Bethel Chapel, Gadlys facts for kids
Bethel, Gadlys was a special kind of church called an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel. It was located on Railway Street in Gadlys, a part of Aberdare, Wales. This type of church was run by its own members, not by a larger church organization.
Building a Community: Early History
Bethel Chapel started in 1860. About thirty people from another church, Salem, Robertstown, decided to create their own new church. They wanted to have a place where they could worship together in their own way.
The chapel was designed by Evan Jones, an architect from Aberdare. It cost about £747 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The original building was quite large and could seat up to 600 people.
The first leader, or minister, of Bethel Chapel was William Harrison. After him, Hugh Hughes, also known as Huw Tegai, became the minister in 1859. He had been a minister in Manchester before coming to Bethel. Sadly, he passed away suddenly in 1864.
Other ministers who led the chapel included Robert Evans, from 1866 to 1877, and D. Onllwyn Brace, from 1885 to 1888. The number of members at the chapel changed over time. In 1890, there were 245 members. This number grew to 344 by 1905, partly because of a time when many people became more interested in religion. However, by 1914, the membership had decreased to 280.
J. Richards served as minister from the late 1890s until 1907. He then moved to lead another Bethel Chapel in Caernarfonshire.
A New Look and Final Years
In 1913, the chapel building was rebuilt and made even grander. This new construction cost £2,975. A beautiful organ was also added for £420. The inside of the new chapel was very fancy. It had a ceiling decorated with roses and a large balcony, called a gallery, with a special space for the organ.
Bethel Chapel continued to be a place of worship for many years, staying open until the late 1980s. After that, it was left empty and became run-down during the 1990s. Finally, in November 2003, the old chapel was taken down. A house was later built on the land where the chapel once stood.
