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Gwennap Pit, Busveal, Cornwall. Around 1900
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Royal Cornwall Museum
Gwennap Pit, Busveal, Cornwall. Around 1900
A church service at Gwennap Pit on a hot day. Numerous umbrellas are being used in the crowd to give shade from the sun. An open air amphitheatre near Redruth made famous by John Wesley the founder of Methodism, John Wesley first visited Gwennap Pit on 5th September 1762. At this time it was described as a relic of mining activities in the area, with a rock face covered in vegetation by the 1760s. In 1766 Wesley described it as " a round green hollow gently shelving down" and as " a natural amphitheatre". In November 1806 a mining engineer Richard Michell of Gwennap and four mine Captains: John Martin, John Dennis, W. Davey and T. Trestrail met at Busveal and agreed to repair Gwennap Pit or rather reconstruct the amphitheatre in respect to and in memory of John Wesley who had died in 1791. Between 1762 and 1789 John Wesley preached at Gwennap Pit eighteen times. The amphitheatre has twelve staged rings top to bottom. It is claimed that walking around all twelve levels top to bottom is equal to one mile and that it can hold 1, 500 people. Photographer: Arthur Philp
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TRURI : GWEgp.4
Media ID 13576683
© From the collection of the RIC
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Reliving History: A Church Service at Gwennap Pit, Cornwall". In this print from around 1900, we are transported back in time to witness a church service held on a scorching hot day at the iconic Gwennap Pit. The crowd is filled with eager attendees seeking solace and spiritual guidance under the blazing sun. To shield themselves from its relentless rays, numerous umbrellas dot the landscape, providing much-needed shade. Gwennap Pit, an open-air amphitheatre near Redruth in Cornwall, holds great historical significance as it was made famous by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Wesley first visited this sacred site on September 5th, 1762. Initially considered a relic of mining activities in the area with vegetation-covered rock faces by the 1760s, Wesley described it as a "round green hollow gently shelving down" and referred to it as a "natural amphitheatre". The dedication and admiration for John Wesley were so profound that in November 1806, Richard Michell of Gwennap and four mine Captains agreed to repair and reconstruct Gwennap Pit as a tribute to his memory. Between 1762 and 1789 alone, John Wesley delivered eighteen powerful sermons within these hallowed grounds. With twelve staged rings top to bottom encompassing its vast expanse, this remarkable amphitheatre can hold up to an astounding 1,500 people. It is even believed that walking around all twelve levels equates to one mile! Preserved through time by photographer Arthur Philp's lens (not affiliated with any company), this print captures both the grandeur of Gwennap Pit's architectural marvels and its significant role in religious history.
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