Capel Newydd, Nanhoron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capel Newydd |
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"Probably the earliest nonconformist building in North Wales"
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| OS grid reference | SH285309 |
| Location | Nanhoron, Llanengan, Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Independent |
| History | |
| Founded | 1770 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Designated | 1 April 1998 |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | Vernacular |
| Groundbreaking | 1770 |
| Completed | 1772 |
Capel Newydd is a very old chapel located in Nanhoron, near Llanengan, in Gwynedd, Wales. It is likely the oldest Nonconformist chapel still standing in North Wales. Nonconformists were Protestants who did not follow the main Church of England. This special building was built between 1770 and 1772.
The chapel's inside has been kept in amazing condition. It still has an earthen floor and simple box pews, which are like enclosed wooden seats. The building was repaired during the Victorian era and again from 1956 to 1958. Today, a special group called the Capel Newydd Nanhoron Trust takes care of it. Capel Newydd is considered a very important historic site, known as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
History of Capel Newydd
How the Chapel Began
Nonconformist religious talks started happening in this part of Caernarfonshire around the 1740s. These were meetings for people who wanted to worship outside the official church. In 1770, a kind woman named Mrs. Edwards, who owned land from the Nanhoron estate, gave some land for a chapel to be built.
Building and Restoring the Chapel
The construction of Capel Newydd was finished in 1772. This makes it probably the earliest Nonconformist building still standing in North Wales. The chapel was repaired in the early 1800s. More repairs happened between 1956 and 1958.
The Chapel Today
By the late 1800s, the chapel was no longer used for regular worship. It was left empty for some time. Now, it is looked after by the Capel Newydd Nanhoron Trust. This trust works to preserve the chapel's history and unique features for everyone to see.
Architecture and Design
What the Chapel Looks Like
Capel Newydd is built from rubble stone, which means rough, uneven stones. The outside walls are covered in whitewash, making them look bright and clean. The roof is made of slate tiles and has stone corbels, which are decorative supports sticking out from the wall.
Inside the Chapel
Experts describe the chapel as "simple and barn-like." It might have even been an old farm building that was changed into a chapel. The inside walls are also whitewashed, just like the outside. The floor inside is made of earth, which is very unusual for a building like this. The chapel's interior has plain box pews and a simple pulpit, which is a raised stand where the preacher would speak.
Why It's Special
Capel Newydd is a Grade I listed building because it is exceptionally old. It also has one of the very few early chapel interiors that still exist today. This makes it a very important example of how chapels looked and were used a long time ago.
