Bethel Congregational Chapel

Cadw's description

Location

At Bethel, on a minor road leading off the N side of the A494 to Tyn-y-Bwlch and Maerdy, close to the junction of the two roads. Set back in a narrow forecourt behind Art Nouveau-style cast-iron railings and gates.

History

Said to carry the date of 1816 on a slate slab to the rear, but substantially remodelled (though probably incorporating the earlier building) c1860-70. Used for storage when inspected.

Exterior

Gable end entry chapel with fine entrance facade. Lined-out render over brick, with moulded cornice band and hipped slate roof with red tiled cresting. Entrance front has pedimented centre-piece set forward of the main chapel body and separately roofed; main chapel body has hipped roof. Entrances set to either side of advanced centre-piece, into main chapel body, with richly-panelled, renaissance-style doors in moulded architraves with pediment hoods carried on brackets; blind keyed oculi over each doorway. Advanced centre-piece has bold modillion cornice to strongly projecting pediment, and contains 18-pane horned sash window with pedimented head clasped by coupled pilasters sprung from a string course at sill level. Return elevations each a 4-window range: 18-pane sashes in moulded architraves with pediments carried on scrolled brackets.

Interior

Vertically-boarded dado and counter-changed black/white aisle pavements between raised pew platforms (the pews themselves have been removed); simple ceiling with 3 decorative plaster vent roses. Inner porches with moulded plaster cornices having egg-and-dart decoration; pavements as before. The end wall has 3 classical niches: the central one has pilasters and frieze, and has a heavy segmental pediment with dentilations and plain projecting key. The flanking niches have blind windows with moulded architraves and pediments supported on consoles.

Reason for designation

Listed as a later C19 chapel (though with earlier origins), ambitious in scale and enrichment for a rural context, employing an especially finely detailed and consistent Renaissance style.