Capel Beili Heulog

Location

Situated in an extremely isolated position in the Nant yr Offeiriad valley some 2 km W of Gwenddwr, reached by a track from Groeswen farm.

History

Independent chapel said to have been one of the earliest Independent causes in the region, preaching having begun in the valley in the C17 from the chapel at Llanigon, and the first chapel built c1690-1700. Early preachers included Henry Maurice, 'the apostle of Breconshire' and Rees Prytherch. The first pastor, c1700-12, was Howell Powell of Maesclettwr, translator of Puritan texts into Welsh. He emigrated to New Jersey and died 1717. John Davies followed until 1751. The cause declined in the later C18, reviving in the early C19, with branches being established in Builth in 1808 and Crickadarn 1812. The building here would seem to be of the early C19, reroofed and perhaps remodelled later in C19. The gallery looks mid to later C19, and the end windows suggest that previously the pulpit was not here but under the centre front window.

Exterior

Chapel, painted rubble stone with slate eaves roof, overhanging at gables. Single storey, gable end entry with double 3-panel doors, with cambered brick head, and 9-pane window with iron lintel above to right. Side wall has three 9-pane windows, one to centre above, the other two at ground floor level each side. Rear has late C19 render and 2 added long casement-pair windows with cambered heads.

Interior

Whitewashed plastered interior with deep gallery at entrance end and enclosed stairs to gallery to right of doorway. Square newels. Gallery has flat underside and brown-painted front panelled with vertical panels in 3 sets of 6. Moulded top rail. Pews in two blocks, painted in 2 shades of brown. Two benches each side of broad space in front of pulpit which has panel front and bench below. Balusters each side are chamfered but stopped just short of mid point to give a square boss, corner posts are turned with rings. Bench seat behind pulpit. Memorials: William Williams of Llethertiley (d 1812), painted slate with lavish incised scrolls, signed Jones; Elizabeth Pugh of Pengrythin (d 1848) draped urn with red-painted border to drape, signed WW of Erwood; and William Pugh of Pengyrthin (d 1825) a slate with marbled border to oval plaque and with spandrel rosettes, signed Price of Builth.

Reason for designation

Included as a remote rural chapel of Georgian character, with simple interior carpentry and early memorial plaques.