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On June 18th, 1971, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Curland Methodist
Chapel - but I wonder how Methodism first came to this little village. Did one of the inhabitants actually meet John Wesley and hear one of his inspiring sermons/ This is no
This is very probable, for John Wesley was many times in Taunton on his
frequent journeys to Cornwall. He was present at the opening of the Octagon Chapel, Taunton in 1778 and he is also known to have preached in the yard of the
Three Cups Inn - an old coaching inn - now known as the County Hotel. He visited some friends
of his, called Crabbe, at Beercrocombe and Christened their baby. Certainly a nucleus of Methodism must have been established in Curland by 1800, for we find that "on April 8th, 1803, two applications were made to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, for permission to hold services of public worship in private houses in the district". One of these houses belonged to Mr. Flood - and it still stands, within the chapel grounds, and is known today as The Old School Room. the other house belonged to Mr. Christopher Grabham, who then owned Crosses Farm, Curland. So these two houses were the first official meeting places for Methodist worship in Curland. The Chapel was built in 1821, by Thomas Murless, who owned the land on which it was built, and also the house of Mr. Flood. When the Chapel was completed the land was leased to the Trustees of the Chapel for 999 years for the sum of £6 or a rent of 1½d per year. Some of the corner stones probably came from Curry Mallett, because Mr. Charles Counsell can remember going there to collect matching stones for repairs when he was a very young boy, but most of the lias stone used, was almost certainly quarried from one of the nearby fields, and it is said that the women of the village carried the stones in their aprons, to assist with the building work. In the west wall of the Chapel, there is a foundation stone on which is inscribed - T.M. (standing for Thomas Murless), Wesleyan Chapel 1821. Thomas Murless died 23 years later, at the ripe old age of 96 and was buried just in front of the Old School Room. On his tomb is inscribed: A tribute of Gratitude these walls, he to God's honour raised, Long may they echo to Thy praise, And then descanting, fill the place With choicest tokens of Thy grace. The Chapel seemed to thrive and grow. The chief source of income seems to to have come from the seat rents paid annually by the worshippers. Our records show names whose descendants are still firmly linked with the Chapel - names like Burrough, Webb, Harding, Targett, Rowsell, Dicks, Matravers and Grabham. Sometimes a legacy helped the Chapel funds. For instance, in 1839, John Chorley died on May 29th and bequeathed "£1 per annum for three years to the local preachers of Curland Wesleyan Chapel". But in those days you could buy "2 cwt coke for 1s.8d". In 1861 the Chapel was officially registered for the fee of 2/6d Mr Christopher Grabham and Mr. Flood died and were buried near Mr. Murless in front of the Old School Room. After Mr. Flood's death, his house was used as a Sunday School and was leased to the Trustees. About 1875, Miss Mary Anne Grabham, later to become Mrs. Harding, started suggesting that a new Sunday School should be built onto the existing Chapel, but the Trustees insisted that the reseating of the Chapel was a more urgent necessity. However Miss Grabham seems to have been a determined young lady, for she and the other ladies of the Chapel organised appeals and Sales of Work to raise the necessary money. The land for the Sunday School was given to the Chapel by the Grabham family and in 1877, we find in the Trustees Accounts, that subscriptions collected and put towards repairs and alterations to the Chapel were £110-5s -d. Since this was over and above the Chapel's annual income and expenditure of £8.1.6½d, I think we may take it that this was when the Sunday School was built, although we seem to have no official record. The ladies of Curland seem always to have been very active workers and for many years they met every week as a Ladies Sewing Circle to produce articles for the annual sale of work. Mr. John Verrier was a staunch supporter of the Chapel, all his life. he was well known for his "gingerbreads", but he was also Parish Councillor and a member of the Board of Guardians. Before he died in 1924, he gave £1,000 to the Chapel. This money paid for the caretaker's house, a new organ and a piano. The remaining money was invested and the interest is used to buy such things as music and new hymn books etc. The new organ was the delight of Mr. Frederick Sawyer, who was organist for many years. others who have given long service as organists include Miss Mary Grabham, Mrs Counsell and Miss Irene Male. Curland has always been known for its active Suday School, and many people have given devoted service as teachers - such people as Richard Grabham, Mrs Hellier, Mrs Wil Dicks, Miss Dorothy Sydenham, Mrs Ernest Pease, Mrs Bunn, Mrs Peppard, Mrs Spiller, Mr. Neville Pease, Mr. Conybeare, Miss Dorothy Counsell, Mrs Lilian Grabham, Miss Gladys Sawyer, Mrs Sidney Dicks and Miss Irene Male. 1921 was an important year for the Chapel. it became licensed for the solemnisation of matrimony in the presence of a registrar and the first marriage took place on March 23rd 1921 between miss Marjorie Grabham and Mr Howard Stone of Pyrland, Taunton. Miss Grabham had been a Sunday School teacher for some years and the Trustees presented a Bible to the Bridal Couple. Special services were held in 1921 to mark the centenary of the Chapel and all of the congregation went outside and gathered rund the grave of Thomas Murless and sang the hymn "For all the Saints". Let us hope that when we celebrate the 200th anniversary in 2024, Curland Chapel will still be a living centre of this little village. Compiled my Miss J. Grabham who thanks all who have contributed. 1971. |
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