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THIS OBJECT IS PART OF THE PROJECT 'A HISTORY OF CORNWALL IN 100 OBJECTS'.

CALLINGTON MUSEUM. The 'Chapel Tea' was one of the most anticipated and appreciated of annual entertainments. Local residents recall that everyone wore their best clothes and the children were scrubbed clean and usually had some new item of clothing, even if it was only some ribbons. Mother would be up very early doing the baking, trestle tables would be covered with white clothes, the chapel china would come out and a high tea would be served to excited children who were admonished to be on their 'best behaviour'. Afterwards there were usually games or sports in a nearby field.

The church, whether Methodist or Anglican was an integral part of the social network c.1900. It provided both moral example and entertainments like this. Nearly every Cornish chapel and some churches had their own set of tea treat china like this example from Golberdon chapel in South Hill parish.