Coleshill Terrace, off Town Hall Square

The Memorial Stone was laid by Lady Stepney on Good Friday, April 1873. Before it was decided to build Tabernacle, Capel Als had already thrown out three branches, Siloah Chapel, Bryn Chapel and Park Congregational Chapel. Siloah Chapel, in turn, had thrown out Dock Chapel. In spite of the additional chapels, Capel Als was still overcrowded so it was decided to build Tabernacle

Tabernacle Independent Chapel, an offshoot of Capel Als was built at the entrance to the Park in what became Coleshill Terrace. The architect was John Humphreys of Morriston who had designed some of the largest chapels in Wales. He had also designed Tabernacle at Morriston which cost a staggering (at the time) £13,000.

The Lanelli Tabernacle was said to be in the Italian style of the plain Corinthian variety with semi-detached pillars in front. The Corinthian pediment and capitals were relieved by numerous arches and dressings and the ceilings were curved and ornamental. The building, designed to hold 1,000 members, was estimated to have cost £4,100.

The memorial stone was laid on Good Friday by Lady Stepney, wife of Sir John Stepney, of The Dell. A procession of about 1,500 started from Capel Als at 1.45 pm and met Sir John and Lady Stepney at Tabernacle at two o’clock. As it was a general holiday a large number of people congregated to watch the ceremony. Lady Stepney was presented with an inscribed silver trowel and mallet and responded by handing an envelope containing £50 to the Revd T Johns, which was her subscription to the chapel. As a memento of the occasion Lady Stepney presented the mallet to Dr Thomas Johns, minister of Capel Als, the mother church of Tabernacle. The mallet has been passed on to each succeeding minister at Capel Als.