- Nprn: 6004
- Cadw Ref: (WO)5/268
- Cadw Record No: 7083
- Summary: Watergate English Baptist Church was first built in 1806 and rebuilt in 1833, possibly to the design of Reverend. William Lewis of Aberdare. Further rebuilding took place in 1880, together with a new vestry and schoolroom. The church is built in the Sub-Classical style, gable entry type, occupying a town centre position by the River Honddu.
RCAHMW, 15 May 2009. - Description: First chapel built in 1806; rebuilt in 1833 possibly to the design of The Rev. William Lewis, Aberdare; further rebuilding of 1880, together with a new vestry and schoolroom. Built in the Sub-Classical style, gable entry type. See Site Files [Ecclesiastical] for photos. Present status [2001] : chapel.
Chapel is Grade II Cadw Listed Building ref. no. 55/268.
The forecourt, walls, piers, gates and railings of the chapel form Cadw Grade II Listing ref.no. 5/268a.
Before 1805 the site was a Catholic Chapel & Presbytery, probably on the site of the house of the Thomas sisters (M R Lewis, From darkness to light: the Catholics of Breconshire, 1536-1851 (1992)); ca. 31/07/1805, it was sold to the Particular Baptists, who opened? The Watergate chapel on 01/01/1806 (BCS/BGC). This was rebuilt in 1833 (1851 Religious census), possibly to the design of The Rev. William Lewis, Aberdare (BCS/BGC) & re-opened? On 01/01/1834 (BCS/BGC); further rebuilding of 1880, together with a new vestry and schoolroom (W S K Thomas, Georgian & Victorian Brecon (1993)). Welsh services, post-1824.
Early classical style chapel, rectangular form, occupying town position at confluence of Rivers Honddu and Usk.
Built 1806. Regular dressed stonework with quoins on S & W facades. Plain local stone E & S walls.
Vestry & Schoolroom (PRN 19829) - S annex - brick, rendered.
Slate gable roofed chapel & annex.
Main façade - W gable end. Dressed stone over pebble dash. Three tiers - pediment, 1st floor, entrance door with datestone above.
Large triangular pediment with central globular finial. Balustrading to either side. Central circular floral motif in tympanum.
Pair of semi-circular entrance doors in single entrance doorway, set in dressed stone arch with semi-circular head. Band of decorated incised stonework forming concave zig-zag pattern.
Two long rectangular round headed 12-paned windows with margin lights to either side of doorway.
Single smaller central window above doorway, 6-paned with margin lights.
N elevation - boundary wall with River Honddu. Two rectangular six paned fixed sashes ground floor, smaller six paned above.
E wall - gable end. Two longitudinal round headed windows, 12-pane with margin lights facing modern car park.
S wall - vestry annex. Chimney on gable end. Two 6-paned fixed sashes chapel body. 6-paned sash schoolroom E wall. Two 6-pand sashes gable end.
Vestry and schoolroom appear to have had an annex on their east wall at some time.
Kitchen and toilet extensions on W wall of Vestry/schoolroom - later addition. Entrance via side door, front path.
Interior. Entrance door leads into gable end hallway, stone floor, linoleum covered. Stairways lead up to gallery from either side of hallway. Single rectangular window, 4 large panes with margin lights from hallway to chapel. Two doors lead in to L & R of chapel body.
Chapel interior - plastered walls above dado panelling.
Curved plastered ceiling rises to central t & g panel, having alternating circular & diamond patterned panels. Panels framed by timber ribs.
Carpet over wooden floor.
Open bench pews, numbered with ceramic plates. Estimated seating capacity 350.
Sedd fawr removed c.20yrs ago to make more room. Long front bench seat remains.
Two sets of stairs lead up either side to large rectangular pulpit, placed in front of rear longitudinal window opposite entrance doors. Carved wood panelling ressembles balusters on stairs. Two former brass light fittings remain on pulpit. Fixed lectern.
Free standing organ to right of pulpit. Longitudinal choir pews.
Internal baptistry - in front of long bench. Water tapped from River Honddu.
Gallery supported by six slim classical cast iron columns. U-shaped gallery attached to three walls. Wood panelled front with highly decorative open wrought iron panels within wooden panels. Five wrought iron square panels within five wooden rectangular panels to each side of gallery. Central panel has integral clock, Roman numerals, manufactured in Brecon.
Raked bench pews in gallery.
Northern staircase and N side of gallery unsafe.
Vestry annex with schoolroom above. Original building, S of chapel body. Rooms both plastered above dado panelling. T & g floors. Cast iron fire grates now blocked up. Fixed benches around walls.
Schoolroom ceiling - T & g panelling in roof with two tie beam trusses with support braces visible. Raised stage to S end of room. Small store room of to west.
Stone wall, gated entrance from Watergate. Single path with borders leads up to chapel front door. Chapel walls form boundary on N, S & E sides. - Built: 1806 Source:Plaque
- Built: c.1806 Source:Welsh Office
- Built: 1819 Source:RCCEORBWM
- Built: 1806 Source:Lewis, Michael R.
- Built: 1806 Source:1851 Relig. census
- Catholic Mass House: Pre 1805 Source:Lewis, Michael R.
- Sold: Particular Baptists: 31/07/1805 Source:Lewis, Michael R.
- Welsh Services: Post 1824 Source:Thomas, W S K
- Welsh & English Services: 1817-1824 Source:Thomas, W S K
- English Services: 2001 Source:Llawlyfr Und Bedyddw
- Rebuild: 1834 Source:
- Rebuilt: c.1880 Source:Welsh Office
- Rebuilt: 1833 Source:1851 Relig. census
- Rebuilt: 1880 Source:RCCEORBWM
- Date Of Chapel: 1880 Source:NLW Freer Collection
- Surveyor: 1834 William Lewis, Aberdare
- £ 2500: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 260: 1851 Sittings (Religious census)
- 278: 1851 Sittings (Religious census)
- 400: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- Chapel: 1998 (Llawlyfr)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational website)
- English: 1998 (Llawlyfr)
- Materials
- Rendered
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Storey: Two Storey
- Style: Sub Classical
- Gallery: On Three Sides
- Plan: Gable Entry
- Pulpit Position: Rear Wall
- Window Glazing: Round Headed
Key Details of this Chapel
Key Dates of this Chapel
Key People in this Chapel History
Costs during this Chapels History
Capacities during this Chapels History
Changes of Status its History
The Languages of the Chapel during its History
Key Characteristics of this Chapel
Images from Coflein
Map
- Grid Reference: SO04332867
- Address: WATERGATE, BRECONBRECON
2 thoughts on “WATERGATE ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH, BRECON (CATHOLIC CHAPEL & PRESBYTERY)”
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Hello
My great great grandparents were married in Kinnerton Chapel in Old Radnor on 21st May1850. I have been searching for information on the Chapel, so was pleased to find this website. I have now located it on Google Street View – looks like someone is ‘doing it up’ to live in: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2612635,-3.1095337,3a,90y,232.95h,84.26t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1s-8DWPORkq2RFVNXBLde_-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i53?hl=en-GB
The marriage record of my ancestors Abraham Bounds and Elizabeth Williams is attached. I hope it is of interest.
All the best
Saira
Dear Sara
Thank you for the information. I am glad to hear that it was some help to you.
Good luck on your continued search
Christine