The historic chapel has an unimaginable and distinctive historical past however has been put up on the market
A neighborhood are in a race towards time to save lots of an iconic Grade II listed chapel within the coronary heart of a former coalmining village from doubtlessly being purchased by property builders. The enduring Capel Rhondda, positioned within the former mining village of Hopkinstown, close to Pontypridd, was just lately put up on the market for simply £47k after it closed its doorways in December 2024.
Amid fears that the constructing – which is legendary because the chapel the place the hymn Cwm Rhondda, or Bread of Heaven, was first sung – might be misplaced as a neighborhood area, one native lady stepped in to create a crowdfunding marketing campaign for locals to attempt to reserve it for themselves on the final minute.
Rhian Hopkins, who’s from the small Rhondda Cynon Taf village and attended Sunday college on the chapel when she was younger, mentioned “Iit could be an actual disgrace if the unimaginable constructing which was funded and constructed by our ancestors” was misplaced to a property developer who “could not respect the constructing’s historical past”.
“It was constructed by the neighborhood, for the neighborhood so I wish to see it remaining as a part of the neighborhood,” Rhian added.
“My fear is that though it is a Grade II Listed constructing and can clearly be protected ultimately, it is in the marketplace for what’s a comparatively low value for a property today. I am involved that it might be purchased up by a rich property developer from exterior the realm and has no connection to the constructing.
“It is at that kind of value the place somebody would possibly simply purchase it speculatively and depart it to sit down empty. There are repairs which can be wanted already, so issues would solely worsen.”
She determined to arrange a a crowdfunder to attempt to elevate the £47,000 asking value for the chapel to make sure it could stay locally’s fingers.
All last bids for the chapel should be made to the Welsh Baptist Union by noon on Friday, July 17.
The web page has already raised over £2,500 and Rhian’s hope is that funds can be used to place a bid collectively, or contribute to a bid from an organisation that desires to keep up the chapel as a neighborhood area. You’ll be able to view the crowdfunding web page right here.
Rhian mentioned: “It’s some huge cash and a variety of dedication however when you assume how a lot folks spend on vehicles, holidays or weddings today however to save lots of a bit of historical past it could be pretty if folks would simply make a small contribution.”
Rhian added that whereas there’s not an amazing demand for thus many chapels anymore as a result of a decline in spiritual congregations, it doesn’t imply that the significance of neighborhood and areas for the neighborhood has diminished.
“Though in a variety of methods we have misplaced faith, we nonetheless want locations we will get collectively as a neighborhood, do not we?” Rhian requested.
“Individuals could be lonely, folks battle, it is good to have these neighborhood areas that can be utilized.” Get the newest Rhondda information first by signing as much as our e-newsletter right here
The chapel was Grade II listed by Cadw in 2001 for its “architectural curiosity as a late nineteenth century chapel in a outstanding location retaining its unique character”.
From the skin the classical-style chapel boasts an imposing and good-looking stone snecked façade, rock-faced stone, lighter freestone dressings, and slate roof. Inside, the chapel has a lot of its unique character and options remaining, all of which can be included within the sale, say the distributors.
The Cadw itemizing particulars many of those options together with the coloured-glass panel reverse the primary door and half-lit doorways to the primary chapel within the sacristy, the fluted forged iron columns with foliage capitals and a boarded gallery entrance, plus the boarded panel ceiling that has a central ornate ceiling rose.
The pews are nonetheless in place too however arguably it is the organ that’s the most breathtaking merchandise inside this historic chapel and certainly the place the primary public efficiency of Cwm Rhondda occurred. The organ was made by the famend agency of organ builders Blackett & Howden, based on Cadw. You’ll be able to learn extra concerning the chapel constructing itself right here.
A spokesman for The Baptist Union of Wales mentioned: “The union is unhappy to have needed to shut the chapel and we’re grateful for all that has been carried out there over time.
“Till just lately it was a really lively church however sadly attendance numbers have declined and the buildings have began to deteriorate. It’s a choice not taken flippantly, however the sacristy specifically is in a really poor state of restore and cannot be used.
“On the finish of final yr we checked out completely different choices for makes use of for the constructing however couldn’t discover something appropriate – there was no different out there possibility than to advertise. It’s such a disgrace however the constructing wants some funding and we hope we are going to discover an applicable purchaser and a brand new lease of life to this historic constructing that has served the neighborhood so nicely.”
