Llanwenarth Baptist Chapel, Govilon, Monmouthshire is the oldest

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...

in Wales. Founded in 1652, the present building was constructed in 1695, and was remodelled in the 18th, 19th and 21st centuries. The chapel is a

Grade II* listed building In the United Kingdom, 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, in Wales, and the Northern Ir ...

and remains an active Baptist chapel.

History

The origins of the chapel date from 1652 when John Miles, a former Ironside soldier began a preaching tour of the Usk Valley. In response a Baptist fellowship was formed in Abergavenny. Following a lessening of persecution after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the fellowship purchased land at Govilon and established their first meeting house there in 1695. In the 18th century the building was significantly expanded, and another rebuilding took place in 1869-70. Further extensions and reconstructions took place in the 20th and 21st centuries. The chapel retains an active Baptist fellowship.

Architecture and description

The Chapel is rendered in white on three sides, with a slate facing to the fourth and a slate roof. Two large, round-headed, sash windows are set in the North side. Internally, the building largely retains "its C18 interior with (a) gallery to three sides and box pews". The graveyard has a "good collection of Georgian and Victorian tombstones".

Notes

References

* {{Cite book , last=Newman, first=John , authorlink=John Newman (architectural historian) , series=The Buildings of Wales , title=Gwent/Monmouthshire , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=knRf4U60QjcC&dq=The+Buildings+of+Wales%3A+Gwent%2FMonmouthshire&pg=PA2 , year=2000 , publisher=Penguin , location=London , isbn=0-14-071053-1 Grade II* listed churches in Monmouthshire History of Monmouthshire Baptist churches in Wales Chapels in Monmouthshire