chancel was built at the east end and the lowest part of the tower was built. In 1686, a gallery was built at the west end, at the cost of Sir Peter Killigrew. The gallery over the north aisle was added in 1699, and in 1702 the gallery over the south aisle was built. Also in 1702, the first organ, built by John Russell of London, was installed at the west end. In 1738, the tower was raised and acquired a 12-hundredweight bell (now, after various changes, replaced by an eight bell carillon). By 1813, the population of Falmouth had grown to over 7,000, so the 1684 chancel was demolished, the church lengthened to the east by nearly a third, and the chancel was then rebuilt. The fabric of the church slowly deteriorated during the early 19th century, and in 1896 another major reconstruction began. The three pitched roofs and the galleries were removed and the walls were raised to allow three new barred ceilings with ornamental plaster-work to be installed. The work took about a year to complete. Subsequent improvements included a new organ chamber in 1915; the area previously occupied by the organ became the Warrior Chapel. Electric lighting was introduced in 1907 and in 1936 the baptistery was formed, although the font dates from 1759. It has been remarked by one historian that Falmouth Parish Church has probably undergone more alterations and additions than any other church in the United Kingdom. Charles Henderson observed in 1925: "It is interesting for its curious mixture of the Gothic and Classical styles. Its worst feature is a weak west tower in the former manner. A Wren steeple would have been far more suitable to the situation." William John Coope The Rev. William John Coope (born c. 1810) was rector from 1838 to 1869. He was the pioneer of Tractarianism in Cornwall. While studying at Oxford Coope had been greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement. When he came to Falmouth the church was in a poor state of repair. Coope introduced changes in ritual in accordance with Tractarian ideas and aroused some opposition from a section of the parishioners. This opposition had abated by 1847; in 1849 a letter appeared in the West Briton complaining about the conduct of services at Falmouth. Coope was the author of many publications which emphasised the Catholicity of the Church of England. The church was