Churches of the British Isles

The tower also appears to date from the twelfth century, containing three bells. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the church was extended on the south end and was also partially rebuilt. It was extensively restored between 1873-1874, and considerable additional restoration work was undertaken in 1989-1990 which included the new vestibule room at the west end of the church, which can serve as a vestry, kitchen, and meeting place.

The lost Tretherres Old Chapel and its accompanying cemetery were once located to the south of St Allen. Remains are marked on old OS maps on the eastern side of the triangle which leads to Tretherres farm. The 1814 history of Cornwall noted the walls and ruins of 'an ancient free chapel' which had probably been built by the bishops of Cornwall and Exeter when they resided at Laner (Lanner). Some elements of the chapel remained standing into 1736.

Neither St Mary's Old Chapel or Gwarnick Manor House Chapel exist. The first stood a small distance from the house itself, but was demolished before 1736. The other was attached directly to the house which, together with 'the old hall, curiously timbered with Irish oak', was then the only remaining. Even these were eventually pulled down, and a farmhouse built on the site with the materials. Two sources attribute one (if not both) of the chapels to St Mary (1512).

The former Zelah Bible Christian Chapel sits on Zelah Lane (St Allen Lane) in Zelah, to the north-west of St Allen. The chapel sits at the Tolgroggan Farm junction, on the eastern side of a long curve in the road at the very southern end of Zelah (also known as Lane Chapel). Evidence suggests the chapel was here by 1822. It is shown on 1880 maps and was noted in 1884. Planning records suggest conversion into a workshop in the 1980s, but it is now residential.

The former Zelah Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is on the western side of Henver Lane, which runs north-south through Zelah. It was originally built as a Wesleyan chapel in 1859 with the Sunday school behind it (with this being added in 1868). In 1932 the chapel became Zelah Methodist Church, but that closed in 1992. The building is now a private residence, with planning suggesting conversion in 1998. The organ went to St Allen Church (see above).

Four photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and two kindly contributed by Roy Reed via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.