The St. Cleer Dissenters Chapel

Image: © cornisharchive Taken: 26 May 2012

It was thanks to the creation of one of the earliest manifestations of Trade Unionism, namely the Caradon Miners' and Mechanics' Friendly Society in 1842 that led to the building of the St. Cleer Dissenters chapel in 1864 by these same men. Built for the benefit of persons who were denied burial by the established church after a lifetime of nonconformity, the chapel continues to this day to accommodate all faiths and beliefs, carrying on the original aims of those early pioneers. At the time of its construction, the population of the parish was 3931, a figure that has to this date not been exceeded, in fact in 1961 the figure was 1524. The high population in 1864 was of course due to the large influx of people seeking work in the Caradon mining area, although at that time the boom was already over and workers began to move to other areas, including overseas. At least seven non-conformist chapels existed in the area, most now however have been converted to private dwellings. The chapel and cemetery are administered by four trustees, and much work has been done in the grounds by local volunteers. The chapel itself has also had a sympathetic renovation. The cemetery is still in use, a number of plots being reserved as it is expected that none will be available in around 20 years. An excellent web site exists at http://thedissentersgeneralchapel.co.uk. Here can be found historical records, burial details and minutes of trustee meetings, along with other photographs and a record of flora and fauna identified on the site.

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