Elim, Cwmdare was an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in

Cwmdare Cwmdare ( cy, Cwmdâr) is a village very close to Aberdare, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The village's history is intertwined with coal-mining, and since the decline of the industry in the 1980s, it has become primarily a commuter base for the lar ...

, Aberdare, Wales.

Early history

The church was established as a direct result of the Religious Revival of 1859, when fifty members were released from

Ebenezer, Trecynon Ebenezer, Trecynon was an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in Ebenezer Street, Trecynon, Aberdare, Wales. It was one of the earliest Independent chapels in the Cynon Valley and remained an active place of worship until 2009. Early history ...

to establish a new church in the mining village of Cwmdare. Originally, meetings were held in a vestry but in August 1867 a new chapel was opened, when services were addressed by a number of ministers including David Price of Siloa, Aberdare. £200 was raised towards the cost which was recognised as a significant achievement given that all members of the church were workmen. The mother church at Ebenezer was also recognised as giving significant support to Elim. The first minister was

Abraham Matthews Abraham Matthews (November 1832- 1 April 1899) was a Welsh Independent (Congregationalist) minister and one of the founders of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia. Early life He was born at Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, in November 1832. His parent ...

, who came from Bala College to minister at Elim together with

Horeb, Llwydcoed Horeb, Llwydcoed is an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in Llwydcoed, Aberdare, Wales. Early history Prayer meetings had been held in the Llwydcoed district for many years by members of Ebenezer, Trecynon. Eventually they built a schoolroom ...

. David Griffiths, a student from Brecon College, was inaugurated as minister at Elim in June 1869. He was a native of Llanarth, Cardiganshire and had migrated to

Dowlais Dowlais () is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. At the 2011 census the electoral ward had a population of 6,926, The population of the Community being 4,270 at the 2011 census having excluded Pant. Dowlai ...

when around twenty years of age having previously worked as a farm labourer. Griffiths was urged to commence preaching by the minister at Bethania, Dowlais. Griffiths served for a time as a member of the

Aberdare School Board The Aberdare School Board was formed in 1871 and consisted of thirteen members elected for a period of three years. It was abolished, along with other School Boards in 1902 and its responsibilities transferred to Glamorgan County Council. In the m ...

. He remained at Elim until his death.

Twentieth Century

In 1903, the chapel was rebuilt. A memorial stone was laid on 11 August 1902 by

Rees Llewellyn Rees Llewellyn (20 June 1851 – 21 August 1919) was an industrialist and public figure in Aberdare, South Wales and a prominent figure in the industrial history of the South Wales Coalfield. He was the son of David Llewellyn, Parc Isaf, Treorchy, ...

of Bwllfa House, Cwmdare and J.W. Evans of Hirwaun. In February 1906, David Griffiths died at the age of 65 having spent 37 years as minister of Elim. David Owen Davies was minister from 1961 until his retirement in 1981. He died in 1989. The chapel eventually closed in 1998.

References

Bibliography

External links

* {{Use dmy dates, date=October 2017 Chapels in Rhondda Cynon Taf