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Aberystwyth chapels

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For further details of this project see Cardiganshire Chapels Database

Compiled by Gareth Hicks (Feb 2007)

Sources

NB.  Not all available data was necessarily used from sources, and 1 & 4 below have been combined where appropriate, being similar in many respects

  • 1.  The Chapels Recording Project in Wales (RCAHMW)
  • 2.  The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1, South Wales., by Jones, I.G. & Williams, D.    UWP,  Cardiff, 1976
  • 3.  Nonconformist Registers of Wales published by the National Library of Wales in 1994.
  • 4.  The Parish Churches and Nonconformist Chapels of Wales: Their Records and where to Find them, Vol. One, Cardigan - Carmarthen - Pembroke, by Rawlins, B.J. (1987).
  • 5.  Kelly's Directory, South Wales 1910 -  the Archive Cd Books Cd
  • 6.  Kelly's Directory, South Wales 1895 -  the Archive Cd Books Cd
  • 7.  My Ancestors were Congregationalists in England and Wales, by D J H Clifford, SOG, 1992.
  • 8.  Independent Chapels of Wales: History Books and Pamphlets by Huw Walters.
  • 9.  Death and Burial indexes available for purchase from Cardiganshire Family History Society
  • 10. Online Commercial & Residential Directories as appropriate to a particular parish - apart from what may already be on Genuki, see also the Historical Directories site

 Other sources

  • Dyfed FHS  - Photographs of chapels (may also be other data there)

 

Baptist

Bethel Welsh Baptist Church, Baker St, Aberystwyth

  • Bethel Welsh Baptist Church, Baker St, Aberystwyth     SN5835381794       Started 1787; chapel built 1797; rebuilt 1833 and 1888/9       Members; 34 in 1789, 150 in 1830        Still in use 1998    
    Records include; a register book containing the history of the cause from 1787; records of naming and births of children, 1788-1837; a list of burials, 1790-1810; a list of members, 1801; a register of births, 1788-1815; an account book of ministry subscriptions, 1791-1851 and of receipts and disbursements, 1791-1800; an account book of payments to preachers, communion and quarterly collections, etc., 1839-76; an account book of Sunday School member's subscriptions, 1851-52.  (NLW Ms 1050-558)                  (1) & (4)
  •  
  • Bethel Baptist, Baker St     Erected in 1798, rebuilt 1833    "Many of the congregation are seafaring men....."    Edward Williams, Minister, 2 Portland St    1851  (2)
  • Bapts 1788-1837 NLW   Burials 1798-1810 NLW    (3)
  •  
  • Bethel (Baptist, 1798-1810)      (9)
  • Rev. J. A. Morris    Seats 750     1895  (6)
  • Rev Joseph Edwards     1910   (5)
  • Rev Edward Williams       Slaters 1868 (10)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  •  
  • Owens, B. G. Bethel, Aberystwyth, 1788-1889 : canmlwyddiant ty-cwrdd a threm ar ganrif .  1989
  •  
  • Bethel Chapel/Capel Bethel, 1890s ; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

English Baptist Church, Alfred Place, Aberystwyth

  •   English Baptist Church, Alfred Place, Aberystwyth     SN5829481789     Chapel built 1870      Still in use in 1998         (1)
  •   
  • "The (English) Baptist chapel, Alfred place, erected in 1871 at a cost of £2,000, is an edifice in the Gothic style, from designs by Mr. Richard Owen, architect, of Liverpool, and affords 450 sittings; there are schools underneath for 350 children."   1895  (6)
  •  
  • Rev. Thomas Williams   1895  (6)
  • Rev Thos Edmunds        Seats   460   1910  (5)
  •  
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Congregational

Portland St English Congregational Church, Portland St, Aberystwyth

  • Portland St English Congregational Church, Portland St, Aberystwyth     SN5840681883      Started in 1836; chapel built 1866      16 members in 1866       Records; unknown      Not still in use 1998      (1) & (4)
  • Bapts 1898-1912 NLW;    Mar 1898-1911  NLW;     Burials 1898-1911 NLW    (3)
  • Portland St (Ind., 1877-1969)     (9)
  •  
  • Rev. T. A. Penry    Seats 500     1895  (6)        &     Rev T A Penry    Seats 450   1910  (5)
  • "The English Congregational chapel, in Portland street, built at a cost of £2,600, and opened in July, 1866, is an edifice of native stone, with Bath stone dressings, in the Early English and Decorated styles, and has a tower and spire, 80 feet high; in 1880 a lecture room and 6 class rooms for the Sunday school, and a residence for the minister were built, at a cost of £2,300; the chapel will seat 500 persons."   1895 (6)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  • Lewis, W. J. The English Congregational Church, Portland Street, Aberystwyth,1888-1966 .Aberystwyth : Cambrian News, 1966
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Seion Welsh Independent chapel, Baker St, Aberystwyth

  • Seion Welsh Independent chapel, Baker St, Aberystwyth      SN5835381739     Started about 1810     Chapel built 1814/15; rebuilt 1878; modified 1903 & post 1908.     Mr Shadrach minister here and Bethel, Talybont 1806-22      In 1873 were 252 members      Still in use 1998     (1) & (4)
    Records;  1. births and bapts 1805-37 PRO and in IGI  2.  Sunday school records 1868-1956 (gaps) NLW    (4)
  • Bapts 1804-37  PRO   (3)
  • Seion Welsh Ind chapel, Baker St       Birth and Bapts 1804-37   Copies at Cer RO   (7)
  • Seion Ind, Aberystwyth      Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Nov 2006); - Aberystwyth (Seion, Baker Street) Post-code: SY23 2BJ
  •   
  • Rev. Job Miles       Seats 714      1895    (6)
  • Rev J Lewis Williams       Seats 750     1910  (5)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  •  
  • Jones, Evan D. Trem ar ganrif yn hanes Eglwys Gynulleidfaol Baker Street, Aberystwyth. [A Look at a Century : History of the Baker Street Congregational Church, Aberystwyth].Aberystwyth ,1968     (8)
  • Evans, D J. Hanes Capel Seion [A History of Sion Chapel]. Aberystwyth; Cambrian News, 1935
  •  
  • Seion Chapel/Capel Seion, 1870s, 1890s; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

See Sion below

Sion Welsh Independent chapel, (Penmaes-glas), Vulcan St, Aberystwyth

  • Sion Welsh Independent chapel, (Penmaes-glas), Vulcan St, Aberystwyth  SN5812581527   Started  1810; Built 1816; Rebuilt 1823, 1878           (1)
  • Sion Ind, town       Erected in 1823       John Saunders,  Minister     1851 (2)
  •  
  •  Rev J Saunders         Slaters 1868 (10)
  • Ind chapel, Penmaenglas, Aberystwyth   1818-1878     "replaced by Seion WI  in 1878 "         (7)
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

See Seion above

Methodist

Ebeneser Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Penparcau, Aberystwyth

  • Ebeneser Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Penparcau, Aberystwyth    SN59088017       Sunday School  1810; chapel built 1848; rebuilt 1939     Records; ? with Goshen/Tabernacle     Still in use 1998          (1) & (4)
  •   
  • Jenkins, Geraint H.  'Y Capel bach' : hanes Capel Ebeneser, Penparcau, c.1812-1989 Aberystwyth : Eglwys Ebeneser, 1989
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

English Presbyterian Church, Bath St, Aberystwyth (St David's United Reformed Church)

  • English Presbyterian Church, Bath St, Aberystwyth (St David's United Reformed Church)    SN5842181925        Chapel built 1871/2        Not still in use 1998    (1)
  • "The (English) Presbyterian chapel, in Bath street, erected in 1871, is a building of stone, faced with Bath stone, and will seat 450 persons."    1895  (6)
  • Rev. Richard Hughes    1895  (6)    &   1910  (5)
  •   
  • Rees, Irene D. Presbyterian Church of Wales, Bath, Street, Aberystwyth : a short history . 1972

Penparcau Welsh CM chapel, Penparcau Rd, Aberystwyth

  • Penparcau Welsh CM chapel, Penparcau Rd, Aberystwyth       SN58918031              Still in use 1998        (1)

Penparcau Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Penparcau Rd, Penparcau, Aberystwyth

  • Penparcau Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Penparcau Rd, Penparcau, Aberystwyth      SN59237999     Not still in use 2002    (1)

Queen's Rd English Wesleyan Methodist Church

  • Queen's Rd English Wesleyan Methodist Church          SN5845281998       Chapel built 1869-71; modified 1898     Demolished 1990       (1)
  • English WM, Lewis Terrace      Erected in 1846      Geo Williams, Leader, Custom House   1851 (2)
  •  
  • Wesleyan chapel, English.      Society formed in 1844; chapel 1845; 1868 at Queen's Rd.       Location; Lewis Terrace       (4)
    Records;  1. register of baptisms for Aberystwyth English Circuit, 1866-­1964, NLW, WMA 1398B       2. two minute books of quarterly meetings, 1930-65, NLW       3. trustee meetings minutes, 1919-48, NLW        4.  leader's minutes, 1889-1928 plus other records, NLW             5. miscellaneous papers, correspondence and deeds, 1806-1943, NLW (Welsh)      6. 12 class books, 1847-1908, NLW            7. membership rolls, 1894-1932 and account books, 1841-85, NLW           8.  building fund subscription list, 1866-71; two membership rolls prior to 1897, NLW            9.  class leader's account book, 1843-­66, NLW                  10. many other records relating to this chapel at the NLW    (4)
  • Bapts 1866-1964  NLW   (3)
  • Wesleyan, Queen's Rd (Wes.Meth., 1870-1949)    (9)
  •  
  • "The (English) Wesleyan chapel, in Queen's road, erected in 1871 at a cost of nearly £3,000, is a building of stone, with Bath stone dressings, in the Early English and Decorated styles; it has tower and spire, and will seat 450 persons."     1895  (6)
  • Rev. Thomas Jackson     1895   (6)
  • Rev Alfred H Vine     1910   (5)
  • Rev Robert Jones       Slaters 1868 (10)
  • Brown, Mary. English Methodism in Aberystwyth : published on the occasion of the centenary of Queen's Road Methodist Church, Aberystwyth 1869-1969  Aberystwyth, The Cambrian News, 1969

Salem Welsh CM chapel, Portland St, Aberystwyth (Capel y Morfa)

  • Salem Welsh CM chapel, Portland St, Aberystwyth (Capel y Morfa)    SN5849081898           Started 1893 (split from Seilo); chapel built 1894/5     Still in use 1998   (1)
  • Capel y Morfa, Stryd Portland - - still open in 2006
  •  
  • Salem (Cal.Meth., 1930-1954)     (9)
  •  
  • Salem Welsh CM, Portland St    1895   (6)
  • Rev Maurice Griffiths     1910  (5)
  • "Salem (Welsh) Calvinistic Methodist chapel, situated at the bottom of Portland street, erected in 1894-5, at a cost of £2,300, is a building of local stone, with Grinshill stone dressings, in the Gothic style, from plans by Mr. T. E. Morgan, architect, of this town, and will seat 450 persons. "   1895  (6)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  •  
  • Salem Chapel/Capel Salem, 1900; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.         [right place?]
  • Morfa Chapel/Capel y Morfa; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.
  •  
  • Roberts, Brynley F. Cyfannu'r rhwyg : hanes Eglwys Salem Aberystwyth 1893-1988  : Caernarfon : 1995

Salem Welsh Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Queen St, Aberystwyth   (Wesleyan; Queen St )

  • Salem Welsh Methodist chapel, Queen St, Aberystwyth   (Wesleyan; Queen St )     SN5826981550      Built 1807; rebuilt 1842; used by Salvation Army c.1882 - 1918.    Not still in use 1998     (1)
  • Queen Street  Welsh WM         Erected before 1810, rebuilt 1842         David Lloyd, Leader, Great Dark, Gate St    1851 (2)
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

See also St Pauls below

Seilo / Shiloh CM chapel, Queen's Rd, Aberystwyth

  • Seilo  CM chapel, Queen's Rd, Aberystwyth       SN5860881868    Built 1863 (at North Parade ?); rebuilt 1868; rebuilt (facade) 1956       Demolished by 1998;  merged in 1998 with Salem (Capel y Morfa)         (1) & (4)
    Records;  1. register of bapts 1863-1953 & 1921-24  NLW ;    2.  see also Tabernacle    (4)
  • Bapts 1863-1953 NLW    (3)
  • Seilo (Cal.Meth., 1921-26)     (9)
  •  
  • Shiloh Welsh CM      Seats 900    1895  (6)
  • Rev Thomas Evans Roberts     1910   (5)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  •  
  • Eglwys Siloh Aberystwyth, 1863 - 1963. Aberystwyth : 1960
  • Jiwbili Siloh Aberystwyth 1863-1917
  • Jones, F Wynn. Canmwlydd Siloh, Aberystwyth [Centennial of Siloh, Aberystwyth.]  Llandysul, 1963
  •  
  • Seilo Chapel/Capel Seilo, 1907; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.
  • Seilo Chapel (Aberystwyth) Sunday School trip, Pontrhydygroes, 11 June 1913; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.

Siloam Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Cambrian St, Aberystwyth

  • Siloam Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Cambrian St, Aberystwyth   SN5860781748     Started  1859; chapel built 1869         Not still in use in 1998         (1)  & (4)
    Records; 1. See Soar    2.  treasurer's account book 1883-94  NLW  (4)
  • Siloam Wesleyan Methodist chapel              Register of Baptisms 1869-1919 at NLW   (3)
  •  
  • Wesleyan Welsh Methodist, Cambrian St           Rev. T. J. Pritchard      Seats 200       1895   (6)
  • Rev Llewellyn Morgan & Rev John Jones, supernumerary     [also in charge of St Paul's, see below]        1910  (5)
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Skinner St Welsh CM Sunday School, Aberystwyth

  • Skinner St Welsh CM Sunday School, Aberystwyth           SN58728174        Built as a Poor School 1839; rebuilt as a Sunday School 1847     Demolished by 2003      (1)
  •  
  • Photograph (site) on Dyfed FHS

Soar English Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Alexandra Rd / Lewis Terrace, Aberystwyth

  • Soar English Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Alexandra Rd, Aberystwyth     SN5841381591     Chapel built 1844, modified/altered/rebuilt 1863, 1868 and 1887,   Use as WM chapel ceased 1870; taken over by Salvation Army 1918.         Still in use 1998        (1)
  •  
  • Soar WM chapel                  Society formed 1805, chapel built 1807; enlarged 1842 & 1880      Members; 76 in 1828, 190 in 1838       (4)
    Records; 1. births and baptisms, 1814-37, PRO. London RG4/4007 (GS 828102) IGI          2. register of baptisms of the Aberystwyth Circuit, 1835-1964, NLW         3. Sunday School schedule books, 1868-1929 plus other records, NLW    (4)
  •  
  • Soar WM, Lewis Terrace        Erected in 1839      William Roberts, Minister, Chapel House        1851 (2)
  •   
  • Soar United Free Methodist chapel, Alexandra Rd / Lewis Terrace            Bapts 1868-92  NLW   (3)
  •   
  • United Free Methodist, Station Terrace      1895  (6)
  • United Free Church, Alexandra Rd             Rev John Moore       1910   (5)
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS - with Salvation Army name on, and refered to as Soar, Lewis Terrace

All  sources have  variations in  data

St Paul's Welsh Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Great Darkgate St, Aberystwyth

  • St Paul's Welsh Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Great Darkgate St, Aberystwyth              SN5819681587      Started 1805;  first chapel built 1809; rebuilt 1842 & 1869. Present chapel built 1880 Schoolroom built 1903. Not still in use 1999    (1)
  • Queen St / St Pauls Wesleyan Methodist chapel       Bapts 1835-1919  NLW   (3)
    From this last description and the dates involved, looks like this chapel carried on from original Salem in Queen St, see above
  •  
  • St Paul (Wes.Meth., 1906-1932)    (9)
  •  
  • "St. Paul's (Welsh) Wesleyan chapel, in Great Darkgata street, built in 1880 at a cost of £5,000, is in the Classic style, and will seat 700 persons."    1895  (6)
  • Rev. T. J. Pritchard     1895  (6)
  • Rev Llewellyn Morgan & Rev John Jones, supernumerary     [also in charge of Siloam, Cambrian St]    1910  (5)
  •  
  • St Paul's Methodist (W) Chapel/Capel Methodistiaid (W) St Paul, 1880; - Indexed item in book Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion in old photographs . Collected by Dyfed Cultural Services Department; Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1992.
  • On the People's Collection Wales site
    St Paul's Chapel Time Capsule 1878. The contents of a stoppered  glass bottle found  behind one of the foundation stones in 1999 on the site of the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Great Darkgate as it was being converted into a wine bar.
  •  
  • Capel Sant Paul Aberystwyth : llawlyfr yr oedfa olaf, Sadwrn 29 Chwefror 1992 ... yn cynnwys: Trem ar hanes yr achos. Aberystwyth : 1992
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Tabernacle Welsh CM chapel, Mill St/Powell St (Capel y Groes)

  • Tabernacle Welsh CM chapel, Mill St/Powell St (Capel y Groes)           SN5833281447          Preaching began c.1770, society in 1774; chapel built 1785; rebuilt 1819, 1831/2 & 1879-80   Still in use 1998     (1) & (4)
    Records;  1. births and baptisms, 1812-37, PRO, London RG4/3813 (GS 828102)      2. register of baptisms, 1812-40, CMA 11/E93/15            3. large collection of material including accounts and registers,1844-85, NLW Mss 7485-91                   4. list of members 1850, NLW Ms 16222                   5. register of members. 1867-70, NLW Ms 17939C        6. list of members received, left and died, 1886-92. NLW Ms 17962               7. registers of members and their contributions, 1859-96, NLW Mss 17940-­48             8. account books, 1844-85, NLW Mss 7489-91              9. account book, 1848-1901, Ms 671B                10. account book, 1870-81, NLW Ms 17963             11. annual financial statements, 1869-91, NLW Mss 17949-50     12. general statistics, 1874-84, NLW Ms 17951                13. tickets of membership, 1867-91, NLW Ms 17958             14. transfer tickets, 1818-73, NLW Ms 17959A            15. Sunday School registers, 1843-59, Mss 666-7B            16. Sunday School register, 1905-14, NLW Ms 17954            17. Sunday School minute books, 1870-­1902, Mss 668-70; 1887-1900, NLW Ms 17953         18. Sunday School collection book, 1872-76, NLW Ms 17952     (4)
  • Tabernacle Welsh CM, Mill St      Erected in 1785      Edward Jones, Minister     1851 (2)
  • Bapts 1811-37  PRO;    Bapts 1811-40, 1860-84   NLW     (3)
  • Tabernacl (Cal.Meth., 1827-96)   (9)
  •  
  • Rev, Thomas Levi, Rev. Wm. Jones & Rev.John Williams     Seats 1000    1895  (6)
  • Rev Richard Jenkin Rees     Seats 1100     1910  (5)
  •  
  • See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
  •  
  • Tabernacle chapel closed in Nov 2002 - on BBC Wales
  • Williams, Moelwyn I. Y Tabernacl, Aberystwyth : hanes yr achos, 1785-1985 . 1986
  • The Chapels Heritage Societysite has a pdf file of a Local Information Sheet re Tabernacle CM chapel by Moelwyn I Williams, it may even be the above item
    "The present Tabernacle is the fourth chapel to have been built on the same site by the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists in Aberystwyth. The first 'Tabernacle' chapel was built in  1785 (facing Mill Street) although at that time it was referred to as 'Capel y Groes' (The Chapel of the Cross)............................"
  • Held at the NLW;  Evan Evans, Aberystwyth, Manuscripts  comprising  "Diaries, account books, minute books and other records relating to the Tabernacle Welsh Presbyterian Church, Aberystwyth, ranging from 1844 to 1922."
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Tan-y-cae CM Sunday school, Aberystwyth

  • Tan-y-cae CM Sunday school, Aberystwyth       SN5815981388        School chapel built 1877    Still in use in 1996          (1)
  •  
  • Ishmael, Brian. Hanes Ysgol Sul Tanycae, Aberystwyth (A history of Tanycae Sunday School, Aberystwyth. 1877-1977 ). Aberystwyth : Eglwys y Tabernacl (M.C.), 1977
  • Now used by Elim Pentecostal (2019)
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

 

Other

Capel Stryd Newydd (Unitarian, New Street), Aberystwyth

  • Capel Stryd Newydd (Unitarian, New Street), Aberystwyth      SN5812381652     Built c.1810 used as  estate office then coach house/stable; acquired by Quakers c.1853;  Unitarian chapel 1906      Not still in use 1998              (1)
  • New St Meeting House still open in 2007 - Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Catholic Churches in Aberystwyth

Catholic Church of the Welsh Martyrs, Penparcau

  • Catholic Church of the Welsh Martyrs, Penparcau, Aberystwyth       SN59127995             (1)

Our Lady of the Angels and St Winefride, Queen's Road

  • "The Catholic church of Our Lady of the Angels and St Winefride, in Queen's road, is a building of stone, in the Early English style, erected in 1874 from designs by Mr.George Jones, of this town, and consists of chancel and nave only; the magnificent  altar of carved stone was the gift of Mrs. Gillow, of Hampton Park, Hereford:  the church has 300 sittings. "       1895 (6)
  • Rev. Thomas Carolan, priest   1895  (6)
  • Rev Walter Baggaley       1910   (5)

 

Elim Pentecostal Church, New St, Aberystwyth

  • Elim Pentecostal Church, New St, Aberystwyth         SN5817381680        Original bank converted to chapel c.1909       Not still in use 1998     (1)
  •  
  • Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Salvation Army

Salvation Army, Temperance Hall, North parade

  • Salvation Army, Temperance Hall, North parade     1895   (6)
  • See also Salem Methodist above

Salvation Army, Queen St

  • Salvation Army, Queen St      1910  (5)

 

The Public Cemetery, Aberystwyth

  • "The Public Cemetery, 6 acres in extent, is on the road to Llanbadarn, and has an entrance from the road near Llangawsa: it is well laid out, and has two chapels, in the Late Perpendicular style, from designs by Mr. W. Spaull, of Oswestry: the first interment took place on the 4th September, 1860; it is under the control of a burial board of 9 members"   1895  (6)