Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Cwmtillery Primitive Methodist Chapel.
Methodists entered Cwmtillery in about 1860, they worshipped from a rented room. When the room was taken from them, they continued services in the house of an old member with the Sunday School in the house of another.
The Original Primitive Methodist Chapel.
A small chapel was built in 1872 aligned east to west, being enlarged in 1887 then demolished and rebuilt on the same site in 1887 but then aligned north to south.
In September 1892 a new school room was proposed to be built adjoining the Methodist Chapel to the eastern side of the building, reports stated that the South Wales Colliery owners granted the trustees use of stone from their quarries. The members of the chapel were doing the groundwork to ease the cost of labour.
The Original Schoolroom.
On Sunday 5th of April 1893, the schoolroom was officially opened to the eastern side of the chapel. Special services were held to mark the occasion in the morning and afternoon with the chapel overflowing at both. The Rev was Mr L. J. Harvey of Tredegar. On the Monday a special tea was held and the following ladies were presiding over the tables – Mrs Wilcox; Mrs Groves; Mrs Williams; Mrs Bees; Mrs Short; Miss Smith; Miss Payne; Mrs S. Dando; Mrs M. Williams; Mrs A. Williams; Mrs Short; Mrs Walker and Mrs Hill: Mr Vowles played the organ.
The school rooms were on two floors, the ground and first. The eastern wall of the chapel was removed and the space filled with a sliding partition which enabled the school and chapel to be one open space whenever the occasion required.
The chapel school room was later used for lectures. During the summer months the teachers and children used to have open-air teas, games and sports held on the fields nearby at Llanerch Padern.
Gas Installation.
In August 1894 tenders were invited for gas fittings and fixtures to be installed in the chapel.
Subsidence at the Site.
Over the next few years the premises suffered from subsidence owing to the mining operations close-by and was deemed unfit for purpose. At this time the church was valued at £1,000 and owing to its present state was a great loss to the trustees.
It was vacated in 1910 and was demolished in 1911 because of this severe subsidence and services were held at the Intermediate School, Abertillery, (County School).
The New Methodist Chapel.
In 1913 a new Methodist Chapel and Schoolroom was planned to be built further down the same side of the valley on Ty-Dan-y-Wal Road. Mr Sydney Dando was treasurer and Mr James Evans was the secretary.
The Ceremony of the laying of the Foundation Stones.
On Monday 19th of May 1913, the ceremony of the laying of the Foundation Stones for the new chapel (as seen on the map left) took place. Mr C. G. Cripps presided.
Those present were as follows – Rev F. P. Pearce and J. H. Briggs ministers of the Primitive Methodist Church; Mr J. T. Gladwin of York; Mr W. Scott Bosence of Cardiff; Messrs D. Colliery; T. Towy-Evans; and Mr E. Bevan; of Abertillery; Messrs S. Dando (Treasurer) and Mr J. Evans (Secretary); Mr M. Cole; Mr Henry Rees; Mr J. Webber; Mr C. M. Morse; Mr S. M. Ash; Mr G. Brain; Mr W. Cook; Mr E. Boots; Mr J. Tarrant J.P.; Mr Hemmings of Cwmcarn; Mr John Burge; Mr John Snelgrove; Mr A. Williams (Sunday School Superintendent); Mr B. T. Williams; Mr W. Davies; Mr John Evans and Mr Arthur Horler: Mesdames Mrs J. T Williams; Mrs S. Dando; Mrs S. M. Ash; Mrs Staples; Mrs Fear; Mrs Cook of Six Bells; Mrs C. G. Cripps; Mrs W. Y. Hobkirk; Mrs H. Rees and Mrs J. Tarrant:
Stones were laid by the following including donations as stated – Mrs W. Y. Hobkirk £70.; Mr J. Webb of Cwm Street Methodist Church £16.; Mr W. Davies of Cwm Street Methodist Church Sunday School £5.; Mr Thomas Bedford Trustees £5.; Mr W. Cook of Six Bells Primitive Methodist Church £5.; Miss Gertrude Hill in memory of Mr Alf Hill £5.; Master S. Thomas in memory of Mr George Thomas £3.; Mr T. Rees Cwm Street Band of Hope £3.; Mr J. M. Burge £5.; Mr & Mrs J. W. Davies laid by Mrs Davies £5.; Mr J. Snellgrove £3 3s.; Mr & Mrs Ralph £5.; Miss Sybil Jones £3 3s.; Mr Cuthbert Lewis £5.; Mr & Mrs R. More £4.; Mr A. S. Horler £5.; Mrs Tom Vowles £3 3s.; Miss Ruby Dando £5.; Messrs H and M. Harris £3 3s.; Messrs E and B. Brain £5.; Mrs Elsie Thomas £5.; Mr Cliff Thomas £3.; Messrs H and B. Williams £5.; Mrs Sid Dando £5.; Mrs George Brain £5.; Mr J. Evans and Family £5.; Mr Alfred Williams £5.; The Young Peoples Society Christian Endeavour £14.; Mr C. Moore, Young Women’s Bible Class £10.; Mr George Brain, Young Men’s Bible Class £23 14s 6d.; Mr Alfred Williams, Sunday School £20.;
Miss L. Thomas donated £25 (It was stated that this sum included the profits on toffee sold by Miss Thomas during the last two years); Mrs C. Moore £3. 3s. 0d.; Messrs E and G. Smith £7. 0s. 0d.; Mr & Mrs J. Day £3. 3s. 0d.; Mr John Fear £3. 3s. 0d.: Stones were also laid by the following Children – Doris Cole; Harold J. Bryant of the Junior Christian Endeavour; Henry Wiltshire; Leslie Wiltshire; Rose Stokes; A. J. Hill; Alfred Williams Jnr; J. G. Day; Eva Grace Day; Harold Moore; Besie Meek; Lily Mary Day; Eunice Day; Albert Day; Phyllis May Bryant; Willie Bryant; Laura Moore; Myfanwy Jarrett; Myfanwy Davies; E. Goodwin; O. Trigg; T. Williams; L and J. Stokes; Ida Day; Phyllis Wiltshire and S and J. Meek:
The Primitive Methodist Insurance Company gave a donation of 20 per cent on all monies collected up to January 1st 1914 and the General Chapel Fund gave 10 per cent on all money raised up to £500.
Mr William Pickles Hartley.
Sir William Pickles Hartley was approached for a donation towards the building of the new church and he promised a donation of 5 per cent on all monies up to £500 raised in connection with the church. Sir William P. Hartley 1846-1922. Born in Lancashire Mr Hartley was the jam manufacturer, philanthropist and Methodist who founded the Hartley’s Jam Company.
The Contractor and Architect.
The contractor was Messrs Moses Adams & Sons, the work was carried out by Mr Alfred Adams, the son of Mr Moses Adams of Crosskeys, late of Abertillery. The plans were drawn up by the architect Mr M. P. Barraud. The heating apparatus was installed by Messrs Hillier & Sons of Crosskeys.
The Official Opening.
On Wednesday 29th of October 1913, the opening ceremony took place, was conducted by Mr W. Y. Hobkirk. (The new Methodist Chapel and Schoolrooms can be seen on this image, seen just left of one of the headgears of Cwmtillery Colliery)
Amongst those present were as follows – Rev F. P. Pearce; Mr Sidney Dando; Mr James Evans; Mr Victor Brain the organist); Mr J. T. Williams; Mr Moses Adams; Mrs F. P. Pearce; Mrs Alf Williams; Mrs J. Evans; Mrs Hill; Mrs Matthews; Mr & Mrs Ben Thomas; Mr & Mrs Joe Day; Messrs Thos Bedford; Messrs William Hill; Mr James Moore; Mr George Brain; Mrs W. Y. Hobkirk and J. Snellgrove: It held a school below the chapel for 300 children and the chapel seated 350 worshippers.
The Later Years.
The Cwmtillery Primitive Methodist Chapel was demolished in the early 1970’s.