Horeb, Llwydcoed is an Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in
Llwydcoed
Llwydcoed is a small village and Community (Wales), community north of the Cynon Valley, 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 th ...
, 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 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, 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
Patagonia () is a geographical region that includes parts of Argentina and Chile at the southern end of South America. The region includes the southern section of the Andes mountain chain with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers ...
. 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.
He eventually moved to Gwernllwyn,
Dowlais
Dowlais () is a village and Community (Wales), community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. At the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census the electoral ward had a population of 6,926, The populati ...
.
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