ABERDARE HISTORY

Calvinistic Methodists

The story begins once more in Hirwaun. Expansion here was led by a shop-keeper Evan Griffiths who later moved to Aberdare (Tŷ Mawr).

NLW Bute Mss. Box 50 contains a copy of a deed endorsed Bethel Hirwaun. It states that the Marquis of Bute leased a plot of land to the Methodists on February 2nd 1823. It contains a covering clause as follows: “In the event of the Iron Works ceasing to be carried on an allowance of a moiety of the rent (52 per annum) to be made during the period of the stoppage or discontinuance of the works”.

The new chapel applied for a licence and it was endorsed on the 26th. There were 36 founder members and accommodation for 120.

A great religious revival swept south Wales affecting all denominations except for the Unitarians. In that year, Bethel received 140 new members. Among the converts was a man destined to become one of the greatest preachers in Wales of the 19th century, Edward Matthews-Ewenny, who with his brother was employed at the Iron Works.

The prime instigator of the move of the Aberdare Methodists from Pentwyn Bach was Evan Griffiths.

1st application for a licence for Carmel was in this year though it had been in use for some time having been built in 1829/30 NLW LL/P.D.M./15.   Cardiff Free Library 4-204.

The Calvinistic Methodists built another chapel this time at Llwydcoed — Moriah — the first non-conformist place of worship to be built in the hamlet. Among its members was Christmas Rees stepson of Morgan Williams and Edward Pugh. Early in the 1850s, it had to be demolished for the passage of the Vale of Neath Railway but was rebuilt further away from the line.

Methodists had extended their activities into Aberaman and began building on land given by Crawshay Bailey. The new chapel was consecrated in March 1858 and called Libanus. By the end of 1848, it had 69 members and 16 children. Fees for visiting ministers varied from 3/- to 7/6.

A gallery was built and soon afterwards, some 25 to 30 members built themselves a school at Llettysiencyn, Cwmbach.

Libanus had 85 members and 140 Sunday School Scholars.