- Nprn: 6438
- Cadw Ref: 24/A/73(2)
- Cadw Record No: 11958
- Summary: Moriah Baptist Chapel was built in 1872 to the design of builder John Powell of Llanelli. The chapel is built in the Sub-Classical style of the gable-entry type and is now Grade 2 listed.
RCAHMW, June 2009
Moriah Baptist Chapel, 1871-72
A simple but elegant design typical of the post-1859 revival building boom, and the work of local builder/architects, in this case almost certainly the contractor John Powell. This is an economical version of the three-bay classical/Italianate show-front design so typical of the 1860s and early 1870s but without the attached columns or pilasters seen eleven years previously on the more elaborate Greenfield Chapel of the same denomination, here the three bays are simply defined by the prominent windows. The tall side windows light the gallery staircases and this is why most nonconformist chapels of this period (as opposed to churches) have two doorways on their main front: to ease the flow of large congregations into twin stairs and ground-floor aisles. The wide central upper window has a typical Victorian triple-arched form of Venetian or Palladian Window originating as the Serliana of the Italian Renaissance. The large oval name and date plaque set centrally in the classical pediment is a distinctively simple and elegant design typical of the large elaborate chapels of Llanelli. As with many Welsh chapels on sloping sites this has the large Sunday-School occupying the basement under the whole chapel rather than a second separately roofed building having to be constructed. The seated capacity of 900 made it the second largest Baptist Chapel in Llanelli in 1905, with the Schoolroom housing 500 and the congregation owning both a caretaker's house and also a manse for the Minister.
Stephen R. Hughes, RCAHMW, 06.09.2007 - Description: Church formed 1872 & built 1870-2; rebuilt/modified 1891. Present building style is sub-classical, gable entry type, possibly to the design of contractor John Powell of Llanelli, killed during its construction. Status (1998): in chapel use. Date of present building 1882.
Apparently designed by John Powell, builder of Llanelli (information from Cadw list description).
In good condition. No problems. When this chapel was opened, the account in the local newspaper described Moreia as the most ornate building [internally] in town. The Church has spent œ40,000 on the pipe organ (information of 20/07/1998 from Mr Gareth Watts).
Stephen R. Hughes 06.09.2007 using the following main sources: the Capel Newsletter 34 (Autumn 1999), Capel Local Information Sheet 16 on Llanelli; T. Lloyd, J. Orbach & R. Scourfield, The Buildings of Wales, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion (Yale, New Haven & The Buildings of Wales) 2006 & chapels on The Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales database at www.coflein.gov.uk & Royal Commission on the Church of England and other Religious Bodies in Wales and Monmouthshire, Volume VI, Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence Nonconformist County Statistics 1911, Carmarthenshire (collected 1905), (London, HMSO) 1911, p.82 & Stephen Hughes, 'Thomas Thomas, 1817-88: the first national architect of Wales', Archaeologia Cambrensis 152 (2003), pp. 69-166. - Built: 1870-1872 Source:Cadw
- Built: 1870 Source:Orbach, Julian
- Dated Externally: 1872 Source:Watts, G. (plaque)
- Church Formed: 1872 Source:Llawlyfr 1998
- Date Of Chapel: 1872 Source:
- Organ: 1913 Source:BOW
- Modified: 1891 Source:
- Contractor: 1870-1872 John Powell, Llanelli
- Contractor: 1870 John Powell, Llanelli
- £ 4600: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 900: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- 500: 1905 Accomodation (RCCEORBWM)
- Chapel: 1998 (Llawlyfr)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational website)
- Welsh: 1998 (Llawlyfr)
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Style: Sub Classical
- Gallery: On four sides
- Plan: Gable Entry
- Pulpit Position: Rear wall
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: SN50490019
- Address: STATION ROAD, LLANELLILLANELLI
2 thoughts on “MOREIA WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH (MORIAH), STATION ROAD, LLANELLI (MORIAH)”
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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