- Nprn: 7205
- Cadw Ref: M122/B/62(9)
- Cadw Record No: 17525
- Summary: Seion Independent Chapel was built in 1775 when the cause was started. In 1803 there was a revival when the cause was substantially strengthened and the chapel was subsequently rebuilt in 1804. From this time until 1840 the minister was Dr Phillips. The congregation continued to increase and by 1835 the chapel was again too small and had to be substantially enlarged, and again in 1859 so that it could 'accommodate as many people again'. In 1840, a student of Dr Thomas Phillips, Mr Thomas Jones was ordanined at seion and took on the ministry.
The present chapel, dated 1859, is built in the Simple Round-Headed style of the long-wall entry type and was renovated in 1889. It has a simple façade with tall round-headed windows, between which is a circular plaque. There are doors to the outer ends, above which are smaller round-headed windows lighting the gallery. Seion is now Grade 2 listed as a well-preserved late Georgian chapel in an attractive village setting.
In 1905 (Royal Commission on the Church of England and other Religious Bodies in Wales and Monmouthshire) there were 350 sittings in the chapel which was valued at £400.
RCAHMW, November 2009 - Description: Cause begun & chapel built 1775; rebuilt 1804, 1835, 1859. Building style is simple round-headed, long-wall entry type. Status (1998): in chapel use.
Chapel in the late-Georgian lateral front tradition.
Simple sidewall façade chapel with tall slim roundheaded windows with dark 'eyebrows' mouldings. Circular plaque between. (Anthony Jones)
CADW Exterior
Roughcast lateral 4-bay front: smooth rendered plinth, raised quoins and voussoirs to round arched openings. Slate roof. Bargeboards and bracketed eaves. Two long arched windows to centre with 14/9 hornless sash windows: radiating upper glazing. Outer bays each with first floor arched window: 8/6 hornless sashes, glazing as above. Slate sills. Matching outer arched doorways, grained doors with three long panels and 6-pane radiating fanlights. Round plaque to centre inscribed: "Capel Sion Cilcennin. Adeiladwyd 1859", smooth rendered voussoirs. Rubble right end with 12-pane hornless sash to first floor, stone voussoirs. Blocked window below. Rubble left end with similar sash. Two long windows as front to painted rubble rear.
CADW Interior
Three sided gallery, probably of 1859 with simple tall rectangular panels, moulded sill and base. Grained plain iron columns, some with boxed-in capitals. Tiered seating to gallery with doors and ramped ends. Large pulpit with central panelled canted part flanked by barley-twist newels. Outer curved short balustrades and balancing staircases: turned balusters and newels, ball-type finials. The inner newels continue as posts, bearing bracketed oil lamps. Round arched plaster surround behind pulpit with consoles. Big Seat with panelled sides and end doors. Box-type Deacon's pews flanking pulpit with doors. Inner lobbies with coloured glass to marginal glazing. C20 ceiling and central rose, also C20 freestanding pine pews. - Refitted: 1859 Source:Cadw
- Renovated: 1889 Source:Cadw
- Built: 1775 Source:Horsfall-Turner
- Built: 1775 Source:Cadw
- Dated: 1859 Source:Welsh Office & MHLG
- Built: 1775 Source:1851 Census
- Built: 1859 Source:Anthony Jones
- Cause Established: c.1770 Source:Cadw
- Cause: 1775 Source:Horsfall-Turner
- Date Of Chapel: 1859 Source:
- Rebuilt: 1859 Source:Plaque
- Rebuilt: 1835 Source:Horsfall-Turner
- Rebuilt?: 1835 Source:Cadw
- Rebuilt: 1804 Source:Evan James
- Enlarged: 1835 Source:Evan James
- Enlarged: 1805 Source:Cadw
- Rebuilt: 1859 Source:Horsfall-Turner
- Enlarged: 1859 Source:Evan James
- Rebuilt: 1804 Source:RCAHMW
- Rennovations: 1889 Source:JO index
- Builder: 1889 Thomas Jones,
- Builder: 1889 Thomas Jones, Dole
- Minister: 1803 Thomas Phillips,
- Minister: 1840 Thomas Jones,
- Minister: 1884 Thomas Johns,
- Minister: 1889 D Cadfwlch Davies,
- Minister: 1898 J T Parry,
- Minister: 1912 Thomas Cenech Davies,
- Minister: 1924 D Jenkins-Jones,
- Minister: 1944 Emlyn Hopkins,
- Minister: 1960 John Stuart Maclaughlan,
- Minister: 1970 Howell Mudd,
- £ 400: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 41: 1851 ()
- 350: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 350: 1903 (Horsfall-Turner)
- Chapel: 28/01/1997 (Site visit)
- Chapel: 2/12/2010 (Denominational website)
- Welsh: ()
- Materials
- Stone
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Storey: Two Storey
- Style: Simple Round-Headed
- Gallery: On Three Sides
- Plan: Long-wall entry
- Pulpit Position: Left Wall
- Window Glazing: Fan Headed
- Windows: Tall 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
2 thoughts on “SEION WELSH INDEPENDENT CHAPEL (ZION;SION), CILCENNIN (ZION; SION)”
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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