Ebenezer Welsh Independent Chapel

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on the main thoroughfare in a commanding position above the road and next to the Police Station.

History

Independent Cause in mid-Rhondda established 1865 under leadership of Charles Jenkins, William Jones, David Thomas. Chapel built 1867-8, builder William Richards at cost of £1000, remained centre of Cause in the Rhondda. Repairs and foundations strengthened 1873, new organ installed and improvements and repairs 1892, Revival 1904-5. Refurbishment possibly by Owen Morris Roberts and Son of Port Madoc.

Interior

Main chapel building at present disused and in deteriorating condition. A richly furnished interior. Four sided raked gallery supported by 10 iron bracketed fluted piers with painted capitals, very decorative panelled fronts of carved and polished contrasting woods incorporating fretwork panels and ebony colonnettes with planked soffit; windows have hood moulds and label stops, ventilators and gas brackets on scored walls; platform with 2 flights of stairs to carved and moulded pulpit, decoratively panelled to rear of triple seat and with curved and decoratively panelled front with fretwork to set fawr - all fittings richly carved and the arrangement intact; above is the organ by Peter Conacher of Springwood Huddersfield c1892 flanked by 6 painted pilasters on gallery walls on either side; very decorative ceiling with 2 large roses incorporating ventilators and 13 other smaller versions within a panelled part plaster part boarded framework, a separately decorated panelled rosed ceiling above the organ; coloured glass windows to rear. Because the entrance is via an open loggia rather than the more common enclosed vestibule the windows are much larger and the interior therefore much lighter than is usual in this area.

Reason for designation

Listed II* as one of the finest chapels in the Rhondda, retaining an exceptionally rich interior with fittings complete.