St Austell Methodist

the original society was founded in 1814 and it is believed that the first meeting house was somewhere between what is now young's leisure shop and the cemetery. years later a small galleried chapel was built adjoining st francis road on our present site. towards the end of the 19th century additional land was acquired adjoining the two corner cottages facing the old turnpike, later the old a30 trunk road through the village. the foundation stones were laid in 1896 and the new chapel was soon built, but without space for organ or choir, the choir sat at the front of the chapel to the left of the pulpit. not many years later an extension was built, 'the orchestra' to house the two manual organ and the choir. the former chapel then served as the sunday school.