Bethel Baptist Chapel, Llanelli

Bethel Baptist Chapel, Llanelli
Bethel Baptist Chapel, Llanelli
	51°40′24″N4°09′54″W / 51.6732°N 4.1650°W Coordinates: 51°40′24″N4°09′54″W / 51.6732°N 4.1650°W
OS grid reference	SS503993
Location	Copperworks Road, Llanelli
Country	Wales
Denomination	Baptist
History
Founded	1840
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	3 December 1992
Architectural type	Chapel
Style	Italianate classical style

Last updated April 20, 2019

Bethel Baptist Chapel is a Baptist chapel in the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was built in 1840 and is located on Copperworks Road. It had a larger seating capacity than most Llanelli chapels and in 1905 could seat 850 persons.

Baptists are Christians distinguished by baptizing professing believers only, and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the tenets of soul competency/liberty, salvation through faith alone, scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local congregation. Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's supper.

Llanelli is the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. Located on the Loughor estuary, approximately 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Swansea and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the county town, Carmarthen, Llanelli is famous for its proud rugby tradition and for being a centre of tinplate production.

Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in southwest Wales, and one of the historic counties of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre.

The chapel

Bethel Baptist Chapel was the first of a series of Baptist churches erected in Llanelli in the mid nineteenth century. This was a time when Llanelli became a significant regional producer of tinplate and steel and the population was growing strongly. The chapel has a large stuccoed temple-like facade with giant pilasters and a porch with columns and a balustrade. The windows had Florentine tracery. The pulpit was very ornate and had a pedimented back, and the gallery fronts were clad in cast iron panels.^[1] The chapel has a larger seating capacity compared to other Llanelli chapels, being able to seat 850 persons in 1905, and the Sunday School was also large, catering for 300 children. A house for the caretaker adjoins the chapel.^[2]

The chapel was designated as a Grade II listed building on 3 December 1992, the reason for listing being that it is a fine example of a chapel building of its type and is of particularly striking group value with Siloah Chapel, in Glanmor Road some 70 metres (230 ft) away. The listing includes the adjoining former schoolroom, and the iron railings and two pairs of gates that face onto the street.^[3] The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales curates the archaeological, architectural and historic records for this chapel. These include a number of digital photographs and three Chapels Photographic Societies Collections.^[2]

A listed building, or listed structure, is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland.

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, established in 1908, is a Welsh Government sponsored body concerned with the archaeological, architectural and historic environment of Wales. It is based in Aberystwyth.

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References

↑ Thomas Lloyd; Julian Orbach; Robert Scourfield (2006). Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Yale University Press. p. 279. ISBN 0-300-10179-1.
1 2 "St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
↑ "Bethel Baptist Chapel & Schoolroom, including Gates & Railings to Entrance, Marine Street, Llanelli". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

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[LloydOrbach2006-1] Thomas Lloyd; Julian Orbach; Robert Scourfield (2006). Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Yale University Press. p. 279. ISBN 0-300-10179-1.

[Coflein-2] 1 2 "St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

[3] "Bethel Baptist Chapel & Schoolroom, including Gates & Railings to Entrance, Marine Street, Llanelli". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 16 April 2016.