- Nprn: 6245
- Cadw Ref: (WO)4/71
- Cadw Record No: 9616
- Summary: Water Street Methodist Chapel was built in 1771 and rebuilt in 1813. The chapel was rebuilt again in 1831 in the Sub-Classical style with a long-wall entry plan. The chapel was then refurbished in 1891 and in 1922, the later by architect J. H. Morgan of Carmarthen, including a new stucco front, new ceiling & substantial organ projection added to the centre of the front façade. The chapel is Grade 2 listed.
RCAHMW, June 2009. - Description: The first chapel was built ca.1760. In 1771 a new chapel was built on an adjacent site and the first converted to a dwelling. The 1771 building was rebuilt in 1813 and again in 1831, the date of much of the remaining fabric, although cast-iron columns inside are reused from the earlier phase and are dated 1813. The style of the rebuild was sub-Classical, the chapel being of the long-wall entry type. The first chapel building was demolished in 1833. The chapel was refurbished in 1891-2 and in 1922, a substantial organ projection was added to the centre of the front facade. Status (1998): in chapel use.
A chapel important in the history of Calvinistic Methodism and for links with Peter Williams (1723-96)
and other early leaders. In 1748 a cause met in St Catherine Street. By 1770-1 a first Capel Tabernacl is known of in Water Street, in 1771 Tabernacl (2) was built behind it, and the first chapel converted to Peter Williams's house; a 3rd chapel was built in 1813 on the site of the second, and in 1833 Tabernacl (1) was demolished; the 3rd chapel was rebuilt in 1891 (Lodwick, Story of Carmarthen (1972)). Status (1997): in chapel use.
Blue plaque on site : On this site lived Peter Williams 1723-1796 Methodist Leader and Publisher. Note
from E Jones, site visit, 03/1997.
EXTERIOR
Chapel, with lateral front in painted stucco with slate gabled roof, moulded eaves and late C19 copper ventilator on ridge. Symmetrical wide 2-storey front with canted central 3-sided projection added in 1922 as organ chamber with hipped slate roof below main eaves. Projection is channelled beneath string course level with door-heads, plain stucco above with string course under bracketed eaves. Large rectangular plaque to first floor centre: Rhyfel 1914-1918 Organ ac Ystafell Goffadwriaethol I''n Milwr a''n Morwyr 1922. To each side are pedimented porches on 2 Tuscan columns with entablature and pediment. Semi-elliptical heads to doorways with traceried fanlights and panelled doors. Channelled rustication to above mid height of façade, with string courses at door-head level and above, the latter broken by lower sides of 2 large arched windows. Two-light late C19 Florentine tracery with roundel in heads, moulded stucco surrounds stepped out at base over painted sills with small corbels, Small keystones above. Plain stucco walling above string course up to eaves with oval plaque each side of central bay. Plaque to left inscribed ''Capel Heol y Dwr Methodistiaid Calfinaidd Adeiladwyd 1771''. Plaque to right, ''Ailadeiladwyd 1813. Atgyweiriwyd 1891''. Monuments attached to front wall from 1830s.
INTERIOR
Large interior with pulpit on front wall. Gallery of 1831, 5-sided with alternating broad and narrow timber panels, supported on iron Corinthian columns, at least one re-used and dated ''1813''. Box pews radiated to mimic gallery pattern and raked up at back and sides. Earlier C19 pulpit of panelled mahogany with a splayed fluted pedestal and concave corners. Two fine flights of curving stairs up. Behind pulpit is very large organ of 1922 with panelled base and large pipe racks in big arched recess with ornate plaster moulding on corbels around arch. Boarded and ribbed ceiling of 1891 with huge plaster rose in rectangular plaster panel, and plaster border. Above entrance doors are small roundels depicting crucifix and dove, probably 1831. Façade windows of 1892 by Farmiloe & Sons with lilies and roses of Sharon and bilingual text. Monuments: Rev. David Charles (d.1834) Grecian with urn finial, by Daniel Wainwaring; John Wyndham Lewis (d 1895), matching the Charles monument, signed by W Davies. - CADW - Renovated: 1891 Source:Pevsner
- Organ Extension Built On Front Faca: 1922 Source:Pevsner
- Built: 1813 Source:Religious Census
- Built: 1771 Source:Datestone
- Tabernacl 1) In Water St.: By 1770 Source:Lodwick
- Built*: c.1760 Source:Pevsner
- Cause Established In Goose Street: 1748 Source:Lodwick
- Tabernacl 1) To House: c.1771 Source:Lodwick
- Date Of Chapel: 1891 Source:Pevsner
- Tabernacl (1) Demolished: 1833 Source:Lodwick
- Memorial Slabs, Fr. Wall: 1837-1838 Source:Welsh Office
- Forecourt Railings, Gates: 1800-1899 Source:Welsh Office
- Rebuilt: 1831 Source:Pevsner
- Rebuilt: 1891 Source:Datestone
- Rebuilt: 1813 Source:Datestone
- Rebuilt(1): 1771 Source:Pevsner
- Tabernacl 2) Blt Beh. (1): 1771 Source:Lodwick
- Rebuilt(2): 1813 Source:Pevsner
- 3rd Chap On Site Tabern 2: 1813 Source:Lodwick
- Rebuilt(3): 1891 Source:Lodwick
- Front Windows: 1892 Source:BOW
- Architect: 1922 John Howard Morgan, Carmarthen
- Occupier: c.1771 Peter Williams,
- £ 7000: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 1200: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- 400: 1905 Accomodation (RCCEORBWM)
- 325: 1851 (Religious Census)
- 685: 1851 (Religious Census)
- Chapel: 03/1997 (Site visit - E Jones)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational Yearbook)
- Welsh: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- Materials
- Rendered
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Style: Sub Classical
- Plan: Long-wall entry
- Window Glazing: Florentine Tracery
- Windows: 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: SN40892014
- Address: WATER STREET, CARMARTHENCARMARTHEN
2 thoughts on “WATER STREET CHAPEL (WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST), CARMARTHEN (WATER STREET, CAPEL HEOL-Y-DWR)”
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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