Calfaria, Penygroes facts for kids

Calfaria is a Baptist chapel in the village of Penygroes in the community of Llandybie, near Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. Services at Calfaria were conducted in the Welsh language until recently but are now bilingual.

Early history

Calfaria was founded in 1896 by Baptists who worshipped at other chapels in the vicinity and miners who had migrated to the areas to work at the Emlyn and Caerbryn collieries. They originally met in each other's homes and then in a small ramshacle building, later known as the Hen Sied y Band (thre Old Band Shed). The snall congregation grew rapidly and a minister, the Rev Job Herbert, was installed two years before the chapel as built.

Herbert remained miniter for forty years. He was succeeded by Handel Turner (1942-46), E. Bryn Jones (1947-56), Elwyn Williams )1957-63), Wynn Vittle (1964-73) and Carl Williams (1975-82). The current minister (2020) is Aled Maskell.