- Nprn: 8783
- Cadw Record No: 5751
- Summary: Moreia Calvinistic Methodist Chapel is one of the most ambitious and successful of Anglesey chapels. It was built to replace the one founded in 1794 by John Elias, the Welsh Methodist Revival preacher, who lived in the town between 1830 and 1841. It also serves as a memorial to him and, to some extent, stands in competition with the Baptist commemoration of Christmas Evans at Penuel. An original porticoed design was put forward Richard G. Thomas in 1894 at an estimated cost of £5,005. This was far more than the £3,500 available, so the plan was simplified by Owen Morris Roberts and built in 18968 at a cost of £5,500.
The façade of 11311 bays is constructed from contrasting squared rubble and grey ashlar. Outer balustraded porches, with roundels over curved-pedimented doors, flank the main chapel with short balustraded flanks to the pedimented centrepiece. This has paired arched windows between Composite pilasters on the upper level. The detail is Italianate, crowded in a late nineteenth way, with just a touch of the emergent Queen Anne in the outer bays. Lobbies with gallery stairs lead into the rectangular interior with seating arranged concentrically at the sides. here is lovely figuring in the pine panels of the curved galleries and this continues round for the organ. The fine ceiling is made from plaster and pierced timber and carries a design of circles within circles. The elaborate sedd-fawr and pulpit are on many levels, and the large organ, by Wadsworth of Manchester, was installed in 1928. Behind the chapel is a large Sunday School and a deacons room and caretakers house. In 2009 it was still in use as a chapel.
Source: Haslam, Orbach and Voelcker (2009), The Buildings of Wales: Gwynedd. Pevsner Architectural Guide, page 181.
RCAHMW, October 2009 - Description: Memorial chapel to John Elias. Built in Classical style, short-wall entry type, initially (from 11/1894) to the design of Richard Thomas of Menai Bridge, & from 4/1895 with Owen Morris Roberts of Porthmadog as architect. OM Roberts died December 1896 but his firm carried on. Chapel opened 1898. Building is listed Grade 2*. Status (1998): in chapel use.
Imposing classical Calvinistic Methodist Chapel with attached school and manse. The building is set back from the street line behind a railed forecourt which adjoins the Shire Hall.
1897. Reworking by Richard Thomas of Menai Bridge of an original design by O M Roberts of Porthmadog. Errected as a memorial chapel to John Elias, Calvinistic Methodist Preacher and Minister.
Imposing broad 7 bay front of 2 storeys in the classical style. Snecked rubble masonry with freestone dressings. Hipped slate roof with red ceramic ridge tiles. Triangular pediment over advanced 3 centre bays, urn finials, plain entablature. Inset pediment plaque with scrolled shoulders. Date of 1897 over CAPEL COFFADWRIAETHOL, JOHN ELIAS, METHODISTIAID CALFINAIDD. 4 Corinthian pilasters to 1st floor. Paired round arched windows; keystones, corinthian pilasters, stone sills on corbels, small paned glazing, coloured glass to tympani. 4 Tuscan pilasters to ground floor. Round window coloured glass, quatrefoil design to centre, keystones to cardinal points. Paired round arched windows flanking, keystones, tuscan pilasters, small paned glazing.
Flanking bays with with balustraded blocking course, urn finials, plain entablature, fluted pilasters. Tall round headed window to first floor, keystone, tuscan pilasters, small paned glazing. Similar detail to pediment window of ground floor.
Lower staircase bays to corners returned to sides. Balustraded parapet, urn finials, plain entabulature, freestone quoins. Round window over segmental pediment to Tuscan doorcase, modillions. 12 panelled doors. 2 tall round arched stair windows to sides, keystones, tuscan pilasters, small paned sashes.
5 window side elevation to chapel. Pebbledash. Cement architraves, sill bands. Round arches to 1st floor, cambered below, small 12 paned sashes. Moulded eaves cornice. 3 window double pile structure, containing diacons room, toilets etc. links chapel to 5 bay schoolroom over manse at right angles to rear. Slate roofs, rendered stacks. Pebble dashed elevations. Cement architraves and stressed quoins. Small paned glazing.
Chapel interior. Rectangular galleried interior with classical detail. 2 Vestibules flank west end contain open balustraded stairs to gallery. Plaster walls and ceilings, ceramic tiled floor, double panelled doors to outside and interior of chapel.
Complex Panelled ceiling of plaster edged by panels of diagonally set t&g with open fret ventilation grills at corners. Large central ceiling rose with ribs dividing panels decorated renaissance plasterwork floral motifs and roundels. Open fret decorated wooden ventilation grill to centre of rose. 2 smaller roundals to east and west central rose.
Coving above dentil cornice. Light green colourwashed plaster walls. Moulded hoods on anthimium decorated consoles over windows. Balustrading rails off windows at dado height. T&g panelling below dado. Raked gallery, with curved panelled front with entablature - dentil cornice and long fielded panels interspersed with carved floral square panels flanked by fluted pilasters topped by scrolled consoles. Continues as panelled "reredos" behind set fawr. 3 tiers of gated pews to north and south: 3 extra at west end. The whole is carried on 9 fluted cast iron Corinthian columns, with scrolled brackets.
Fluted Corinthian pilasters to either side of organ chamber. Renaissance style open fret detailed panelled organ case. Organ of 1928. Elaborate set fawr with floral carved, in set oak panels, full entablature, central lectern. Ionic pilasters at corners, fluted newel posts, with decorated globe finials, balustraded bannisters to panelled pulpit with dentil cornice. Contemporary preacher's chair. 2 Hoop-backed arm chairs flank pulpit. Small chest with box stretchers before pulpit.
Memorial to John Elias on east wall under gallery to right of pulpit - pedimented white marble monument on anthemium consoles, against slate background. Inscription "FEL ARWYDD O BARCH CODWYD Y DAFLEN HON GAN DRIGOLION LLANGEFNI AI CHYMDOGAETH ER COFFADWRIAETH AM Y DIWEDDAR BARCHEDIG JOHN ELIAS GYNT OR FRON GERLLAW Y DREF HON YR HWN A LAFURIODD DROS YSBAID 47, O FLYNYDDAU FEL GWEINIDIOG YR EFENGYL YM MHLITH Y TREFNYDDION CALFINAIDD. EFE A HUNODD YN YR IESU AR YR 8FE DYDD O FEHEFIN 1841 YN 68AIN MWLWYDD OED. Diar. 10, 7." Later inscription below records its removal from Capel Dinas in 1898.
2 brass memorials one on east wall, left of pulpit under gallery commemorating Y Parch. Prys Owen, Minister from 1911 to 1947. The other on the north wall commemorates Victor Roberts, killed in action in Belgium, 1917, aged 20.
Rectangular Diacons' room to rear of chapel with sash windows and slate and marble fire surround and pine benches.
Interior of school room. T&g panelled roof with fret work ventilation grills. T&g panelling below dado. Stage at north end. Some original benches.
Spear pointed iron railings and gates to forecourt, stone capped snecked masonry bases.
Visited 09/05/95 - Organ Loft Added: 1897-1898 Source:Jenkins, O M
- Re-worked: 1896 Source:Cadw
- Foundation Stone Laid: 08/05/1896 Source:Jenkins, O M
- Built: 1896 Source:Capel 40
- Dated: 1897 Source:Cadw (plaque)
- Built: 1896 Source:
- Date Of Chapel: 1896 Source:Photo
- Opened: 06/1898 Source:Jenkins, O M
- Opened: 06/1898 Source:Jenkins, O M
- Designed: 1896 Source:Cadw
- Memorial To John Elias: 1843 Source:Cadw
- Architect: 1896 Richard Thomas, Menai Bridge
- Architect: 06/1898 Owen Morris Roberts, Porthmadog
- Architect: 1896 Owen Morris Roberts, Porthmadog
- £ 5500: 1998 (Cadw)
- 270: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- 650: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- 850: 1999 Sittings (Hughes, I)
- Chapel: 16/10/1998 (Cadw)
- Chapel: 2011 (Denominational Yearbook)
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
- Storey: Single storey
- Style: Italianate
- Gallery: On four sides
- Plan: Hipped Box
- Pulpit Position: Detached
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
Images from Coflein
Map
- Grid Reference: SH45947555
- Address: GLANHWFA ROAD, LLANGEFNILLANGEFNI
2 thoughts on “MOREIA CHAPEL (WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST;CAPEL COFFA JOHN ELIAS), GLANHWFA ROAD, LLANGEFNI (MORIAH (2); CAPEL COFFA JOHN ELIAS)”
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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