Methodism in the Poldark Novels

Thanks to Chris Barnard and Red Sangre for their photography and original art

Hello fellow Poldark Fans

I've just returned from a very special birthday trip to Cornwall where my husband, along with our traveling companions, went on a Poldark film sites tour.  It was as amazing as it sounds!  Thanks to Chris and Carolyn Barnard, The Magic of Poldark, for a great day!  More about that in another post.  Today I want to share interesting historical information about the Methodist movement and how it relates to Cornwall and thus the Poldark novels.

Having read all the books (all multiple times!), I did some research previous to our trip and learned that the original Wesley Chapel founded by John Wesley was in Bristol, in a tucked away complex called The Horsefair.  We planned our trip to fly from Dublin to Bristol and rent a car so it made perfect sense to go find this chapel.  We were richly rewarded for our efforts.

Not only is the church a beautiful 250+ year old building, it was used in Season Two filming of Poldark!  No spoiler here that Ross goes to trial.  Wesley Chapel stood in for a courthouse. A photo was leaked and is on my Pinterest board (https://www.pinterest.com/bonlet/poldark/) if you should like to see it.

John Wesley and his brother Charles began visiting Cornwall in 1743.  Apparently they were not that well received in the beginning as religious life was "slack."  So where does Methodist come from?  In Wesley's own words, "they resolved to live by rule and method."  So from this they were called Methodists. Apparently he preferred Christian, but in the end he said he wasn't ashamed to be methodical, and the name was accepted.

Statue in the Courtyard of John Wesley

John Wesley rode about 402,000 kilometers (nearly 25,000 miles) mainly on horseback, preached some 40,000 sermons, sometimes three a day!

The photo to the right is where Ross stands trial.  I had no idea when I planned to find Wesley Chapel it had any Poldark connection!
Guess it was meant to be.

My husband, me, and one of our friends on the trip, Kathy.  Standing in the pulpit. This church is beautifully preserved.

Winston  Graham I think did a good job of blending the history of Cornwall into his fictional tale of the Poldark family.  It's in The Black Moon (fifth book) when Demelza's brothers Samuel and Drake come to visit and ask Ross for jobs that we learn of the "connexion," (members of the new Methodist movement.)

The Poldarks being small gentry have a role in the life of the village and church, but after Charles Poldark passes away, no one takes the responsibility to heart.  Ross seems ambivalent about religion and only attends weddings, funerals, Easter and Christmas services and their children are Christened in the church.

In The Black Moon, Chapter 11 Ross and Demelza are discussing her brothers when Demelza says... "What are your religious views, Ross? Do you have any I wish I knew."  "Oh - practically none, my love." He stared into the sulky fire.  "I imbibed from my father a sceptical attitude to all religions; he considered them foolish fairy-tales.  But I don't go so far as that.  I have little use for religion as it is practised, or for astrology, or for belief in witchcraft or omens of good or ill-luck.  I think they all stem from some insufficiency in men's minds, perhaps from a lack of a willingness to feel themselves utterly alone.  But now and then I feel that there is something beyond the material world, something we all feel intimations of but cannot explain.  Underneath the religious vision there is the harsh fundamental reality of our lives, because we know we must live and die as the animals we are.  But sometimes I suspect that under that harsh reality there is a further vision, still deeper based, that comes nearer to true reality than the reality we know."

"Hm," said Demelza, rocking gently.  "I am not sure that I know what you mean but I think I do."  "When you are fully conversant with it," Ross said, "pray explain it to me."  She laughed.


John Wesley's Political Manifesto rings surprisingly modern with these radical views: reduce the gap between the rich and the poor; seek full employment and discourage idleness; introduce a living wage; offer everyone of age the best possible education; encourage tolerance;   and more.  No wonder throngs of people flocked to his outdoor sermons!

Meanwhile his brother Charles wrote 9000 hymns.  One of my personal favorite Christmas hymns is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing which first appeared in 1739. Another popular hymn still sung in Methodist churches everywhere is "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling."

In World War 11, the part of Bristol where the church stands was almost completely destroyed by bombs.  Wesley Chapel was one of the few places left standing.

John Wesley died in 1791, and soon after the Methodists split from the Church of England.

St. Newlyn East Pit recently revived.  The other more well known Pit that Wesley preached at was Gwennap Pit.

Informational Sign at the Pit.  

If you want to know more and how the Methodist jumped the pond and came to America, read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church

I hope you have found this interesting.  We didn't intend to go on a Methodist Church search while we were visiting Cornwall but we started noticing Wesley Chapel churches everywhere and attended service in St Agnes, the village where we stayed.  Lovely church, lovely & welcoming people too.

St. Agnes Methodist Church.  Very similar inside to Wesley Chapel in Bristol.  

Until next time...

Bonny  Wise, I am
Inspired by Poldark

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