Capel Heol Dŵr, Carmarthen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capel Heol Dŵr
Location	Water Street, Carmarthen
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Calvinistic Methodist chapel
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	19 May 1981
Architectural type	Chapel
Style	Early 19th century
Closed	2016

Capel Heol Dŵr was a special church building in Carmarthen, Wales. It was a Calvinistic Methodist chapel. The building was built in 1831 on Water Street. It was recognized as a Grade II historic building in 1981. This means it was an important old building worth protecting.

How Capel Heol Dŵr Started

Calvinistic Methodists were a group of Christians. They started meeting in Carmarthen around 1740. At first, they met in a house on Goose Street.

A very important person for the Water Street chapel was Peter Williams. He was from the area. Peter Williams became a Methodist in 1743. This happened after he heard George Whitfield speak. Peter Williams worked as a church assistant. But he was not allowed to become a full priest. This was because he supported the Methodists. So, he built the first chapel in the garden of a house he rented on Water Street.

David Charles was also connected to this chapel. He was the brother of Thomas Charles of Bala. In 1811, David Charles was one of 11 ministers. They were made ministers even though the main church did not want it. This event helped create the Calvinistic Methodist group in Wales.

What the Chapel Looked Like

Capel Heol Dŵr was one of the first Methodist chapels. The building you see today was built in 1831. The front of the chapel had two porches. Each porch had tall columns and a large arched window above it.

Inside, the chapel had a special gallery. This gallery was shaped like five sides. The wooden pews were neatly placed. They spread out to match the gallery's shape. The pulpit was very unusual. It looked like a wine-glass with curved steps. Another chapel nearby, Capel Heol Awst, Carmarthen, built in 1826, had a similar pulpit. These types of pulpits are rare now. Many were removed when chapels were changed.

The ceilings inside were made of wood. They had a large plaster rose decoration. The chapel also had beautiful stained glass windows. There were also several important monuments. The chapel was updated in 1891 and again in 1922. New things added included a new front, a new ceiling, and a new organ area.

The chapel became a Grade II historic site on May 19, 1981. It was recognized as a great example of an early 19th-century chapel. It still had its original inside parts, like the gallery from 1831. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales keeps records of this church. These records include photos of the outside and inside of the building.

Later Years of the Chapel

Over the years, three other churches started from Heol Dŵr. These were Babell, Pensarn (in 1849), Zion, Carmarthen (in 1850), and Bethania, Carmarthen (in 1902).

In 1871, Rev. J. Lewis became the minister. About 2000 people were there for his induction. In 1903, Rev M.H. Jones became the minister. He stayed for three years.

In 2016, it was announced that the chapel would close. This was because the costs were too high. Also, fewer people were attending. Broadcaster Huw Edwards supported a campaign to save the building. Like Heol Dŵr, the Zion and Bethania chapels also closed around 2014-2015.