Boscastle Methodist Chapel
The Methodist chapel in Boscastle is about 200 metres downhill from the Napoleon Inn on the old main road, opposite Boscastle Primary School. The chapel you see today was built by Thomas Rosevear and opened in 1825 on a day that was recorded as "uncommonly wet". The tower was added in 1904 (just after the Mission Chapel across the road was built, which may hint at some rivalry). However this wasn't the first chapel on the site. This replaced the previous chapel which the Methodist congregation had grown too large for by 1823.
The previous chapel was built by Thomas' father John Rosevear as a thanksgiving offering after one of his merchant ships carrying valuable cargo escaped from French Privateers. As his ship was chased on its way into Boscastle harbour, they hid from the French privateer in the lee of Meachard rock. Whilst the French launched a boat to search for the "disappearing" ship, a number of women from the village went out on the headland in red shawls, and mistaking this for the redcoats of the British Army, the French ship fled.
On walks
- Boscastle to Minster Church (2.6 mile walk)