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Gwennap Pit, Cornwall. Whit Monday 1925
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Gwennap Pit, Cornwall. Whit Monday 1925
A service at Gwennap Pit on Whit Monday 1925 with a full congregation and the minister in the centre. Gwennap Pit is an open air amphitheatre near Redruth made famous by John Wesley the founder of Methodism. John Wesley first visited Gwennap Pit on the 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. 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 William Jordan
Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture
TRURI : GWEgp.1
Media ID 18829227
© From the collection of the RIC
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Gwennap Pit, Cornwall: A Timeless Gathering of Faith This print captures a momentous event at Gwennap Pit on Whit Monday in 1925. The amphitheatre is brimming with life as a full congregation gathers to worship, their faces filled with reverence and devotion. At the center stands the minister, his presence commanding attention amidst the natural beauty that surrounds him. Gwennap Pit holds a significant place in history as it was made famous by John Wesley, the visionary founder of Methodism. In 1762, Wesley first set foot in this open-air sanctuary nestled near Redruth. Initially described as a relic of mining activities adorned with vegetation-covered rock faces, Wesley soon recognized its potential. He eloquently referred to it as 'a round green hollow gently shelving down' and 'a natural amphitheatre. ' In honor of Wesley's legacy following his passing in 1791, Richard Michell and four mine Captains came together in November 1806 to restore Gwennap Pit. Their efforts ensured that future generations could experience the spiritual power emanating from this sacred space. With twelve staged rings from top to bottom, Gwennap Pit boasts an impressive capacity for up to 1,500 individuals seeking solace or inspiration within its embrace. It is said that walking around all twelve levels equals one mile—a testament to both its grandeur and historical significance. Preserved through time by photographer Arthur William Jordan's lens, this remarkable image invites us into a moment where faith unites people across generations.
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