4. 19th Century

Nonconformist Chapels in Wales

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19th century

Industrial Chapels & Benefactors

This item is based on the article by Stephen Hughes on the Welsh Chapels website.

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William Madocks
Landowner and industrialist. Porthmadog
He built the Cob across the Glaslyn Estuary and established Porthmadog and Tremadog. Although not a dissenter, he commissioned a Calvinistic Methodist chapel.
Peniel Chapel, Porthmadog

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The Conway family and others
Baptists. Afan Llwyd Tinplate manufacturers.
From the 1750s through to the early 1800s a number of tinplate works were established along the Afan Llwyd from present day Cwmbran to Caerleon.
Pontrhydrun Baptist Chapel

Caerleon Baptist Chapel


Zion Baptist Chapel, Ponthir

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John Jones Jenkins and others
Welsh Independents. Morriston Tinplate manufacturers.
These industrialists used their money and skills as architect and stone mason in the establishment of a number of chapels in the late 19th century. The most expensive of these was Tabernalc, Morriston at £15,000.
Tabernacl Welsh Independent Chapel, Morriston, Swansea

Others followed with a similar design but at a lower cost at nearby Llanelli (£4,000) and Llanidloes in mid-Wales (£1,500).

Tabernacl Welsh Independent Chapel, Llanelli


Sion Congregational Chapel, Llanidloes (Trinity)

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David Davies (Llandinam)
Railway contractor and industrialist. Calvinistic Methodist.

He built a large mansion, Broneirion, near to his boyhood home in Llandinam.

In his obituary it states ‘At all times, if any way possible, he would return home for the Sunday, in order not to miss service with his class in the Sunday School.’
He acquired great wealth and was very generous with his donations to the building of chapels and the support of educational causes such as the University of Wales Aberystwyth.
Bethel, Calvinistic Methodist, Llandinam

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John Cory and Richard Cory
The brothers John (Welsh Methodist) and Richard (Baptist) were colliery and shipping owners in South Wales. Their father, Captain Richard Cory, moved from Bideford to Cardiff in 1838. On his retirement in 1859 the business was renamed Cory Brothers and Co. They invested with David Davies (see above) in the establishment of Barry Docks.

John Cory is remembered as a philanthropist, giving liberally to many causes such as the Salvation Army and Dr Barnardo’s children’s homes. In many seaports he established soldiers' and sailors' rests.

In 1891 he purchased the Dyffryn Estate and built Dyffryn House which is currently in the care of the National Trust.

He was a member of Roath Road Chapel, Cardiff, where he preached almost every Sunday evening. This chapel was damaged in the blitz of 1941 and demolished in 1955. A picture can be seen here.



Tredegarville English Baptist Chapel, The Parade, Cardiff

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Diana, Baroness Barham, (1763-1823)

Lady Barham first visited the Gower in 1813 at the age of 50.
She was concerned to see the darkness of the place, and the spiritual destruction of its people, and was anxious to know what she could do to improve the condition. This led to her taking up residence at Fairyhill, a mansion near to Burry Green, the following year.
In the nine years up until her death she established and supported six Calvinistic Methodist chapels.




The chapels that she established in date order.

Bethesda, Burry Green, established 1814

More information on the Welsh Chapels website Link

Bethel, Penclawdd, established 1816
In 1821-2 there was a split between the Calvinistic Methodists in Gower and the Independents and Bethel became Independent.
In 1910 the old Bethel chapel was demolished and the present chapel constructed.
There is currently no picture of this chapel on Geograph.
More information on the Welsh Chapels website Link


Trinity, Cheriton, established 1816


Paraclete, Newton, established 1818


Immanuel, Pilton Green, established 1821



Mount Pisgah, Ilston (Parkmill), established 1822

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Richard Glynn Vivian (1835-1910)
Inheritor from the Swansea copper mining and smelting business.
He lived most of his life in the 19th century, but it was in the 20th century that he established and funded Christian missions.
His story can be seen in the 20th century / Evangelical / Clyne Free Mission section later in this article.

Independent / Congregational (3)

For more information from Addoldai Cymru (Welsh Religious Buildings Trust)

The above link records that English speaking congregations and some Welsh speaking congregations joined the Congregational Union of England and Wales at its foundation in 1832, while the vast majority of Welsh speaking congregations formed their own Union of Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg ) in 1872.

The 1851 Religious Census recorded 700 Independent places of worship.

The following are a selection of chapels of different dates and in various parts of the country.

Tabernacle Morriston, Swansea
To quote Anthony Jones in his book ‘Welsh Chapels’:
‘The Cathedral of Welsh Nonconformity’, the largest, grandest and most expensive chapel built in Wales: Tabernacl Morriston, by the architect and deacon John Humphrey in 1872, at the breathtaking cost of £18,000.


Capel Soar, Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion


Capel Berea, Welsh Independent, Pentre Berw, Isle of Anglesey


Mynydd Seion, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham


Castellau Congregational Church, Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff


Minny Street Welsh Independent Chapel, Cathays, Cardiff


Tabernacle Congregational Chapel, Rhiwderin, Newport

Baptist (3)

An article on Welsh Baptist chapels in the 19th century can be seen on the website of the Addoldai Cymru (Welsh Religious Buildings Trust)

In 1800 there were about 60 Baptist chapels, by 1851 this had risen to 533.
Here are some that were either built or rebuilt in the 19th century.

Providence Baptist Chapel, Howey, Powys


Mount Pleasant, English Baptist Chapel, Ponciau, Wrexham


Queens Road Church, Llandudno, Conwy


Capel Ainon, Penrhyn Bay, Conwy

Ainon Baptist Chapel was built in 1815, rebuilt in 1845 and renovated in 1863.

Bethel Baptist Chapel, New Quay, Ceredigion



Hermon Baptist Chapel, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire


Capel Nebo, Mathry, Pembrokeshire


Bethesda Baptist Chapel, Glanamman, Carmarthenshire - erected in 1843

(The link above gives a detailed history of this chapel)

New Park Street English Baptist Chapel, Newry Street, Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey
(A confusing name and a silver trowel)


The famous Victorian preacher, Rev Charles Haddon Spurgeon, made several visits to Wales in the mid 1800s and preached to thousands of people. These visits were at the request of local Baptist congregations in order to raise money to help with costs of new buildings. He made a number of visits to South Wales and at least two to North Wales.
On September 6th 1860, he came to Holyhead to conduct services and lay the foundation stone for this chapel. Two services were held in a marquee seating 4000 people in a nearby park. The inscribed silver trowel used for this ceremony was presented to Mr Spurgeon. Later, in 1908, the trowel was sent back to the chapel where it is now on display.
The name of the chapel is ‘New Park Street’ which, confusingly, is not where it is situated. It was named after the church in London where Spurgeon was minister in the 1860s.

Horeb Welsh Baptist Chapel, Blaenavon, Torfaen - rebuilt in 1862


Hill Park Baptist Chapel, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire - replacement 1888

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