Churches of the British Isles

Tywardreath Highway Bible Christian Chapel is on the northern side of Tywardreath Highway, around 250m south-west of the Grove Park side road. It was built by the followers of O'Brien (Bryanites). A plaque above the triple windows dates it to 1890, although some reports state 1841 (this is more likely for the old chapel opposite - see above). It became Tywardreath Methodist Church from 1907, but is now a private dwelling, perhaps converted in 2014.

The precise location of Porcupine Mission Room is uncertain (this view is of the entrance to Porcupine Lodge, alongside the Porcupine crossroads). There are frequent references to a mission here, at Porcupine Highway, but little to pinpoint its whereabouts. Better recorded are meetings of Tywardreath Magistrates' Court petty sessions, which were held at the Porcupine Inn from 1841. The nickname for one of the magistrates stuck to the inn and location as 'Porcupine'.

Travelling west from Porcupine via Prideaux Road towards Carne Cross, Medros (Methrose) Farmhouse (Wesleyan Meeting) lies a little to the east of the main road. John Wesley was a friend of the then farmer, staying here five or six times between 1755-1778. An octagonal granite font, probably of medieval origin, sits in the courtyard. Wesley held meetings in the barn, dining room, and courtyard. An attendee was the mother of William O'Brien, founder of the Bible Christians.

St Ciricius & St Julitta Parish Church of Luxulyan is at the village's east edge, alongside the road towards the Treffry Viaduct. It may originally have been dedicated to St Sulien. The present building in local granite dates to the late 1400s, but the tower and porch were added in the early 1500s. It possibly replaced an earlier building as the font is Norman. The church was substantially re-organised in 1875, and architect Silvanus Trevail is buried in the churchyard.

Bridges (Second) Bible Christian Chapel is on the north side of the connecting lane between Luxulyan to Bridges, thirty metres from its eastern end. It was built in 1885 of squared granite blocks with tall, slim lancet windows - a replacement for the original chapel (see links). Its exterior has survived virtually unaltered. Following the Methodist union it became Bridges Methodist Church and it remained in use until recently when it was converted into a private residence.

Five photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and one by the Royal Cornwall Archive.