OLD DEVONPORT
. UK |
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© Brian
Moseley, Plymouth Webpage created: March 16, 2016. Webpage updated: March 16, 2016 |
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- PENNYCROSS METHODIST CHAPEL Pennycross Methodist Chapel is situated on the east side of Beauchamp Road, between Langstone Road and Outland Road (formerly Tavistock Road), Peverell, Plymouth. The site became part of Devonport in 1900. The Chapel had its origins in
Gospel services that were held in the ground-floor dining-room of
Belair House, which in 1899 became the property of a syndicate that
was planning the development of a large housing estate in the area.
A police constable was given residence in the House while also
acting as a caretaker for the property. Services were supported by
large numbers of young people from the
Belmont and
Saint Levan Chapels who
used to walk to Pennycross on a Sunday evening. They sat on forms
and sang hymns while the constable's ducks and chickens enjoyed the
sunshine on the lawn outside.
On June 17th 1906 the use of Belair House was
terminated, just prior to its demolition. Services continued to be held but
in the main hall of the new Montpelier Council School. But it was clear
that a new building of its own was what was needed and a site was purchased
at the eastern end of Forest Avenue. At the same time it was discovered
that the church hall of
Saint
Barnabas Church was about to
be demolished to make way for a new stone structure and so Messrs Pearn
Brothers were contracted to remove it section by section and re-erect it on
the new site.
This new Chapel was opened by
the Mayoress of Devonport, Mrs W J Moon, on September 18th 1907.
The building would accommodated 250 worshippers and the whole
scheme, including the removal of the building from Stoke and its
re-erection, had cost £400. Later, two adjoining housing sites were
purchased at a cost of £350. Trustees were appointed in
March 1909, when Doctor G T Rolston became the Treasurer and Mr
Frederick A C Blackall became the Secretary. They were still
contemplating the erection of a permanent, stone building and soon
asked a Mr F A Wiblin, an architect, to prepare plans.
They quickly realised that the site then being used was
not suitable and negotiations were entered into with Mr Henry Hurrell to
purchase a plot of ground on the opposite side of Beauchamp Road, which they
did for £850.
A proposal to simply move the Iron Chapel to the new
site did not find favour. So the erection of a Gothic structure of
limestone, with Bath Stone dressings, to accommodate 320 people was set in
motion. The tender of a Mr Ambrose Andrews for £850 was accepted but it was
not confirmed when it was found that the costs of materials were steadily
rising. A new tender of £1,050 was accepted in due course.
The foundation stone was laid on August 2nd 1913 by the
Mayor of Devonport, Alderman E Blackall, JP. In
due course, on Wednesday February 25th 1914, the Chapel was opened
by Mrs Henry Hurrell, wife of the previous owner of the plot of
land. The cost of the project had been £1,700.
Built of limestone with Bath stone dressings
the Chapel was designed by Mr F A Wiblin, the architect, to
accommodate 320 people. The plan at that time was to build a larger
chapel on the adjoining ground and leave the existing building for
the use of the young people of the district. Mrs Hurrell used a
silver key presented to her by the architect to unlock the main door
and then Divine Service was conducted by the Reverend E J Brailsford.
It soon became evident that a pipe organ would greatly
enrich the worship of God and so Messrs Hele Brothers were invited to build
and install one at a cost of £400. The organ was formally "opened" by Mrs
Blackall on November 29th 1929, when a special dedicatory service was
conducted by the Reverend C H Wright.
A Sunday School flourished in connection with the
Chapel, so much so that it was felt essential for it to have premises of its
own. This had been a part of the original plans for the Chapel but was
dropped due to financial constraints. Now Mr Claude Doney was entrusted
with the building of a large hut on land adjoining the Chapel and this was
formally opened by Miss E M Moore on November 15th 1933. The hut was also
used by the Girls' Club, founded in 1926, and the Bible Classes.
After the Second
World War it was decided to
erect a new chapel with an entrance off Pridham Road and new classrooms and
main hall off Beauchamp Road. They were designed by architects Messrs
Parker and Adams. |
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