Wesley Commemorative Stone

This is a late 18th-century commemorative stone marking a visit by John Wesley to Mullion. The stone, built into the southern side of a drystone wall, is a split, water-rounded slate rock measuring 0.5m high, 0.45m wide, and 0.16m thick. It bears the inscription "ST" above "1762". The "T" likely refers to the Triggs family, who farmed at Angrouse in the latter part of the 18th century; the "S" may represent Samuel or Ursula Triggs.

Adjacent to this original stone is a large 20th-century granite slab, bearing the inscription: "PARC VENTON (SPRING FIELD) JOHN WESLEY PREACHED HERE ON 7TH SEPTEMBER 1762 METHODISTS MET AT ANGROUSE (THE CROSS) BETWEEN 1758 AND 1791 FOLLOWING THE PREACHING OF WM. HITCHENS AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF URSULA TRIGGS DAUGHTER OF REV WILLS, VICAR OF MULLION, AND WIFE OF THOMAS TRIGGS, SOCIETY STEWARD ERECTED BY HER DESCENDANTS 1978." This granite slab, while informative, is not of special architectural or historical interest.

John Wesley (1703-91), founder of Methodism, visited Cornwall on several occasions, and in his Journal, he recorded his visit to Mullion on 7th September 1762, at the invitation of Ursula Triggs. He noted a strong religious response from the local people. There were 45 Methodist members at Mullion by 1767, and the inscribed stone was likely engraved shortly afterwards. The stone is listed at Grade II for its historical and commemorative interest, rarity as an open-air Wesleyan site, and group value in relation to Angrouse Cottage, which was also involved in Wesley’s 1762 visit.