Ramoth, Hirwaun facts for kids

The chapel in 2010

Ramoth, Hirwaun, was once a Baptist church located in Davies Row, Hirwaun, a town near Aberdare, Wales. In the past, all the services at Ramoth were held in the Welsh language. After some big changes and updates in 1982, the building is still used today for Christian worship. It is now part of the Assemblies of God fellowship.

The Beginning of Ramoth

The story of Ramoth started a long time ago, in the early 1800s. People first gathered for meetings in a house owned by George Overton, who worked at the Hirwaun Ironworks. However, things were tough at first. When the ironworks closed, the meetings stopped for a while.

A New Start for the Church

The church community came back to life in 1818. A new chapel building was opened in 1825. It was connected to another church called Calfaria, Aberdare. Around 50 people were members during this time. The first services in the new chapel were held on June 18, 1826. The church officially became a licensed place of worship in 1830. In 1831, Ramoth joined the East Glamorgan Baptist Association. The first minister, William Lewis, served from 1832 to 1834. He also led the Calfaria church.

Building a Bigger Chapel

By 1840, the church had grown to 76 members. Because of this growth, they decided to build an even newer and bigger chapel. This new building opened its doors in 1843. While the new chapel was being built, a student named Benjamin Evans became the minister of Ramoth. He stayed for 15 years. During his time, a new branch of Ramoth was started in Heolyfelin. By 1849, the number of members had jumped to 178!

Leaders and Changes

Many important leaders served at Ramoth in the late 1800s. These included Benjamin Watkins (1857-58), D. Davies (1863-69), E. Colwyn Evans (1872-91), and David Collier (1892-97). These ministers helped the church grow and stay strong.

Ramoth in the 1900s

In 1899, J.S. Johns became the minister, but he sadly passed away just two years later.

Peak Membership and New Organ

The church reached its highest number of members in 1904. This was a very busy and exciting time for Ramoth. In 1913, a brand new organ was installed in the chapel. This was made possible by a generous gift from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman and philanthropist.

Ministers and Revival

George Hague served as minister from 1903 to 1910. He was followed by E. Cefni Jones, who served from 1911 to 1920. The longest-serving minister was E.J. Hughes, who led the church from 1923 all the way until 1958.

There is a special old recording from 1905 of Rev. E. Roberts. It was made at Ramoth during the Welsh Revival, a time when many people became very interested in their faith.

A New Chapter for the Chapel

The chapel stopped being a Baptist church in 1982. However, it didn't stay closed for long! The building was updated and re-opened in the 1990s as a place for Christian worship.

The Ramoth Christian Centre celebrated 150 years at its current spot in 2018. The building you see today is actually the third version of the chapel on that site!