Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel.
The original Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel at Church Street, Abertillery, (as seen center on the 1879 land sales map) was built in 1877. Lots numbered 15 and 16 were leased by Mr Richard Stanfield of Church Street, Abertillery. More on Mr Stanfield below.

On Saturday 20th of October 1877, the Hereford Times reported on the “Laying of the Foundation Stone of an English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel at Abertillery”. The article gave an account of how the Calvinistic Methodist movement began in Abertillery from the first Welsh Chapel, the Carmel, to the English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, the Trinity, as follows –

The Calvinistic Methodist Movement.
Calvinistic Methodist Movement began in Abertillery in 1852 through the holding of a Sunday School at the house of Mr Joseph Herbert at Chapel Row. The congregation continued there for eighteen-months then removed with the school to a chapel that was built close to the post office. This chapel was the Welsh Calvinistic Chapel, the Carmel.

The rapid rise of the English language at Abertillery made it necessary to start an English cause. At a monthly meeting held at Beaufort, the Revs D. Edwards of Newport, D. Roberts of Ebbw Vale and Messrs D. Watkins of Brynmawr and J. Lewis of Abercarn were appointed to consider the desirability of providing accommodation for such a cause. They met with the committee of the Welsh congregation to establish a new English cause.

The Meeting for an English Cause.
On Wednesday 11th of October 1876, Rev John Bywater chaired the meeting with Mr S. M. Jones treasurer and was to arrange for the publication of ministers. Mr Jones Parry was elected secretary: It was stated that their first service was held on Sunday 15th of October 1876 in a room above the shop near the post office kindly given by Mrs Jane Jones, Postmistress of Abertillery. On that Sunday, Sabbath School was held at 10.00am, the speaker was superintendent, Mr T. J. Roberts was secretary and Mr E. Roberts was treasurer. Seventeen scholars were present for the first time. In the afternoon, the first sermon was preached by Rev Benjamin Lewis of Hay, late of Blaina.

The Church Members.
Following is a list of the first members of the English Calvinistic Movement – Mr and Mrs S. M. Jones; Mr and Mrs Edward Roberts; Mr and Mrs T. J. Roberts; Mr and Mrs M. A. Squires; Miss Rachel Williams and Mr T. Jones Parry: They worshipped in that room until the end of that year, when they acquired a room from Mr John Harris, Ironmonger of Abertillery. At this time, a terrible explosion occurred at the South Wales Colliery at Cwmtillery which had killed twenty-three men and boys. The English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel like its sister churches received large additions to their members.

The New Church.
In the beginning of 1877, many preachers of the county showed kindness in this new church and many of them conducted their services on the Sabbath and other days. Among those who had befriended them were as follows – Rev George Phillips, Mozera, near Raglan; Rev Edwin Williams B.A., of Newport; Rev Aaron Davies of Pontlottyn; Rev David Edwards; Rev W. Howells; Mr William Williams; Mr Edmund Lewis; Mr D. Phillips of Newport and Mr W. Badham of Tredegar: It was generally admitted that a larger building was required to provide room for all that attended. During the summer, they heard from a monthly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodist Connexion of Monmouthshire to appoint a building committee, a committee was appointed and the plans of Rev Aaron Davies, the then district architect who had also planned their Welsh Chapel, was accepted.

The Contractors.
The contractors were Messrs Morgan and Evans, builders of Pontnewynydd at a sum of £939.

Land for the New Chapel.
It was stated in the article that the land required to build the new English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was at the upper eastern side of what was said to have been Stanfield Road, Abertillery, on a site leased by the general connexion for 999 years, from Mr Richard Stanfield who was listed as the lessee on a land property map of the 1870’s. The lease on the land for the chapel began in February 1877. (More information on Mr Richard Stanfield below).

The Construction.
The construction began when a group of young men connected with it cut out the foundations for the new chapel and presented the proceeds of their work, amounting to £8, to the building fund.

The Laying of the Foundation Stone.
On Monday 15th of October 1877, the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone took place. In recognition of her generosity and commitment to the cause, Mrs Jane Jones, postmistress of Abertillery was asked to perform the task. Mrs Jones was presented with a trowel and hammer with which to lay the stone, the trowel and hammer was presented to her by the church and the stone by the builder.

On the stone was the following inscription – “This stone was laid by Mrs J. E. Jones at Abertillery, on Monday the 15th of October 1877”. On the trowel were engraved the words – “Presented to Mrs J. E. Jones, on the occasion of her laying the foundation stone of the new English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel , at Abertillery, on Monday 15th of October, 1877” – S. N. Jones, T. J. Parry, M. Roberts, E. Roberts, T. J. Roberts and E. Jones. Immediately after the ceremony a collection took place, the sum of £20 was kindly subscribed to the building fund by Mrs Jane Jones.

Mr and Mrs Edward and Jane Jones.
Mrs Jane Jones was the first postmistress at Abertillery, the wife of Mr Edward Jones postmaster, grocer and contractor. The family lived at Pond House, Abertillery which was the first station platform and post office from 1848. Mrs Jones was also a founder of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Carmel Chapel, Carmel Street, Abertillery.

Descriptive Account of the Chapel.
The new English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was said to have been a substantial building. The base walls were said to have been 2′ feet ?ins thick and the chapel walls were 2′ feet in thickness of native stone dressings. The height of the building was 32′ feet from base to roof. The interior of the chapel was 44′ feet by 33′ feet, all of pitch pine and fitted with the most modern style. Underneath the chapel was a Sunday schoolroom, connections from the stove was used to warm the chapel and the building was lighted with gas.

The Official Opening of the Chapel.
On Friday 21st of June 1878, the Monmouthshire Merlin reported that the English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, at Abertillery, capable of holding 400 to 500 people, had been opened. The Revs Professor Howells, president of Trevecca College, Thomas Evans of Merthyr, Aaron Davies of Pontlottyn and John Jones (Ap Idrisyn) preached on the occasion.

The Revival.
In 1904 as a result of the recent revival in religion, the Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Society at Abertillery decided to undertake a large expansion scheme. Before the revival their roll book showed 103 members, after the revival their numbers increased to 250. In addition to the chapel the Sunday School flourished with over 350 names on the books. In order to cope with this increase they realised the necessity not only of providing a much larger chapel but also better accommodation for its Sunday School work, such as the Band of Hope and Christian Endeavour groups.

The New Chapel Proposal.
In 1904 the architect Mr R. L. Roberts of Cwmcarn was approached in connection with the construction of a new chapel. Mr Roberts planned that the existing chapel be doubled in size and to provide schoolroom accommodation underneath.

The New Trinity Chapel.
On Monday 20th of November 1905, the stone laying ceremony at the new Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel took place. The pastor Rev Jenkins presided over the ceremony with Alderman T. H. Howell J.P. of Newport.

Master David Nathan Rocyn Jones, the son of Doctor Rocyn Jones was given the honour of laying a stone, his grandmother had laid the original stone 30 years previously. Master D. N. R. Jones had been given a silver trowel encased in a leather wallet as a memento of the occasion. Dr Rocyn Jones made a speech along with the Alderman S. N. Jones. Later a tea was provided in the vestry and in the evening a meeting was held at the Carmel Chapel Abertillery.

The Official Re-Opening of the Chapel.
On Sunday 26th of February 1906, the Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Church Street, Abertillery (as seen in the main featured image above) was officially re-opened. Rev D. L. Jenkins preached in the morning with the evening service being conducted by the Principal Prys M.A of Trevecca College. The choir was conducted by Mr W. Powell and accompanied by Mr Howard. The service carried on over the next few days and over £100 was raised during the week.

Description of the Building.
The building was faced with blue pennant stone, with Forest of Dean stone dressings. The chapel was approached by a spacious entrance lobby which was connected to the main body of the chapel and the galleries. The choir was accommodated behind the pulpit where an organ loft was provided. The chapel accommodated 700 worshippers and the seating was of pitch-pine, the ceiling was boarded with panels and mouldings. In addition to the vestry there were six classrooms, each accommodating twenty pupils were provided beneath the chapel. All classrooms were divided with folding partitioning to make a large spacious lecture room if needed.

The Contractor and Architect.
The contractors were Messrs Skidmore & McWhirter of Abertillery. The architect was Mr R. L. Roberts. The new building cost £2,000. The pastor was Rev D. L. Jenkins, it was his seventh year in the pastorate at Abertillery. It was noted that with the exception of the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Chapel the site at the Trinity Chapel was the only freehold site held by any Free Church in the district.

Messrs Skidmore & McWhirter.
Mr Edward Skidmore and Mr Peter McWhirter were building contractors based in Six Bells. Mr Edward Skidmore, a stone mason was from Milton-Under-Wychwood, he came to Abertillery in about 1896 and initially lived in Vivian Street, the family moved into Alma Street, Abertillery and named their house there Wychwood House after the place where the family originally lived, Milton-Under-Wychwood, near Burford in Oxfordshire.

The building partnership of Skidmore & McWhirter began and the pair constructed many houses, churches and chapels etc in and around Abertillery and Six Bells. In about 1906 Mr Skidmore built a new home for himself and family at the bottom of Eastville Road, Six Bells and also named it Wychwood House, after the place where the family originated. Mr Peter McWhirter lived in Toronto House, Alexandra Road, Six Bells.

Apart from the many houses they constructed, Messrs Skidmore & McWhirter also had the contracts to build the new Trinity Chapel, Church Street Abertillery in 1905, constructed the new Bethany Church, Six Bells in 1905 and in 1906 they renovated the Ebenezer Chapel, Abertillery. Later the pair built the Alexandra Buildings at Six Bells and the Alexandra Skating Rink which was later converted into the Kino Cinema Picture House. After selling off the skating rink with Mr Edward Skidmore, Mr Peter McWhirter left the area in 1913 and sold his Toronto House premises on Alexandra Road. Mr Edward Skidmore left Abertillery in 1918 to reside at Weston-Super-Mare.

Pupil Teacher Classes at the Trinity Chapel.
Just after the chapel had been re-built the Director of Higher Education, Mr Badger, reported that acting on the instructions of Alderman S. N. Jones he had arranged for the use of the Trinity Chapel vestry for the new joint central pupil and teacher classes at Abertillery. The terms were – Rent £40 per year which included coal, gas and cleaning of the hall.

Brown’s Cafe.
In 1922 Browns Cafe, Mr J. Brown and Sons at the Trinity Buildings, Abertillery.

The Closure of the Trinity Chapel.
In August 1949 the Trinity Chapel was closed as a chapel, it was proposed that the council purchase it and for the building to be turned into a public library for the town. Owing to a lack of interest shown by the council in the proposal the Trinity Chapel building was sold by the presbytery in the mid 1950’s to Messrs Joseph & Falkman a furniture retailer to be used as their showrooms.

The Trinity Buildings Abertillery.
On Thursday 10th of November 1955, the new showrooms of Messrs Joseph & Falkman Ltd at the Trinity Chapel, Church Street, Abertillery were officially opened by the Welsh film star Mr Donald Huston. Mr Huston was accompanied by his wife Mrs Brenda Hogan, they were both received at Abertillery by Mr Arthur Gardener. Mr Donald Huston stated on the night that he had once worked at the Oakdale Colliery as a Bevin Boy.

The Later Years.
After the Falkman era, the Trinity Buildings were occupied by a few retailers, such as Weaver to Wearers, Carpet Forum etc. The Trinity Building was recently renovated and there were plans for it to be turned into a social supermarket or even a public library.

The Later Years.
Over the years the building was converted, retailers used and occupied the ground floor and the premises around the chapel were called the Trinity Buildings. The chapel became derelict and is recently undergoing extensive alterations.

Public Library.
In 2024 the public library building at Castle Street, Abertillery, was closed, the library was then transferred to the newly renovated Trinity Chapel building.

 

Notes of Interest – Mrs Jane Jones.
Mrs Jane Jones (1822-1903) was one of the oldest inhabitants of Abertillery, she was one of the founders of the Carmel Calvinistic Methodist Church at Abertillery and the Trinity Chapel as mentioned, she had laid many foundation stones in connection with the various churches and was one of the most successful businesswomen in the district. She left Abertillery to live at Maesycwmmer in 1896. In February 1903 she came back to visit her son Mr S. N. Jones, fell ill and on Monday 16th March 1903 she sadly passed away. 

Mrs Jane Jones nee Hughes, the first postmistress at Abertillery was the sister of Mr Nathan Hughes of Six Bells and Aberbeeg, Abertillery. Mr Nathan Hughes’ son was Rev David C. Hughes who emigrated to the U.S.A. and was the foremost Baptist Minister in America. Mr David C. Hughes had a son Mr Charles Evan Hughes became a very successful U.S. politician (as seen below) on a set of postal stamps from the U.S.A.

Mr Charles Evan Hughes 1862-1948 (as seen in the image left) was born at Glen Falls, New York in 1862, described as being the son of the Welsh immigrant Mr David C. Hughes and the American Mrs Mary Hughes nee Connelly, a sister of the State Senator Mr Henry C. Connelly. Mr Charles Evan Hughes became a lawyer, statesman and politician. On the 6th of November 1906 he defeated Mr William Randolph Hearst to become the Governor of New York State and in 1916 he ran against Mr Woodrow Wilson in the U.S.A. presidential elections, being defeated on this occasion by the more experienced candidate.

Mrs Jane Jones’ son was Mr Samuel Nathan Jones, J.P and councillor. Mr S. N. Jones also became a county councillor had a grocery and provisions business and premises close to the Arcade Abertillery. Mr Jones’ grocery shop was on the corner of the Arcade and in Commercial Street. It was originally a grocers and post office, which was transferred there after the closure of the office at the railway-platform near or at Pond House. Mr Samuel Nathan Jones was responsible for the construction of the Abertillery Shopping Arcade in the late 1890’s and had a daughter Miss Alla Jones, she later married Mr David Rocyn Jones the collieries doctor.

 

Mr Richard Stanfield.
Mr Richard Stanfield (1835-1917) was born in 1835 at Goldcroft Common, Caerleon. He was the son of John and Mary Stanfield, John was a tin-plate worker and a young Richard was a washerman at the Caerleon Tin Works close to Ponthir and later lived at Foundry House, Caerleon.

Miss Elizabeth Snell.
Miss Elizabeth Snell (1833-1919) was the wife of Mr Richard Stanfield. Richard and Elizabeth were married in 1861 and census records seem to confirm that they had moved to Abertillery in the early 1860’s.

The 1871 census shows Mr Richard Stanfield was living at Mills Houses in Abertillery town, he was listed as being a tin-plate worker.

The 1879 Land Property Sales Map of Abertillery.
The land property sales map of Abertillery in 1879 shows Mr Richard Stanfield on the leases of land all along the upper eastern side of Church Street. One plot was leased to the connexion for the English Calvinistic Chapel.

The following census of 1881 shows the family living at Church Street, Abertillery. Mr Richard Stanfield was now living with his wife Mrs Elizabeth Stanfield, born 1833 at Somerset and daughter Miss Amelia Ann Stanfield, born 1863 at Abertillery and listed as a school mistress.

On the 1891 census, the Stanfields were living at 20 Church Street, Abertillery.

Colwell House, Alma Street, Abertillery.
On the 1901 census, the Stanfield family were living at Colwell House, Alma Street.

Mr Henry Ward-Williams.
Miss Amelia Ann Stanfield, later married Mr Henry Ward-Williams, the foundry owner, son of Mr John Ward-Williams the Abertillery foundry founder and owner.

The Death of Mr Richard Stanfield.
Mr Richard Stanfield died at Colwell House, in November 1917.

The Death of Mrs Elizabeth Stanfield.
Mrs Elizabeth Stanfield died at Colwell House, in June 1919.