History

The cause stemmed from Bethel Baptist chapel at Ffarmers. Chapel built 1829, rebuilt and enlarged 1871. 301 members in 1874.

Exterior

Gothic-style gabled front of squared rubble, with raised sandstone ashlar corner pilasters continued up verges to meet at apex. Slate roof, wooden soffits, moulded wooden bargeboards. Central pointed doorway, dressed stone voussoirs, paired panelled doors, Y-tracery fanlight. Long pointed Y-traceried 15-pane window each side, dressed stone voussoirs. Triplet of pointed windows above door, taller to centre, Y-tracery glazing, dressed voussoirs. Stone sills. Roundel to gable containing wooden louvered ventilator. Carved stone tablets to gable, that to left reading; "Salem Capel y Bedyddwr. Adeiladwyd 1829. Ail adeiladwyd 1871", the other: "Salem Baptist Chapel. Built 1829. Rebuilt 1871". Rendered left elevation, three tall pointed 13-pane Y- traceried windows. Similar windows to right side. Rendered rear with two tall windows as 0front.

Dwarf stone walls to forecourt with cast iron railings and paired central cast iron gates and posts.

Interior

Elaborate 1871 interior. Boarded ceiling, coved on long sides, three large square wooden vents to sloping sides, three circular wooden vents to centre, the middle one intersected by diagonal ribs. Three sided timber slightly curving gallery on plain iron columns, moulded base and sill, long panels of decorative cast iron balustrading. Big seat with panelled sides, cast iron balustrading above. Chamfered newels to corners and side entries with carved tapering finials. Timber pulpit with polygonal front, moulded sill and base, round arched panels filled with cast iron openwork. Flanking sweeping staircases, turned balusters, newels as above. Tall plaster round-arched surround behind pulpit, fluted sides, leaf decoration to corbels and head. Pews with shaped ends, panelled backs and doors, metal eyes for Communion glasses. Raked pews to gallery. Rear lobby window with central lozenge pane, marginal coloured glazing. 1904 fixed brass offering-box in lobby.

Reasons for Listing

Representative example of a later C19 rural gothic chapel with a complete interior and fittings.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29493955

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments