Wesley Cottage - an update on the past year

Another Successful Year for Wesley Cottage

Wesley Cottage at Trewint, the former home of Digory and Elizabeth Isbell who entertained John Wesley and his preachers in the 1740s, still attracts visitors from all parts of the World.

On 26th February a small group from Carlyon Probus Club were in the area and made a visit. 16th March saw twenty one people from Exeter University studying old Churches etc. and led by Rev David Rhymer. They enjoyed their visit and their coffee before going to Altarnun Church and Holy Well and then on to St. Neot.

Mr Keith Cheetham from Wolverhampton who is writing a book about the Wesleys for the Tercentenary of John Wesley's birth in 2003 came to see the Cottage for himself. Mr John Hurst, an artist from Epworth who is publishing a book of paintings for the Tercentenary and his wife Jacqui who is a tour guide at the Old Rectory at Epworth where John Wesley was born also visited in March. They took a lot of photographs and had tea in the Pilgrim's Garden.

In April David Watson brought a Bishop and five other Ministers from America. They enjoyed their visit and their tea very much.

During May Chris and Rachael Kendall from Bristol visited and wrote in the Visitor's Book, "Married at the New Room on 26/4/02".
Captain John Richards (Church Army) from Oxford who was cycling from Land's End to John O' Groats to celebrate his retirement saw the sign to Wesley Cottage on the A30 and came to see. Trevor Cook brought Elena Vasquez Gonzales from Cuba who had been spending some time in the Circuit.
The Annual Wesley Day Celebrations were held on 26th May with an Open Air service in the Pilgrim's Garden. Despite rain all morning, the weather cleared up for Rev Canon Dr Christopher Blake, Chairman of the Cornwall Methodist District, to lead the worship and musical items were by Youthful Spirit.

On June 15th some members of the Cornwall Association of Local Historians came after visiting Altarnun Parish Church, the Methodist Chapel and having tea in the Church Hall. Their leader was Carole Vivian from Trelawne Barton, Looe. June 28th saw a visit by Altarnun Brownies consisting of 15 girls of all ages, 3 helpers and a dog who had walked the footpath from Altarnun to Trewint. After a look around the Cottage they sat in the Garden and wrote about what they had seen. On leaving they were each given a leaflet telling the brief history of Trewint and a John Wesley Rule Card to remind them of their visit. The following day a small group of Ramblers from Kings Wood on their way to Camelford stopped to have a look. They were interested because of John Wesley's connection with the Bristol area.

On 13th July Miss Joan Rendle brought 27 members of the Launceston Old Cornwall Society after visiting North Hill Church. Despite living so near, some had never visited the Cottage before. They enjoyed what they saw and the remarkable story it told and finished their visit with tea and biscuits in the Garden in brilliant sunshine.

Sunday 18th August was a very pleasant afternoon with a visit by the North Shropshire Methodist Youth Choir who had given a concert in Launceston Central Methodist Church on the Saturday evening and taken part in the Sunday morning service. They were accompanied by Rev David Cooper who formed the choir and Rev Roger Baker, their current Minister. Following a quick look around they gathered outside the Cottage and sang three items before going on to Canworthy Water for an evening concert.

A family of five from the Wesley Methodist Church, West Malaysia, were delighted to have found their way to Trewint. They are probably the first visitors to Wesley Cottage from Malaysia.

These are some of the outstanding visitors, but every day they come in ones, twos and families. All are blessed by their visit.