- Nprn: 6450
- Summary: Trinity Chapel was built in 1858 and rebuilt in 1867 by architect Thomas Thomas of Landore. The chapel was refronted in 1918 then modified again in 1926. The present building, dated 1867, is in Gothic style and of the gable entry type.
RCAHMW, June 2009 - Description: Trinity Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, 1858, re-fronted 1926.
The sides, rear and interior of this chapel form a late example of a `hipped-box' design (probably by the architect-minister Thomas Thomas) which was a common early nineteenth-century type with a high pyramidal roof over a square or broad rectangular plan. It represents an intermediate design built between earlier rural `long-wall' chapels and the more elaborate `show-front' urban and rural designs but Thomas commonly used it as it allowed the chapel to have a front profile that was mor sophisticated than the usual great-shed outline. The often later `show-fronts' had narrow but expensive facades built towards the street by confident and wealthier congregations after the great 1859 revival. However the Trinity congregation, along with many others, attempted to catch-up with fashion by having an elaborate front added to the earlier chapel with a central gabled bay, flanked by staircase wings which were also gabled to the sides, all with large traceried gothic windows. The modest Georgian-style sash windows of the earlier chapel were retained but on the upper tier had gothic heads added above the simple sashes. William Griffiths was the local architect who added the one-bay deep fully `church-gothic' facade which at this date had become acceptable to confident Welsh non-conformists, now themselves part of the establishment. The perpendicular tracery of the large elaborate window over the central street entrance represents the one exclusively British type of gothic, perhaps appropriately patriotic after the Great War (the date of the chapel front may be before 1926), and the grey ceramic dressings and tracery are typical of the period. At the time of the 1905 religious census this had a seating capacity of 768 and its adjoining schoolroom had 575 which was the third largest nonconformist Sunday School capacity in Llanelli and it had a `chapel house' for a caretaker.
Entry by 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.
Chapel built 1858 & rebuilt 1867(?). Rebuilt /modified 1926. Present building is in Gothic style, gable entry type. Status (2000): in chapel use. Date of present building 1867 except for the main front which dates from 1926.
Amended Stephen R. Hughes, 29.08.2007 Front elevation re-plastered in 1998 and stained- glass windows protected. Interior walls to be replastered next year [1999]. Notable features: cinema type "tip up" seating; fine organ renovated at a cost of œ15,000 (information of 06/07/1998 from Mr Gareth Watts and Mr Gwyn Morgans). - Built: 1858 Source:
- Date Of Chapel: 1867 Source:
- Rebuilt: 1867 Source:
- Modified: 1926 Source:Watts, Gareth
- Refronted: 1918 Source:BOW
- Architect: 1918 William Griffiths, Llanelli
- Architect: 1858 Thomas Thomas, Landore
- Architect(2): 1867 Thomas Thomas, Landore
- £ 4000: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 575: 1905 Accomodation (RCCEORBWM)
- 768: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- Chapel: 2000 (Blwyddiadur)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational Yearbook)
- Welsh: 06/07/1998 (Site visit - Gareth Watts)
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Style: Gothic
- Gallery: On three sides
- Plan: Gable Entry
- Pulpit Position: Rear wall
- Windows: Tall Gothic
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: SS50859930
- Address: NEW DOCK ROAD, LLANELLILLANELLI
2 thoughts on “Trinity Chapel (calvinistic Methodist), New Dock Road, Llanelli”
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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