The first Bible Christian society in Mevagissey dates from 1818. A chapel was built in River Street, being opened on 6th August 1826 by William O’Bryan and James Thorne.
Seating 300, it was well occupied on 31st March 1851 when a morning congregation of 175, and afternoon congregation of 194 were recorded. It burnt down in 1896, and a new chapel and Sunday School erected across the street.
The new chapel could seat 380, according to the 1940 returns (329 in 1970). It was in use until 1992, outlasting both the Wesleyan and UMFC chapels in the village. Since then the congregation have joined with the URC in a Local ecumenical partnership, meeting in the former Congregational chapel, St. Andrews. River Street chapel was finally sold in 2015, but is still standing as can be seen in these images kindly supplied by Granville Mercy.
Sources
TNA HO 129/306/64
A Jubilee Memorial of Incidents in the Rise and Progress of the Bible Christian Connexion. Shebbear: published for the Bible Christian Book Committee by James Thome, 1865, vi, 292 pp.
The Methodist Church, Department of Chapel Affairs. Statistical returns 1940
The Methodist Church, Department of Chapel Affairs. Statistical returns part 1, 1972
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