- Nprn: 8746
- Summary: Benllech's Congregation, or cause, was established in 1900 and the chapel built at that time. This chapel is built in the Arts & Crafts Style, with perpendicular Gothic windows typical of that date, and a long-wall entry plan. Benllech was designed by architect Richard Davies of Bangor (G.Jones,'Capeli Mon', p.45). There is a fairly simple platform pulpit at one end of the building and a series of arched ribs supporting a plain ceiling flat above the centre of the ribs.
RCAHMW, February 2010 - Description: Cause established 1900 & chapel probably built then (date of 1900 in N. gable). Built in the Simple Gothic style, long-wall entry type. Status (1999): in chapel use.
Single storey cruciform Calvinistic Methodist chapel in a 16th century style. Slate pitched roof with hipped roof over school room east of cross wing. Modern flat roofed addition on south wall of school room.
All elevations rendered and pebble-dashed with stressed limestone quoins, low plinth of snecked rubble at base of walls. Stone mullioned windows with leaded lights. Gable ends on north-south cross wing and west end projecting flat topped cement coping to pebble cobbles set above string course. Date set into cobbles in north gable, 1900 - difficult to make out. Ends of gables supported on kneelers. Cone topped ball finials on gables and apex of hip.
North elevation has jutting porch with mock timber framed gable above frieze of cement pilaster strips, above a projecting battered plinth of rusticated snecked rubble, continues to sides. 6 paned wooden mullion and transom window, fixed lights. Panelled T&G double door east side of porch. Right of porch is window with 2 stone mullions, 3 main lights have chamfered flat headed arches. Hood mould. Colored glass, acanthus leaved decoration.
Roundheaded arched window, 3 stone mullions, one transom, with hoodmould in north wall of central "crossing". Acanthus decorated coloured glass above transom. T&G door in flat topped arched stone surround in angle east of central "crossing" - entrance to schoolroom. Stone mullioned window of 4 lights, clear glass quarries.
West gable end has plain barge board, otherwise same details. Large 3 mullioned window with transom and hood moulding.
South elevation - 2 flat headed mullioned windows in south wall of main chapel. South gable end of central cross wing same as north.
Chapel interior: porch - square, plastered walls and ceiling, ledge at dado height (top of battered wall). Floor - small quarry tiles. Panelled double doors lead to main chapel, lower panel T&G, upper 2 glazed, leaded lights with renaisance floral decoration. Brass door furniture. Wooden architrave.
Main chapel - ceiling of 3 bays. Arch-braced roof set on corbels above wall plate. Chamfered braces. Common rafters hidden by plaster ceiling. Horizontal plaster ceiling above collar beam. Same details for 3 bay arch-braced roof to cross wing set at right angles, east of "chancel" arch. Braces with chamfered stops. Elaborate moulded corbels. Plaster walls, wall ventilators, high level dado with T&G panelling below. Window openings extend below dado level. Windows have internal sills of wood. 2 rectangular window openings in south wall have splayed reveals, all others are straight. Seating - T&G benches with carved moulded ends, divided in half by central aisle, further subdivided into 3 blocks.
Set fawr situated in cross wing, 4 panelled door to left of Set fawr leads to schoolroom. Further benches arranged to either side of and facing set fawr.
Set fawr - raised rectangular platform deliniated by T&G benches. Patching of front bench suggests position of central lectern, since removed.
Pulpit lies against west wall. Forward curving stair wings to forward projecting central rectangular pulpit/lectern. Moulded banister rail above open turned balustrade, fluted newels and pilasters to corners of pulpit topped by orb finials. Pulpit has fielded panels with raised, hipped faces above rail, T&G panelling below. Minister's bench against west wall - T&G back below dado rail, curved plain cresting with central disc finial above dado.
Other fittings - turned candle stick pedestals to either side of pulpit. Wood armchair with turned legs and matching fluted decoration on back right of pulpit. Clock on wall "Evans Menai Bridge" to right of pulpit.
On west wall to left of pulpit is memorial to Lt. Lewis Williams, RWF of Gwynfryn, Benllech who died in France, August 18th, 1916, aged 22 years.
Rectangular schoolroom extension to rear has modern false ceiling, T&G panelling below dado. Splayed reveals to 4 light window in north wall, next to external door. Few original fittings. Old round wooden case clock "Smith 8 day" on south wall.
Chapel forecourt enclosed by pebbledashed rubble wall, limestone gate posts and wrought iron swing gate.
GAT; visited 18/05/95 - Built: 1900 Source:
- Cause: 1900 Source:I Hughes
- Date Of Chapel: 1900 Source:
- Architect: 1900 Richard Davies, Bangor
- £ 650: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 150: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- Chapel: 1999 (I Hughes)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational Yearbook)
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Storey: Single storey
- Style: Arts and Crafts
- Plan: Long-wall entry
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
Key Characteristics of this Chapel
3 thoughts on “Benllech Chapel (welsh Calvinistic Methodist), Benllech”
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still place of worship
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