History

There has been a Baptist presence at Rhydwilym since the 1660s, and a chapel since 1701. Plaque on front of building records that a chapel of 1763 was rebuilt in 1841, then rebuilt and enlarged in 1875. The present building is entirely in keeping with a date of 1875. Historically Rhydwilym was the mother church of all Baptist churches in Pembrokeshire, western Carmarthenshire, and most of southern Ceredigion.

Exterior

A rubble-stone chapel with a slate roof on bracketed eaves. The gable-end front has rock-faced quoins and dressings. Round-headed windows are margin-lit small-pane horned sashes. The central round-headed doorway has panelled double doors beneath a radial-glazed overlight. Above it are 2 narrow, small windows lighting the gallery, with large windows to the L and R. In the gable is a blind oculus above an inscription tablet. The side walls, of which the L-hand is slate-hung, have 2 large windows, with a similar pair of windows to the rear.

Interior

Entrance doors give on to a lobby with open wooden stairs to each side. Four-panelled doors lead to the body of the chapel, either side of a window with coloured glass. Above the window an C18 plaque from the earlier chapel records the foundation of the chapel by John Evans. The main chapel has a ribbed and diapered flat ceiling (the ceiling rose was removed in the 1930s). Windows have hood moulds. The 3-sided gallery has a panelled wooden front, and stands on iron columns from "T JONES PRIORY FOUNDRY CARMARTHEN". Three banks of pine pews. The pulpit has flanking stairs with turned balusters and a reredos with broken segmental pediment on Ionic columns with simulated granite shafts.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a good unspoilt example of later C19 rural chapel on a historic site, forming part of group including stable and schoolroom, and former chapel house.

Recommended Books

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)