ST KEVERNE WESLEYAN CHURCH – EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS Contributed by Terry Moyle Royal Cornwall Gazette 2 March 1872 ALARMING ACCIDENT AT ST KEVERNE The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is now undergoing repairs and is temporarily closed. The Wesleyans have borrowed a chapel in the village built some years ago by the United Methodists but now disused by this connection. On Sunday evening there was a crowded congregation in this place of worship and all the aisles were fully occupied. Shortly after the service was commenced by the Rev G Cartwright, superintendent minister, a slight cracking sound was heard. This was followed by a louder crack and the whole of the back row of pews in the gallery disappeared, then the second row and soon the gallery became a complete wreck. The gallery that gave way is not an erection on pillars but the pews rise step by step from the floor, occupying about a third of the length of the chapel. Royal Cornwall Gazette 17 August 1872 St Keverne Wesleyan Sunday School tea treat at Kennack Cornish Telegraph 6 January 1887 ST KEVERNE The Wesleyans of St Keverne last week held a bazaar with the object of obtaining money to reduce the debt in their place of worship. Mrs. Bickford‐Smith of Trevarno opened the bazaar and the sum of £56 was realized. Considering the agricultural depression the amount obtained was most satisfactory. Cornish Telegraph 3 September 1891 ST KEVERNE The new Wesleyan minister – the Rev J W Graves, the newly appointed Wesleyan minister before leaving Devonport was presented by the friends at Kerstreet with an electroplated inkstand and a pair of gold rimmed spectacles and the friends at Kingsand gave the Rev gentleman a purse of gold as an expression of their love and respect towards him. Royal Cornwall Gazette 7 April 1892 ST KEVERNE WESLEYANS At St Keverne Wesleyan Quarterly meeting the Rev W H Thompson, Chairman of the District, presided. A debt of £530 on the chapel last year had been reduced to £240 and the amount raised for foreign and home missions had increased. In view of such satisfactory reports, surprise was expressed at the determination of Mr. Graves, the superintendent, to resign at the next conference after only one year’s stay. Never in the history of the Circuit had a minister resigned after so short a term. Royal Cornwall Gazette 27 October 1898 LOSS OF THE MOHEGAN At St Keverne Wesleyan chapel on Sunday Mr. Robert Nicholls of St Martin drove home the lesson of perfected life and a completed character. If life was right, death would be right and the issue glory. Cornish Telegraph 20 October 1887 ST KEVERNE The Wesleyans – on Wednesday Harvest Thanksgiving services were held in the Wesleyan chapel the preacher being the Rev J Harris of Helston. The decorations were most artistic. A public tea was provided in the schoolroom. The Quarterly meeting was held the same day, the Rev W J Winter in the chair. The attendance was good and the state of the Circuit considered hopeful. Royal Cornwall Gazette 21 January 1887 ROYAL CORNWALL INFIRMARY The Committee thankfully acknowledge the receipt of the following collection per Hospital Sunday and otherwise – St Keverne Wesleyan Circuit £3 – 3s – 0d West Briton 25 July 1907 ST. KEVERNE NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH BANK HOLIDSAY MONDAY 5TH.AUGUST 1907 DEDICATION OF NEW ORGAN 1.30pm Public luncheon 3pm Organ recital Organist Mr. W.Howlett Mus.Bac. Helston 4pm Sermon by Rev.W. Hodson Smith 5pm A Public Tea 6.30pm A Musical Evening Soloists Miss Rosetta Buzza, late of the Royal College of Music, London, Mr. E.Rowe, Mr. Sedgman and a large choir Organist Mr. W.Howlett Mus.Bac. Addresses by Revs Hodson Smith and J.Higham Mr. William .James will preside Luncheon tickets 2s Tea tickets 9d Collection at each service Weather permitting tea will be served in a field. Mr. J.Roberts, Helston, will have a stall. Cornishman 10 January 1907 ST. KEVERNE St. Keverne Wesleyans have decided to light their new chapel by the Litz system of illumination. St Keverne Wesleyan Quarterly meeting was held at St. Martin on Wednesday. The Circuit accounts showed but a small balance in hand. The retiring Circuit stewards (Messrs F.Knowles and W.F.Phillips) were thanked for their services and Messrs Joseph Williams (Manaccan) and James Rogers (Roscarnon, St Keverne) were elected for the next term of three years. It was unanimously agrees there should be a simultaneous mission throughout the Circuit during the first two weeks of February. A vote of sympathy with the Rev. Joseph.Higham was passed. Cornishman 15 June 1911 COUNTY ASSIZES THE ST. KEVERNE SLANDER CASE Henry Roberts of Rosenithon, St Keverne brought an action for slander against John Eustace of Mehall, St. Keverne The plaintiff (Henry Roberts) lived at a place near St Keverne and was in the habit of attending the Wesleyan chapel. And in connection with that church he held the office of local preacher, a trustee and a teacher in the Sunday School. The plaintiff brought the case because the defendant said of him to three people that “Henry Roberts has been caught in the hedge with a young woman carrying on disgracefully”. The plaintiff contended that that contained the imputation that he was a man of depravity and immorality. The plaintiff had been a local preacher for 6 years, a trustee 3 years and a Sunday School teacher for 12 years. The words were uttered to three men – Matthew Uren, James Stephens and Fred Roberts (plaintiff’s brother). The chapel which the plaintiff attended was half a mile from where the plaintiff lived and the plaintiff, at the request of parents, from time to time accompanied young girls home from chapel to the village (Rosenithon) at night. Evidence was given by Matthew Uren, James Stephens and Fred Roberts bearing out Mr. Lawrence’s statement (Council for Plaintiff) Cross examined by Mr. Clark (Council for Defendant) the last witness (Fred Roberts) said on the evening before the defendant made the remarks to him, the plaintiff and the Rev.Alexander Mayes went to the defendant’s house to endeavor to get him to retract the statements and apologise. The defendant, however, declined to do either as he said he had never used the words. Henry Roberts (Plaintiff) said that after the report had been circulated, he attended the little chapel at Tregowris to preach when the congregation consisted of one person. The usual congregation was 15 or 16. He felt that if the slander circulated about him was proven, he would be expelled from the society. Rev Alexander Mayes, Superintendent Wesleyan Minister at St Keverne, explained to hos lordship the method under which local preachers were appointed. If the plaintiff was guilty he would be expelled by a meeting of the society. The Judge said the difficulty was that that was not a court of morals. They had to sit upon the issue of slander. The defendant then went into the box and on oath said that he knew the plaintiff. He had never seen him in a hedge with any young woman and had never told anyone that he had seen plaintiff carrying on disgracefully in the road. It was agreed that the only point for the jury to decide was whether the words were used or not. The Jury after a short deliberation returned a verdict for the defendant, the foreman stating that they thought the words were not spoken. A verdict for the defendant with costs was accordingly entered. Royal Cornwall Gazette 31 December 1911 SACRED CANTATA AT ST. KEVERNE The sacred cantata “Glad Tidings” was well rendered in St Keverne Wesleyan Chapel on Christmas night by a choir of upward of 30 voices under the conductorship of Mr. W.Carvossa Graves. It proved a gratifying success and the chapel was well filled with an appreciative audience. The collection which amounted to £4 ‐7 ‐6 was in aid of circuit and choir funds. West Briton 3 October 1907 ST. KEVERNE WESLEYANS The Rev J Higham presided at a Quarterly meeting of the St Keverne Wesleyan Church. There was a large attendance. The accounts were considered satisfactory. It was decided to hold a Circuit Sunday School convention at St Keverne on Fest Sunday November 17th. The Harvest Festival service was held the same day. The Rev Joseph Higham preached in the afternoon and a public meeting was presided over in the evening by Mr. Joseph Williams, Circuit Steward. After the service members of the choir presented the organist Mr. J. Stuart Rule with a handsome electro‐silver tea service as a token of respect on the occasion of his marriage (today Thursday) to Miss Alice Rogers of Roscarnon, St Keverne. West Briton 7 January 1915 ST KEVERNE WESLEYANS The Rev. John N Broad presided at St Keverne Wesleyan Circuit quarterly meeting held at St martin on New Year’s day. There was a large attendance of representatives. The Circuit Stewards, Messrs J Stuart Rule and Edward Lawrence reported a small adverse balance on the quarter. The Rev J N Broad reported the number of members to be 272, an increase of two. Mr Henry Lyne read the Lay Agents Fund Account. Mr. Lawrence was re‐elected senior steward and Mr. John Nicholls junior steward. Mr. J Lambrick junior was elected secretary to the quarterly meeting and Mr. J Williams class leaders secretary. Mr. F Knowles was re‐elected chapel circuit secretary and Mr. Henry Morkam treasurer to the Local Preacher’s Horse Hire Fund with Mr. E Williams as circuit temperance secretary. It was resolved to hold a circuit gathering at St Keverne in June.