- Nprn: 97200
- Summary: Built 1804, extended in 1825 and rebuilt in 1836. By 1965 it was used as a shop and store. Present status [1999]: unknown
- Description: The following information and extracts are from R Fred Roberts, A history of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Abergele, 1800-1965 (1965):
Wesleyan Methodists 1st met ca. 1802 in a small disused but remote cottage called "Y Fron", within the bounds of the present Gwrych Castle Park. In 1802 the cause transferred to a small thatched inn, The George, in Market Street, registered as a meeting house in 1802: here meetings were held in the yard on Sundays and in the parlour on weekday nights. By 01/1803, land was bought off R. Pierce in Rhuddlan Road, and a small chapel building, about 30' long and with an earth floor was opened on 26/06/1804. In 1825 a gallery was added and the chapel extended, enabling seating accommodation of 150; the chapel was re-opened on 07/08/1825. There was a sudden increase in members in the 1830s, connected with the cholera epidemic of 1833. In 1836 a number of houses beside the chapel were bought up and the chapel rebuilt, being re-opened on 21/07/1837.
In 1860 the chapel was decorated, gas lighting installed and 3 rear vestries added. Until about then, morning services had been held at 9.30, and preachers required to conclude sermons by 11 a.m., in order that members of the congregation could attend Mattins in the parish church. A post-1860 description of the chapel in "Y Arweinydd":
"The chapel was similar in size to the present building, with a gallery at one end and on both sides. The pulpit was fairly high, and the front pew also raised above the others. Behind the choir pew, in the centre of the floor, was an open space with moveable seats; this was where the tables were set up on the occasion of a tea or supper or other special event. There was no means of heating the building during the winter months, but it was lit by gas, which gave out a certain amount of warmth. The building was eminently sitable for its purpose; at the rear there were 3 vestries, 2 of reasonable size, and one smaller which was used as a library".
The chapel debt was cleared by 1879. By the 1870s, however, the Wesleyans were worshipping in the oldest chapel in town, the others having been rebuilt in the 1860s. Some members wanted to rebuild on the Rhuddlan Road site, but a new site was decided upon, at the junction of St George Road and Bridge Street. St Pauls (NPRN: 7438) was opened in 1880. The plaque from above the entrance at Bodlondeb was moved to the new chapel: it read "Bodlondeb/ A. D. 1804/ Ehangwyd 1837"; the pulpit was also moved and by 1965 was the centre portion of the pulpit front in the large schoolroom at St Paul's. - 3 Rear Vestries: 1860 Source:Roberts, R F
- Built: 1804 Source:1851 Census
- Bodlondeb Sold: c.1880 Source:Roberts, R F
- Shop And Store: By 1965 Source:Roberts, R F
- Small Chapel Opened: 26/06/1804 Source:Roberts, R F
- St Pauls Opened: 26/09/1880 Source:Roberts, R F
- Increase In Members: 1830-1839 Source:Roberts, R F
- Chapel Debt Cleared: 1879 Source:Roberts, R F
- Gas Lighting; Decorated: 1860 Source:Roberts, R F
- Land Bought Rhuddlan Road: 01/1803 Source:Roberts, R F
- Pulpit, Plaque To St Paul: c.1880 Source:Roberts, R F
- Houses Bght Beside Chapel: 1836 Source:Roberts, R F
- Rebuilt: 1836 Source:Roberts, R F
- Gallery & Chapel Extended: 1825 Source:Roberts, R F
- Re-opened: 21/07/1837 Source:Roberts, R F
- Re-opened: 07/08/1825 Source:Roberts, R F
- 200: 1851 Standing (Religious Census)
- 276: 1851 Other sittings (Religious Census)
- Converted: 1965 hop ()
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Building
Key Details of this Chapel
Key Dates of this Chapel
Capacities during this Chapels History
Changes of Status its History
Key Characteristics of this Chapel
Images from Coflein
Map
- Grid Reference: SH94837750
- Address: RHUDDLAN ROAD, ABERGELE
2 thoughts on “BODLONDEB METHODIST CHAPEL (WESLEYAN;CAPEL NEWYDD), RHUDDLAN ROAD, ABERGELE (CAPEL NEWYDD, SHOP & STORE)”
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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