the 19th century by Mr Goodman, farmer of Trevashmond.

Blunts Methodist Chapel was built by the roadside in 1843, on a plot given by John Snell, a local farmer, using the labour of Bible Christian supporters. A stable was a necessity when preachers rode long distances to such small hamlets. Above the stable, reached from the back of the chapel, is a tiny gallery.

Blunts Chapel Sunday School outing to Downderry in 1900. The farm wagon belongs to Mr. Goodman, who is holding the reins, while the man with the beard is Mr Tobias Higman who wrote the poem recited at the Chapel Jubilee.

The Beta group leads a service at Blunts in February 2002