Richmond Wesleyan Chapel

Richmond Wesleyan Chapel is a nonconformist (Wesleyan) chapel dating from 1907, designed by Gunton and Gordon. The chapel is constructed of dressed granite brought to course, with granite dressings, and has a dry slate roof with coped gable ends, a stone eaves cornice, and a finial atop the right-hand gable. A stone stack is located left of the lower vestry roof.

The building follows a rectangular, aisle-less plan, incorporating a chancel flanked by organ and vestry projections at the ritual east end. It is designed in a Late Free Gothic style with Arts and Crafts influence.

The single-storey south front has 5 bays with a single bay to the left and 3 bays to the right, featuring weathered buttresses between the bays. It contains 3-light mullioned windows with double transoms and arched lights surmounted by simple Perpendicular tracery rising into 2-centred arched heads. A gabled porch with a hoodmould over a 2-centred arched doorway and traceried windows to the sides is located to the right-hand bay. A further porch with a flat-headed doorway to the left gives access to the vestry wing. The rear elevation mirrors the south front. The right-hand gable has two tall mullioned and traceried windows recessed under moulded 2-centred arches, while the east end features a 2:4:2-light window with quatrefoil and additional tracery to the sidelights.

Inside, the chapel is largely unaltered, with the sole modification being the insertion of a screened entrance hall area. The roof is an impressive feature, incorporating hammer-beam trusses with tie rods at wall-plate level and central arched bracing. Walls are plastered, with enrichment limited to the moulding of the equilateral chancel arch and the wider, shallower arch at the ritual west end.

The chapel contains plain, panelled oak pews with shaped ends, and choir pews with blind arched panels and turned finials. Elevated choir stalls are set above a dressed granite and chamfered plinth. The octagonal oak pulpit has blind traceried panels, stands on a moulded granite base, and is accessed by a short flight of granite steps. A large piped organ is present, sharing detailing with the choir stalls. An oak altar table is felt to be slightly later in date.

The chapel represents an accomplished example of a Free Style chapel design of the period, marking a departure from earlier chapel designs in Cornwall.