Leek Seed Chapel derives its name from this extraordinary story ¨ In the early 1800s a local preacher named William (Gardener) Stephens led the fund-raising to build a new chapel near St. Blazey in Cornwall. Unfortunately, three Oxford students opponents of Methodism, decided it would be a great prank to steal the funds.

One midnight they crept into Gardener Stephens cottage, only to find him sitting on his bed reading his Bible by candle-light. Give us the money and no harm shall befall you. "The Lord is my defence. You shall have no money from me, for all that is in this house is the Lord's. Take
it from me if you dare!" replied the old man.

But then the students realised that on the table was a huge pile of black powder ¨ gunpowder and the old man stood over it with a steel and flint in his hands. "Repent and be saved.he demanded or soon you will be in another world. The students immediately offered their well -filled
purses in exchange for their lives. But then the old man had them kneel and pray, offering thanks to the Lord for delivering them from sin. Next he had them stand and sing with him the full 100th Psalm. The students fled.

The following Sunday evening, William Stephens was to preach in the nearby barn which served as a temporary chapel. The students were curious and mingled with the crowds of worshippers. Gardener Stephens address was short but exultant, relating how an attempt had been made to steal the chapel funds, but the robbers had fled leaving their purses which contained almost sufficient funds to build their new chapel. Then he added with great drama But they had not smelt powder like the old soldier they had come to rob ¨it was a large heap enough to frighten General Clive himself ¨ but it was my whole year's stock of leek seed."