Tabernacle, Aberdare was a Congregationalist chapel in Station Street,

Aberdare Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. Services at Tabernacle were held in the English language.

Early history

The origins of the church at Tabernacle can be traced back to 1841 when services were held in the Long Room of the New Inn, Aberdare. Members from both Siloa, Aberdare and

Saron, Aberaman Saron was a Wales, Welsh Independent (Congregational church, Congregationalist) chapel in Davies Street, Aberaman, Wales, formed as an initiative of the David Price, (Welsh Independent minister), David Price of Siloa, Aberdare, soon after the deve ...

were involved in the formation of Tabernacle. The main aim was to provide English language services for this migrants unable to speak or understand Welsh, which was the language of worship at almost all the nonconformist chapels in the locality. The first chapel was built in 1856, designed by B. Owen of Merthyr Tydfil and built at a cost of £823. It had seating for 450 people. The foundation stone was laid on 7 March 1856 by the Hon. Mrs Thompson,

Chepstow Chepstow () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western end of the ...

. In 1857, Tabernacle had 156 members with 136 in the Sunday School. Within three years the building was too small. A new building was therefore built, at a cost of £800. It was designed by W.S. Rampling and built by W. Rees. The chapel was of a primarily Gothic designs, like many English Congregationalist chapels in the Aberdare Valley. The design was said to have been decided by the landowner the Marquis of Bute. The first minister was John Cunnick from 1857 until 1860. Membership was never large and peaked at around 200 in 1923.

Twentieth Century

In 1915, T. Madoc Jeffreys was inducted as minister of Tabernacle. Jeffreys became a prominent figure in the locality and a member of

Glamorgan County Council Glamorgan County Council was established in 1889 together with the administrative county of Glamorganshire under the Local Government Act 1888. The first elections to the council were held in January 1889. The council was abolished under the Loca ...

at the 1919 election. In chapel closed in 1970 and its furnishings distributed among other chapels in the locality. The site was later occupied by Tesco and Wilkinsons stores.

References

Bibliography

External links

* {{coord, 51.712687, -3.441875, display=title Chapels in Rhondda Cynon Taf Aberdare Former churches in Wales Churches completed in 1856 Congregational churches in Wales 1856 establishments in Wales 1970 disestablishments in Wales