CHURCH RECORDS

27 NOV - 6 DEC 2025
THU - SAT / 10-4

Church Records is a fascinating journey into the heritage and social history of the former Penryn Methodist Church. The artist team, Crow Architecture and Small Acts, worked in collaboration to make a creative archive of the former church in the heart of Penryn.

The archive is available to explore online here

The Church Records exhibition brings aspects of this new archive to life within the walls of the chapel, through selected drawings, artefacts, photographs and a sound installation. The exhibition invites visitors to explore and spend time in the building whilst discovering more about its architecture, heritage and social history.

Katie Etheridge of Small Acts says:

“The chapel has been an incredibly important building for the people of Penryn, playing a central role in the life of the town over many generations.

Listening to people’s memories of the chapel, and what it has personally meant to them over the years has been a fascinating, enjoyable and at times a very moving process. It’s exciting that these stories of deep connection with community and place can now be shared through the Church Records exhibition.” 

The Church Records archive and exhibition were made possible with the generous participation of people who gave up their time to be interviewed, and shared wonderful memories and photographs.

Thank you to: Participants Sharon Bawden, Margaret Dancer, Lisa Dann, Margaret Harrison, Philippa Holden, Jenny Major, Celia Prynn, Janet Thomas, Rose Webber, Chaz Wenmouth.

Thank you to the Archives and Cornish Studies Service at Kresen Kernow for their support in exploring their archives. Lottie Matthews for photography.

Church Records has been funded with grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund.