ABOUT US
OUR HISTORY
Gloweth Chapel is the meeting place of a group of friendly Christians from Truro and the surrounding area. Nearly 60 years ago, some Christian families in Truro began to meet together to pray and to study the Bible. In time, and with the support of other churches, they formed a church, and began to observe the Lord's Supper each Sunday, in a plain and simple style of worship.
In 1971, they purchased Gloweth Chapel from the Methodist Church. Over the years, the church has reached out to many people and families in a wide variety of ways, sharing friendship, prayer and support.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING AND PLACE
​The chapel itself was built in 1887 by local Bible Christians, who later joined with the United Methodists in 1907. The United Methodists amalgamated with other Methodist denominations in 1932 to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
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The place name 'Gloweth' has nothing to do with the word 'glowing'. It is a Cornish language place name, deriving from Glow Wydh, which means 'charcoal trees'.
Gloweth was a small settlement outside of Truro when the chapel was first built, but Truro has since expanded. The chapel has become a near neighbour to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, and is immediately opposite a retail park. Gloweth itself now has hundreds of houses. The part of Tresawls Road that goes past the chapel is a dual carriageway section of the A390, and the main route West from Truro.
VALUES
The Christians who meet at Gloweth want to serve God faithfully, and live out their lives following the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Bible is very important to us, because it gives the message of good news about how God rescues us from our sins. When someone believes the message, we baptise them, and welcome them into our fellowship.
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The Bible is the foundation of our values and beliefs, and our final authority in all matters of faith and life.
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AFFILIATION
Gloweth Chapel is an independent church and is not affiliated to any denomination, though we enjoy fellowship with a wide variety of Christians from other churches, both locally, and further afield. We want to be active in our local community of Truro in presenting the good news about Jesus to all.​
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You can find links to some other local churches we know, or are familiar with here.
ROOTS
The church at Gloweth has its roots in a wider movement that happened among evangelical Christians in many parts of the UK and Europe, beginning in the mid-1800s. This widespread movement emphasised simplicity of worship, a non-sectarian form of church order, local independency, leadership by a plurality of local elders, close fellowship with like-minded churches, and the centrality of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Churches that sprang from these roots emphasised the value of biblical patterns of local church life, by drawing on the New Testament records of the early church. They have a strong focus on mission, and have been instrumental in the spread of the Christian faith around the world.
LEADERSHIP
Gloweth Chapel currently has two elders, who are responsible for leading, teaching and caring for the church. They both preach regularly, alongside a variety of visiting speakers from other churches. The elders are not salaried pastors. They are contactable here.
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Robin Sumption
Rob is self-employed in property maintenance
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William Rule
Will is self-employed in appliance repairs