Jerusalem Chapel, Bethesda

Jerusalem Chapel, Bethesda
"A chapel of remarkable scale and dignity"
Jerusalem Chapel, Bethesda
Location in Gwynedd
Coordinates: 53°10′48″N 4°03′35″W / 53.18°N 4.0596°W / 53.18; -4.0596
OS grid reference SH624667
Location Bethesda, Gwynedd
Country Wales
Denomination Presbyterian Church of Wales
Website Jerusalem Chapel website
History
Founded 1842-43
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade I
Designated 25 April 1997
Architect(s) T. Evans (original building) and Richard Davies (rebuilding)
Architectural type Chapel
Style Italianate palazzo
Groundbreaking 1842-43, 1872-75 (rebuilding)
Clergy
Minister(s) Geraint Hughes

Jerusalem Chapel, Bethesda, Gwynedd, Wales is a Presbyterian Church of Wales chapel built in 1841-42 and reconstructed in 1872-75. Of colossal size, the chapel can accommodate 980 people in its horseshoe amphitheatre. Still an active chapel, it is a Grade I listed building.

History

The original chapel was constructed in 1841-42 by T. Evans of Bangor and rebuilt in 1872-75 by Richard Davies.[1] The cost of the original building was £3,400, and the rebuilding, £1,778.[2] The chapel was constructed for the Calvinist Methodist community, an offshoot of Methodism.[3] In 1903 an organ was installed, having been purchased from Huddersfield Town Hall.[2] The chapel remains an active place of worship for the Presbyterian Church of Wales.[4] Daily services are conducted in Welsh.[5]

Architecture and description

The chapel is constructed in an Italianate palazzo style, described in the Gwynedd volume of the Buildings of Wales series as "more town hall than chapel".[1] The chapel is large, of a nearly-square plan.[2] The exterior is of stucco and the building is two storeys with a slate roof.[3]

The interior forms a "horseshoe amphitheatre"[1] capable of seating 980 people.[2] The square plan of the exterior is concealed internally by a curved wall[2] and the amphitheatre has a domed ceiling.[3] The chapel is a Grade I listed building, its listing describing it as "a chapel of remarkable scale and dignity ...with a(n) interior of exceptional interest".[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Haslam, Orbach & Voelcker 2009, p. 263.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Listed Buildings - Full Report - HeritageBill Cadw Assets - Reports". Cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net. 1997-04-25. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Jerusalem Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Pant-Glas Road, Bethesda". Coflein. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru". Henaduriaeth Arfon. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  5. ↑ "Bethesda United Church (Jerwsalem)". Ebcpcw.cymru. Retrieved 2017-08-14.

References

  • Haslam, Richard; Orbach, Julian; Voelcker, Adam (2009). Gwynedd: Angelsey, Caernarvonshire and Merioneth. The Buildings Of Wales. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-14169-6.
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