St. Finbarr's Boys' National School Website

The Methodist Church

The first mention of Methodists in Bantry tells that a Zechariah Yewdall, a preacher, in 1783 preached at Market Cross. We are told that a sea captain tried to drown his voice with a French Horn. The preacher remarked that the Catholics of the town behaved better than his Protestant brethern and he retired to a nearby inn and continued his preaching.Other visiting preachers included, John Hamilton, Mr. Averill, and two Irish speaking missionaries, Graham and Ousley who visited the town in 1802.Mr. Graham commented that " Satan was very destitute of friends in Bantry because no one molested them except one old lady who made a great noise ".In 1821 the first Methodist Chapel was to be found in a private house at " Fair Rock". By the 1860s, the Methodist Community was well established in Bantry with many merchants and prominent farmers as members. Government Officials and Naval personnel, who were stationed in town adding to the numbers.It was decided that a new chapel was required and an architect and builder were advertised for.The architect chosen was Christopher Lee, a Skibbereen Methodist and the builder was J Murphy of Bantry.J. P. Swanton, a mill owner and the Methodist laid the foundation stone on Thursday July 6th 1865 from Rinneen. Present were the Reverends Cutcheon, Vance, Crookshank, Nicholas and Starkey.A bottle placed in the foundation contained coins, a copy of the Cork Constitution and of the Evangelist and details of the committee.The inaugural sermon was preached by Rev. W Wilson of Sheffield on April 13th 1866.We are told a "Soiree" was held in the evening in the wide-open schoolroom under the building.In 1871 there were 12 boys and 3 girls at the school.A movement was set up for the promotion of Temperance in West Cork and a West Cork Temperance Army for children was kept in place at the tea meeting of February 1883.There were 57 Methodists in Bantry in 1911 but the membership faded away and in 1979 the Chapel was closed.It was sold in 1983 to Matt and Ann Murphy for use as a doctors surgery.

We would like to thank Dr. Matt Murphy for this information.