John Wesley and the Methodist Movement

Local Nonconformist Chapels & Churches

The Welsh Baptist Associations (Cymanfaoedd)

Baptist - Welsh

1649 The first Baptist Chapel in Wales was established by John Miles at Ilston on Gower. Later, to avoid persecution John Miles emigrated to America with most of his congregation.

1650 Weekly Baptist services were being held locally at the home of Jennett Jones, who lived at Berwick, Bynea, near Llanelli.

1660 Although the Nonconformist Movement had made little progress in Wales as a whole, the Independents (Congregationalists), Baptists and the Quakers had a significant following during the period of intolerance that followed the Restoration and coronation of Charles II.

1661 The Restoration Parliament reacted to the spread of the Nonconformist Movement by passing four Acts of Parliament:

1661 Corporation Act required every member of a municipal council to take Holy Communion in his parish church.

1662 Act of Uniformity required every priest to swear an oath of allegiance to the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty Nine Articles as the embodiment of the Anglican faith. As a result two thousand clergymen forfeited their livings rather than take the oath.

1664 Conventicle Act prevented people from attending religious meetings of more than four persons who were not family members. Failure to comply could result in imprisonment.

1665 Five Mile Act forbade any clergyman who would not conform from living within five miles of a town or his former church.

1672 Charles II, much to the annoyance of Parliament, passed a Declaration of Indulgence which allowed Christians who were not members of the Church of England, to hold services in private houses provided that the houses were officially licensed. This Declaration favoured Nonconformists and Roman Catholics. This toleration was short lived and persecution soon resumed.

1688 The new Government passed the Toleration Act giving complete freedom of worship to all Christians who would subscribe to thirty six of the Thirty Nine articles which ensured the spread of Nonconformity in Wales. With the removal of all legal barriers denominational places of worship were soon established.

1800 By this time the Independents or Congregationalists were considered to be the most radical of the Nonconformists with the Baptists holding the middle ground. The Methodists, both Wesleyan and Calvinists who outnumbered the other denominations in West Wales being considered the most conservative.

Local Nonconformist Chapels and Churches

As the population of Llanelli exploded many religious denominations built their chapels and churches to accommodate the spiritual needs of the community. The early chapels and churches of the Free Church were built during a time when there was bitter controversy over the Church Rate. This was a tax levied on all ratepayers which contributed towards the repair and maintenance of Church of England property. The Free Churchmen bore the expense of building and repairing their own chapels and churches themselves with no help from the Church Rate. It is not surprising that many Free Churchmen resented being compelled to subsidise the Anglican Church. In 1834 there was a revolt against the Church Rates and the dispute raged furiously for thirty years. During that time if a Free Churchman refused to pay what he considered to be an unjust tax, his furniture and possessions were seized and sold and sometimes he was thrown into prison. Local opinion was inflamed when instances of this occurred in Llanelli. Issues of religious freedom were uppermost in the minds of the Free Churchmen who felt very deeply about the subject and their attitudes hardened. They resolved to fight for their principles and at the same time formed the idea of building new chapels whenever and wherever they had the opportunity.

Baptist – Welsh Speaking

Adulam, Felinfoel

Bethania, Dafen Road, Morfa

Bethel, Marine Street, Seaside

Bethlehem, Pwll

Caersalem, Marsh Street

Calfaria, Ann Street

Capel Seion (Zion), Upper Park Street

Maescanner, Dafen

Moriah, Station Road

Penuel, Penyfan

Salem, Pwll

Saron, Bynea

Soar, Llwynhendy

Tabernacle, Llwynhendy

Baptist – English Speaking

Greenfield, corner Murray Street and Station Road

Beulah, Ann Street, Wern

Emmanuel, New Dock

Independent – Welsh Speaking

Berea (Bynea)

Bryn

Capel Als

Dock, Morfa

Ebenezer

Libanus, Pwll

Lloyd Street

Saron, Furnace

Siloah, Glanmor Road, Seaside

Soar, Marsh Street

Tabernacle, Coleshill Terrace

Congregationalist – English

Park Street Church, Upper Park Street

Park Church, Murray Street/Inkerman Street

Calvinistic Methodist – Welsh

Capel Newydd, Mount Pleasant

Gelli Onn

Glenalla, Glenalla Road

Nazareth, Llwynhendy

Siloh, Lakefield Road

Trinity, New Dock Road

Calvinistic Methodist – English

Presbyterian Church, Cowell Street

Wesleyan Methodist – Welsh

Jerusalem, Wind Street

Wesleyan Methodist – English

Hall Street Church

Victoria Road Chapel

Wesleyan Chapel, Campbell Street, New Dock