Llansanffraid chapels

For further details of this project see Cardiganshire Chapels Database

Compiled by Gareth Hicks (April 2007)

Sources

NB.  Not all available data was necessarily used from sources - and sources 1 & 4 have been combined as similar

• 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., byJones, 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.  Death and Burial indexes available for purchase from Cardiganshire Family History Society
• 9. 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)
• Archives Network Wales
• Lewis 1833 on Genuki  (Samuel Lewis's A Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1833 )

Independent

Nebo Welsh Independent chapel, Nebo

• Nebo Welsh Ind chapel, Nebo          SN54646518           Started 1805, chapel built 1808, rebuilt 1835 & 1914.           Records; see Neuaddlwyd, Henfynyw       Still open 1998        (1) & (4)  
• Nebo  Ind        Erected in 1809, rebuilt in 1833         "Chiefly a place of worship but it has been occasionally  employed as a Day school....."          Thomas Jones, Independent Minister   1851  (2)
• Nebo Welsh Ind chapel, Llan-non   Opened 1808   Still open  1992     (7)
• Congregational chapel             Erected in 1805     200 sittings   1910   (5)
• Photograph on Dyfed FHS
•  
• Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here below is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh) copied from the Cd published by Archive CD Books - with translation
•  
• Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)

Siloh / Seilo Welsh Independent chapel. Llanon

• Seilo Welsh Ind chapel, Llanon            SN5162067125         Chapel built 1864      Members; 25 in 1864           Still open 2000      (1) & (4)
• Congregational chapel, Llanon            Erected in 1866              200 sittings          1910  (5)
• Photograph on Dyfed FHS
•  
• Siloh Congregational chapel, Llanon      Brief history note in  Cambrian News, 8 Aug 1958
•  
• Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here below is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh) copied from the Cd published by Archive CD Books- with translation
•  
• Seilo, Llan-non shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)

Methodist

Capel Mawr CM chapel, Stryd-y-Capel, Llanon

• Capel Mawr Welsh CM chapel, Stryd-y-Capel, Llanon                 SN5130666824     Preaching began early 1740s at Morfa Mawr, chapel built in village of Llanon in 1762, rebuilt 1797, 1815, 1844 & enlarged 1865.   Members; 200 in 1843, 195 in 1902                   Records;  1.  births & bapts 1815-37 PRO & in IGI       2. notebook re Sunday school  1896-1904  NLW    3. details of members' contributions 1902-05 etc  NLW               Still open 1998          (1) & (4)
• Llannon    CM       Erected in 1762     Daniel Evans, Secretary     1851  (2)
• Llan-non CM, Llansanffraid     Bapts 1815-37 PRO      (3)
•  
• See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg
•  
• Photograph on Dyfed FHS

• Evans, J;   'Hanes Llanon M. C'   in Hanes Methodistiaid Calfinaidd Rhan Ddeheuol Sir Aberteifi (Evans, John 1850-1917)  t. 135-43

• Hanes Methodistiaeth, rhan ddeheuol Sir Aberteifi : oddechreuad y "Diwvgiad Methodistaidd" yn 1735 hyd 1900 . By John Evans.   Dolgellau , 1904. (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church History in the southern part of Cardiganshire from 1735 to 1900) This book contains an entry for each CM chapel in existence in South Cardiganshire at the end of 1900, including this one. It includes a history of preaching in the area before the chapel was built, lists deacons, ministers etc, and contains a wealth of genealogical information.

Hafod Ysgoldy CM, Cwm-Peris

• Photograph on Dyfed FHS

Nebo Independent chapel

Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+).
Here is the entry from this book for this chapel

(Vol 4, p 116)

"Mae y capel hwn yn mhlwyf Llansantffraid, a thua thair milldir yn nes i Aberystwyth na Chílcenin. Yr oedd yn yr ardal hon lawer o anedd-dai wedi cael eu hadeiladu ar y mynydd-dir (common). Yn mysg eraill yr oedd un David Jenkin wedi adeiladu ty yma, ac yr oedd yn dafarn, ar ochr y ffordd sydd yn arwain o Lanbedr i Aberystwyth. Yr oedd gwraig David Jenkin yn aelod yn Nghilcenin, ac elai yno i'r moddion mor fynych ag y gallai. Tua'r flwyddyn 1805, gwahoddodd bregethwyr i gynal cyfarfodydd yn achlysurol yn ei thy. Cydsyniodd ei gwr a hyny. O hyny allan byddai Dr. Phillips yn pregethu yno unwaith yn y mis am chwech o'r gloch nos Sabboth. Byddai amryw bregethwyr eraill yn pregethu yma yn fynych wrth fyned a dyfod o'r Deheudir i'r Gogledd. Yn fuan lluosogodd y gwrandawyr fel na chynwysai y ty hwynt, a byddid fynychaf ar nos Sabbothau teg yn pregethu allan yn yr awyr agored. Cyn hir ymunodd amryw o'r ardalwyr yn y gymdeithas grefyddol, ac yn mysg eraill David Jenkin, a bu yn aelod hardd a defnyddiol yma hyd ei farwolaeth. Erbyn hyn yr oedd galwad am addoldy. Ymroddwyd at y gwaith o adeiladu, ac yn fuan gorphenwyd yma gapel bychan a chyfleus ar y common. Agorwyd ef yn amser y Pasg, 1808, pryd y pregethwyd gan Meistri B. Evans, Drewen; P. Maurice, Ebenezer; M. Jones, Trelech, ac eraill. Bu cyfarfodydd yr agoriad dan arddeliad nodedig. Dechreuodd yma ddiwygiad crefyddol y pryd hwnw, trwy yr hwn y dygwyd llawer o'r ardalwyr at grefydd. Yn mhen ychydig amser ar ol hyn pasiwyd deddf seneddol i werthu amryw diroedd annghwrteithiedig yn Nghymru, ac yn mysg eraill, y tir cyffredin yn yr ardal hon. Aeth Dr. Phillips at y rhai a awdurdodesid gan y llywodraeth i werthu y tir hwn, a phrynodd y tir yr oedd y capel arno, a digon o dir oddiamgylch íddo at fynwent. Wedi hyn efe a drosglwyddodd y tir a'r addoldy i ymddiriedolwyr am fil ond un o flynyddau, am swllt yn y flwyddyn o ardreth. Ailadeiladwyd y capel, yn fwy na chymaint arall na'r un cyntaf, yn 1835. Bu yr eglwys hon o'i dechreuad hyd 1840 dan weinidogaeth Dr. Phillips a'i gydweinidog Mr. Evans. Yn y fwyddyn hono rhoddasant hwy ofal y lle i fyny, ac urddwyd Mr. Thomas Jones, o athrofa y Neuaddlwyd, i fod yn weinidog yma ac yn Nghilcenin. Bu yr eglwys hon dan ofal Mr. Jones hyd 1869, pryd, oherwydd helaethrwydd maes ei lafur, a bod achos newydd wedi ei gychwyn yn Llanon, yr hwn oedd yn gyfleus i'w gysylltu a Nebo at gynal gweinidog, efe a roddodd ofal y lle i fyny. Yn y flwyddyn hono, unodd yr eglwys hon a Llanon i roddi galwad i Mr. R. Rowlands, Ceidio, sir Gaernarfon. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Tachwedd, 1869, a chynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd ei sefydliad yma ac yn Llanon yn mis Mawrth, 1870, pryd y pregethodd Meistri T. Selby Jones, Drewen; D. Davies, Llanbedr ; J. Williams, Hawen ; H. T. Parry, Abersoch ; R. Thomas, Penrhiwgaled ; O. Thomas, Brynmair ; H. P. Jones, Hebron ; Dr. Phillips, Henffordd, a B. Rees, Llanbadarn. Y mae Mr. Rowlands yn parhau i lafurio yma ac yn Llanon yn dderbyniol a llwyddianus, ac felly y byddo am flynyddau lawer etto.

Codwyd y personau canlynol i bregethu yn yr eglwys hon : -

• Darid Griffiths. Ganwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1791, mewn lle a elwir Pantypetris, yn agos i'r Paunant, yn mhlwyf Llanbadarn-tref-eglwys. Yn fuan ar ol dechreu pregethu aeth i athrofa y Neuaddlwyd. Ar derfyniad ei amser yno, derbyniodd alwad oddiwrth yr eglwys yn Nghydwely, sir Gaerfyrddin, ond cyn iddo allu myned yno, clafychodd a bu farw.
• David Phillips, Bu yn weinidog yr eglwys Saesonig yn Aberteifi.
• Stephen Jones. Urddwyd ef yn y Drewen. Y mae er's blynyddau lawer bellach yn byw yn Erwood, Brycheiniog. Nid oes ganddo ofal eglwysig, ond y mae yn pregethu yn fynych mewn gwahanol fanau.
• Timothy Jones. Brawd Stephen Jones. Wedi bod yma am flynyddau yn bregethwr cynorthwyol, ymfudodd i'r America, lle yr urddwyd ef. Mae yn awr yn weinidog yn Delafield, Wisconsin.
• David M. Richards. Mae efe yn fab i Mr. Evan Richards, un o swyddogion yr eglwys. Yn ddiweddar y dechreuodd bregethu. Bwriada fyned i ryw athrofa. "

 Translation by Maureen Saycell (Jan 2008)

"This Chapel is in the parish of Llansanffraid, and is about three miles closer to Aberystwyth than Cilcenin. This area had many dwellings which had been built on the mountain side/common land. Among others there was one David Jenkin who had built here and it was a public house on the side of the road leading from Lampeter to Aberystwyth. David's wife was a member of Cilcenin and attended services as frequently as possible. Around 1805 she invited  a minister to preach in their home, with her husband's consent. From then on Dr Phillips preached there once a month at six o'clock on a Sunday at their house. There were many other Ministers who preached here frequently on their comings and goings from south to north. Soon those attending increased to a point that the house was no longer large enough and in good weather they preached in the open air. Soon many of the local population joined in the religious society, among others David Jenkin, and he was a good and faithful member until his death. By now there was a call for a place of worship. Work was undertaken to build and soon a small chapel was completed, conveniently on the common. It was opened for Easter,1808 when sermons were given by Messrs B. Evans, Drewen; P. Maurice, Ebenezer; M. Jones, Trelech and others, The opening services were notable, and there began a religious reformation at this time, which led to a large number of the local people being drawn towards religion. Within a short time an Act of Parliament was passed to sell many unenclosed areas of land in Wales and, among others, the common in this neighbourhood. Dr Phillips went to consult with those authorised to sell this land and bought the land the chapel was built upon along with enough of the surrounding land for a burial ground. After this he transferred the land and the chapel to trustees for nine hundred and ninety nine years, at a cost of one shilling per year. In 1835 the chapel was rebuilt much larger than the first one. This church was from the beginning until 1840 under the combined ministry of Dr Phillips and his colleague Mr Evans. In that year they gave up their ministry and Mr Thomas Jones was ordained, from Neuaddlwyd college, to be the minister here in and in Cilcennin. The church was under the care of Mr Jones until 1869, when, because of the large area he was ministering to, and that a new cause had opened in Llannon, which was more convenient to establish a joint ministry, he gave up the care of this place. In that year, this church joined with Llannon to issue a call to Mr R. Rowlands, Ceidio, Caernarfonshire. He began his ministry here in November, 1869, and his induction services were held here and in Llannon in March, 1870. Sermons were given by Messrs T. Selby Jones, Drewen; D. Davies, Llanbedr ; J. Wìlliams, Hawen ; H. T. Parry, Abersoch ; R. Thomas, Penrhiwgaled ; O. Thomas, Brynmair ; H. P. Jones, Hebron ; Dr. Phillips, Henffordd, and B. Rees, Llanbadarn.  Mr Rowlands continues to serve here and in Llannon very successfully and acceptably, and hopefully will continue for many years to come.

The following persons from this church became ministers:-

•  Darid Griffiths. He was born in 1791 in a place called Pantpetris, near Paunant, in the parish of Llanbadarn Trefeglwys. Soon after he began to preach he went to Neuaddlwyd College. After completing his time there he accepted a call from the church in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire but before he got there he was taken ill and died.
•  David Phillips, he became the minister to the English church in Cardigan.
• Stephen Jones. He was ordained in Drewen. He has, for many years now, lived in Erwood, Breconshire. He does not have pastoral care, but preaches regularly in various places.
• Timothy Jones. Stephen Jones' brother. After being here for many years as a supporting preacher he emigrated to America where he was ordained. He is now a minister in Delafield, Wisconsin.
•  David M. Richards. He is the son of Mr Evan Richards, one of the officers of the church. He has only recently started to preach. He intends to go to a college."

Siloh Independent chapel

Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+).
Here is the entry from this book for this chapel

(Vol 4, p 117-118)

"Pentref lled boblog yw y lle hwn, tua phum' milldir o Aberaeron ar y ffordd i Aberystwyth. Yr oedd amryw o aelodau eglwysi Annibynol yn byw yma, a rhai o honynt wedi myned i gymundeb achlysurol gydag enwadau eraill, am nad oedd eglwys o'u henwad eu hunain yn gyfleus iddynt. Trwy gydymdrech Mr. Evans, Aberaeron, a Mr. Jones, Cilcenin, mewn cysylltiad a chyfeillion yn yr ardal, adeiladwyd yma gapel Annibynol hardd, mewn man cyfleus, yn y flwyddyn 1864.

Mesura y capel o fewn y muriau 42 troedfedd wrth 33. Y mae oriel hefyd yn y naill ben iddo. Yn fuan wedi adeiladu y capel, ffurfiwyd yma eglwys. Pump-ar-hugain oedd rhif yr aelodau yn y cymundeb cyntaf. Yn mis Mai, 1865, cynaliwyd, cyfarfodydd i agoryd y capel, pryd y pregethodd Meistri R. Thomas, Bangor; T. Davies, Llandeilo; T. Thomas, Glandwr, ac eraill. Costiodd yr addoldy chwe' chant o bunau, a thrwy ymdrech gweinidogion ac eglwysi y sir, talwyd pum' cant o'r ddyled erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1865. Hyderir y bydd yr ychydig weddill o ddyled sydd yn aros wedi ei dalu yn fuan. Yn y flwyddyn 1869, fel y nodasom yn hanes Nebo, rhoddodd yr eglwys hon ei hun, mewn cysylltiad a'r eglwys hono, dan ofal gweinidogaethol Mr. R. Rowlands, y gweinidog presenol. Mae yr eglwys hon wedi cynyddu gryn lawer oddiar ei ffurfiad yn niwedd 1864, ac ennill nerth yn raddol y mae yr achos. Yn ol yr argoelion presenol bydd yma eglwys cref yn mhen ychydig o flynyddau. Dan ofal Mr. Evans, Aberaeron, a Mr. Jones, Cilcenin, yn benaf yr oedd yr achos hwn oddiar ei gychwyniad hyd sefydliad Mr. Rowlands yma."

Translation by Maureen Saycell (Jan 2008)

"This is a well populated place, about five miles from Aberaeron on the road to Aberystwyth. There were many members of the Independent Church living here, some of them going to Holy Communion with other denominations because there was not a convenient church of their own denomination. Through the cooperation of Mr Evans, Aberaeron and Mr Jones, Cilcennin in association with friends in the area, a beautiful Independent Chapel was built, in a convenient position, in1864.

The interior measurement of the Chapel is 42 by 33 feet. There is a gallery at either end. Soon after the Chapel was built, a church was established. There were twenty five members at the first Communion. In May, 1865 meetings were held to open the chapel, sermons were given by Messrs R. Thomas, Bangor; T. Davies, Llandeilo; T. Thomas, Glandwr and others. The Chapel cost six hundred pounds and through the efforts of Ministers and churches within the county, five hundred pounds of the debt had been repaid by the end of 1865. It is hoped that the small amount remaining will soon be cleared. In 1869, as noted in the history of Nebo Chapel, this church put itself, along with that church, under the Ministry of Mr R. Rowlands, the current Minister. This church has grown considerably since it's formation in late 1864, and the cause continues to gain in strength. On the current trend of this Church will be very strong within a few years. This chapel was mainly under the care of Mr Evans, Aberaeron and Mr Jones, Cilcennin until the induction of Mr Rowlands."

[Gareth Hicks: 16 Oct 2011]