Bethania Chapel, Dowlais facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bethania |
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| OS grid reference | SO06570769 |
| Location | South Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Independent (Congregationalist) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | late 19th century |
| Completed | 1895 |
| Closed | 1998 |
Bethania Chapel in Dowlais was an important church for the Independent (or Congregationalist) religion in South Wales. It is located on South Street in Dowlais, a town near Merthyr Tydfil. The church started in 1824. The building you see today was built in 1895 and made much bigger in 1910. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's a special historical building.
Contents
History of Bethania Chapel
Early Beginnings
Bethania Chapel began as a new branch from an older Congregationalist church. This original church was called Ynysgau Chapel in Merthyr. Even before Dowlais became a big industrial town, people there followed the Congregationalist faith. A family from a farm called Gwernllwynisaf was very important in the Ynysgau church.
One of the first leaders was Methusalem Jones (1769–1839). He later left to focus on leading another church called Bethesda. Both Bethesda and Ynysgau churches helped to start Bethania.
Growth and Revival
A big religious revival happened in South Wales in 1829. At that time, Bethania shared its minister, Samuel Evans, with another church called Zoar in Merthyr Tydfil. Samuel Evans had been the minister at Zoar since 1810. He also started looking after Bethesda church from 1828. Evans passed away in 1833 when he was 56 years old.
John Hughes's Long Service
John Hughes became the minister at Bethania in 1833. He was 33 years old then and stayed for thirty years. This was the longest time any minister served at the chapel. Hughes came from Capel Iwan in Carmarthenshire. He studied at the Neuaddlwyd Academy in Cardiganshire.
In 1838, a new chapel building was opened. It was large enough to hold 1250 people. By 1848, Bethania had a Sunday School with 600 adults and children attending. During John Hughes's time as minister, a new branch of Bethania was also opened in Gwernllwyn, Dowlais.
Later Ministers
In 1868, John Evans, a student from Brecon College, became the minister at Bethania. His ordination ceremony took place on July 13 and 14.
Peter Price became the minister in 1904. He was known for speaking out against the big Religious Revival that happened in 1904–05. Price left Bethania in 1910 after some disagreements.
Chapel Closure
Bethania Chapel closed its doors in 1998. Today, the building is used by a different Christian group.
