Brynteg English Congregational Chapel

Brynteg English Congregational Church.
The Brynteg English Congregational Church is located at the bottom of Oxford Street, Blaenau Gwent, on the junction with Alma Street, Blaenau Gwent. That area from Alma Street, Oxford Street, Glynmawr Street, Portland Road down to Oak Street and onto the Station Hill, taking in Gladstone Street and west of the Foundry Bridge was called Brynteg. It was also colloquially known as Barry Dock, I believe it was because some of the land was owned by and most of the houses in that area were built by the contractors Messrs Gaen Brothers. The brothers were from Cardiff and had a connection with a building company from Barry. They built Gaen Street and that was locally known as Cardiff Road.

The Beginning of the Church.
On Friday 23rd of March 1900, the South Wales Gazette reported – New Chapel for Brynteg, the Brynteg Congregational Church have accepted the tender of Messrs Lewis and Cook to excavate the ground at the corner of Oxford Street and Alma Street, where the proposed new chapel will be erected. As seen below, as of the costs and outlay, the building was constructed in two parts, the first section on one story and later another section was added above as money became available.

The Ceremony of the Laying of the Foundation Stones.
On Monday 18th of June 1900, the ceremony of the laying of the Foundation Memorial Stones took place. Rev J. Walrond Skinner, Secretary of the Monmouthshire English Congregational Union gave a Hymn and Rev Elwyn Thomas of Newport offered up prayer.

Mr J. Barter, president of the Monmouthshire English Congregational Union laid the first stone. He recalled the time that “He and his members had met in a quarry and prayed to God for help in getting money to build a church, after a few months their praying paid off and money came their way to get a church built”.

Rev T. J. Hughes of Maesycwmmer, chairman and secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union was next to speak and said, “His first ministry was at Abertillery but in far different circumstances, he had to speak in Welsh and English and if he spoke too much of one and not the other he was found fault with, but he didn’t care!”…. He also said that unlike Mr Barter praying – “That didn’t help, as he was left with a £2,000 debt and all the praying in the world didn’t bring him any money, all it brought him was a mop of white hair”. He also stated that the only money he had generated was by means of collections. Mr Walrond Skinner read a letter of apology from Mr John Liscombe and laid a stone, Mr H. Rees also laid  a stone on behalf of Mr J. Bossett? the Sunday School superintendent.

After the ceremony, a tea was held at the Tabernacle Church Vestry and the following ladies presided over the tables – Mrs George Morris; Mrs Lewis Rees; Mrs Robert Lewis; Mrs John Evans and Mrs Stanfield: In the evening a meeting and meal was held in the Ebenezer Chapel with Rev T. J. Hughes of Maesycwmmer and Rev Rev Elwyn Thomas of Newport.

The Initial First Storey Building.
On Friday 22nd of June 1900, the South Wales Gazette reported the following – The architect, Mr R. L. Roberts produced a plan that showed in the basement there will be a schoolroom capable of holding several hundred scholars and the chapel will have galleries which will seat seven hundred people. The cost will be £1,400, at present they can only build the first storey, as up to present £160 had been spent, £100 had been raised and the first part of the building would cost £300, therefore another £200 would be needed. He hoped that the sum would be raised and that the building would be completed within a few years.   

Description of the Building.
The church basement would contain the schoolroom which will hold several hundred scholars, the church above which will have galleries capable of holding 700 people. The seating was pitch pine. The cost of the building was £1,400.

The Contractor and Architect of the Original Building.
The contractors were Messrs Gaen Bros, of Abertillery. The architect was Mr R. L. Roberts of Abercarn.

The New Completed Brynteg Church.
On Friday 22nd of May 1914, the South Wales Gazette reported the Brynteg Congregationalists have now commenced building operations on their new chapel and that it was anticipated that in the course of the next few months the new edifice will be completed. I cannot find any detailed information on the new building except for the brief account of the following opening services.

The Opening Service.
On Friday 16th of April 1915, the South Wales Gazette printed details of the opening services at the new Brynteg Congregational Church, Abertillery which were to be held on the following Sunday 18th of April 1915, with Rev J. Williamson M.A. The other service was held on the following Monday 19th of April 1915, with a “Tea and Miscellaneous Concert” commencing at 4.00pm with a concert at 6.00pm with an open invitation to all.

The Contractor and Architect of the New Completed Building.
The contractor was Mr Phillips and Mr N. Gasenius Lewis F.I.A.S. was the architect.

The Closure of the Brynteg English Congregational Church.
In 1970, the Gwent Gazette reported on vandalism at the chapel on Oxford Street, children had been smashing windows at the chapel, which they say had been closed and had been put up for sale.

Upholstery Unit.
In May 1984, the Gwent Gazette reported on a planning application to turn the empty chapel into an upholstery unit for upholstering three-piece suites having been turned down by Blaenau Gwent councillors, stating the main objection being traffic congestion, lack of parking for loading, unloading and deliveries etc, along with residents concerns.

(More information to come).

The Later Years.
The church has since closed and the premises in now block of residential flats.