Horeb, Llwydcoed is an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in
Llwydcoed
Llwydcoed is a small village and community north of the Cwm Cynon, near the town of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, with a population of 1,302 as of 2011 census.
History
The village initially developed in the Tregibbon area, where in 1801 ...
, Aberdare, Wales.
Early history
Prayer meetings had been held in the Llwydcoed district for many years by members of
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
...
.
Eventually they built a schoolroom which was also used as a British School.
Horeb was founded as a church in 1859 when members transferred from Ebenezer.
They built the chapel at a cost of £800 and it could set 350 people.
When the chapel was opened one of the deacons, Thomas Williams, gave a donation of £20 towards the cost on condition that the congregation collected £80, which they did.
After the opening of the chapel the schoolroom was used as a vestry at the rear of the building
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 Horeb together with the church at Cwmdare.
The ordination was held at Ebenezer, which is equidistant from both Llwydcoed and Cwmdare. He remained until the spring of 1865 when he was one of the leaders of the Welsh colony in
Patagonia. On 21 April 1865 a meeting was held to mark Matthews's departure with a testimonial being presented.
Matthews was succeeded from 1865 until 1871 by Rev W. Thomas who was also minister of
Elim, Cwmdare
Elim, Cwmdare was an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in Cwmdare, 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 to es ...
.
He eventually moved to Gwernllwyn,
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 ...
.
Rev William Samlet Williams, of Bala College, was ordained as minister in August 1871.
He remained as minister for 52 years from 1871 until 1923 and there is a white marble plate in his memory at the church.
Twentieth Century
There were 214 members in 1930.
D.J. Barlow, also a county councillor, was minister from 1936 until 1951.
The chapel remained active into the twenty first century, with a small gathering of members continuing to meet at the vestry.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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Chapels in Rhondda Cynon Taf