Bryan’s painting of St Peter’s Chapel is to be used for much of the fund raising and marketing material for an exciting new project in the heart of the Downlong St Ives, close to the harbour and among the narrow streets of fishermen’s houses.
Built in 1824 as a Methodist chapel, St Peter’s Chapel was rebuilt and took its present form in 1858 when the Bible Christians took it over. Originally a religious and community focus for predominantly fishing families, the chapel was open for religious services and for tea treats, banner parades, local band concerts, other musical evenings and exhibitions until it closed in July 2022. Morag Robertson from St Ives Community Land Trust said, “It was a place local people gathered each week, and in times of happiness and distress”.
To save it, St Ives Community Land Trust bought the building in July 2024, and intend to create eight affordable studios for local art and craft workers. In addition, the organ/pulpit area and balcony can stage small scale performance events, which will open the building to the wider public.
Funding is needed to repoint the external walls with lime mortar and minor work is needed on the roof timbers. The major work would lie in creating the art/craft studios by redesigning the interior, including discussions with the potential tenants; consideration of ventilation, insulation, re-use and recycling of materials and increasing accessibility by levelling the floor between the two rooms.
Morag says, “We are so excited to be given the opportunity to raise funds for our project by featuring this fantastic painting of the chapel by Bryan. It is rare to see a building in Downlong as a painting’s subject. Bryan’s work is special for that but also for his unique way of seeing St Ives.” For further information, see https://www.stivesclt.org.uk/projects/bible-christian-chapel/ .