Bethania Chapel, Cwmbach facts for kids

Bethania, Cwmbach was a Baptist church, also called a chapel. It was located in Cwmbach, a village in the Aberdare Valley in Wales. The chapel was badly damaged during an air raid in 1941. After being repaired, it reopened but eventually closed in the 1980s. All the services held there were in the Welsh language.

Starting the Chapel

A chapel was officially registered in Cwmbach in April 1841. One of the people who signed the registration was Reverend William Lewis. He was from a church called Carmel Penpound. The very first services were held in a building known as 'The Square'. This building was in an area called Abernant-y-Groes. Even in 1964, the date 1841 could still be seen on this original building.

One of the first Baptists in Cwmbach was William Thomas David. He owned the land where the first deep coal mine in the Aberdare Valley opened in 1837. This mine produced coal for sale. Before this, all the coal dug up in the area was only used for making iron.

The church officially started on January 14 and 15, 1845. Morgan Lewis became the first minister in 1845. In 1847, reports showed his yearly pay was £40. He also ran a day school to earn more money. Sadly, Morgan Lewis died in 1849 from cholera.

J.D. Williams became the second minister in 1851. He also ran a day school. Williams left in 1855. T.E. Jones then became the minister in the same year. But he also stayed for a short time, moving to Glyn-neath in 1858.

A new chapel building was constructed in 1858 by William Lewis. The old building was then sold to the Unitarians. The next minister was William Harris, starting in 1859. However, in 1862, he moved to a nearby church called Heolyfelin.

In 1865, a vestry was added to the chapel. A vestry is a room used for church meetings or for the minister to prepare. Walter Samuel became the minister that year. He stayed until 1878, when he moved to Liverpool. From 1878 to 1887, a lay minister, Robert James, looked after the church. A lay minister is someone who leads services but is not officially ordained.

David Thomas became the minister on January 1 and 2, 1888. He was from Letterston in Pembrokeshire. He had just finished his studies at Pontypool College. He stayed until his early death in January 1902. While he was in Cwmbach, David Thomas was also a member of the Aberdare School Board. This board helped manage schools in the area.

The Chapel in the 1900s

In 1903, Reverend Joseph James became the minister. He stayed for almost 25 years. He then moved to Amlwch in 1927.

The number of church members reached its highest point after the Religious Revival of 1904-05. In 1906, there were 469 members. But this number dropped to 273 by 1932.

G.J. Morgan, a student from Carmarthen College, became the minister of Bethania in 1930. He moved to Australia in 1937.

Wartime Damage and Repair

On May 30, 1941, the chapel was badly damaged. This happened because of enemy action during World War II. The vestry next to it was completely destroyed.

Even with the damage, the chapel celebrated its 100th birthday in 1944. Services were held at the schoolroom in Ynyscynon. This schoolroom had been built when Joseph James was the minister.

The chapel was finally repaired in 1950 and 1951. It officially reopened on April 14, 1951.

Later Years and Closure

Idris Williams became the minister in 1946. He was from Calfaria, Penygroes. He stayed until 1956. D.W. Thomas took over as minister in 1961.

By 1978, there were only fifteen members left. The chapel closed its doors around 1980. The building itself was torn down in 1995.