Calfaria Baptist Chapel, Llanelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calfaria Baptist Chapel |
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| Location | Bigyn Road, Llanelli |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Founded | 1887–1888 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 3 December 1992 |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
Calfaria Baptist Chapel is a historic church building in the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, in Wales. For over a century, it was an important place of worship for the local Baptist community. Today, it is recognized as a special historic site.
Contents
The Story of Calfaria Chapel
A Humble Start
The story of Calfaria Chapel began in 1881. The first chapel was a simple red-brick building that cost £500 to build. It officially opened its doors in January 1882. The first minister, or church leader, was a man named James Griffiths. He led the church community until 1890.
A Grand New Building
The church community grew quickly, and soon they needed a bigger space. Between 1887 and 1888, a beautiful new chapel was built right next to the old one. This new building was designed in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style was inspired by old Roman and medieval buildings, often featuring rounded arches and thick, strong walls.
With the grand new chapel open, the original brick building was turned into a Sunday school for children.
A Time of Strong Faith
The chapel was deeply involved in the 1904–1905 Welsh revival. This was a period in Welsh history when religious faith became very important and emotional for people all across the country. Many special prayer meetings were held at Calfaria Chapel, and it was a very powerful time for the community.
The Chapel in Modern Times
For more than 100 years, Calfaria Chapel was a busy and important part of life in Llanelli. However, the chapel closed in the early 2000s. Since then, the building has been empty and has fallen into disrepair.
Because of its special architecture and history, the chapel is protected as a Grade II listed building. This means it is considered a nationally important building that should be preserved.
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The inside of the empty chapel in 2020.
