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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: Tiggersmum on Thursday 30 April 09 16:45 BST (UK)
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My Aunt and Uncle, Anna (Annie) and Harward Hodges, lived in Cardiff and were enthusiastic members of the Bethany Chapel during the 1920/30/40s, my aunt evidently playing the organ there. Does anyone have any info on this Chapel during this time or can someone point me in the right direction to find out more? Any info gratefully received.
Tigger
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Hello, Bethany Baptist Chapel was founded in 1804 on the site that is now occupied by Howells Dept. Store in St. Mary Street , Central Cardiff
The chapel was relocated to its present site in Rhiwbina in 1964
There are two photographs on line of the original chapel on a website called Gathering the Jewels.
www.gtj.org.uk/en/small/item/GTJ73187
as above/GTJ9277
Hope this helps
If you have problems looking at the photos please send me a personal message.
Regards
Heddwch
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Many thanks for the info which I will follow up. When I was a child I was taken to the Chapel by my aunt but unfortunately I have no recollection about the Chapel itself. There is a family story that the small organ in my grandparents home in Harlesden, London, went with my Aunt to Cardiff and was given to the Chapel, but whether this is true and how I find out who knows? Anyway many thanks for your contribution.
Tigger
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Part of the Chapel is still visible in the men's department of the store.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howells_(department_store)
http://www.capeli.org.uk/uploads/local_19_cardiff.pdf
There was an episode of the family history programme "Coming Home" (might have been Olivia Newton John's but I'm not sure) when they went there and showed them.
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Hi
I have a couple of photos of the outside of the building, my GG Grandfather was a lay preacher at the chapel according to the census record of 1861.
On the TV programme Olivia Newton John was allowed to go onto the roof of James Howells store to see the chapel from that perspective. I have also visited the "Gentlemans Dept" in Howells to see the facade of the chapel.
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Thank you all for your information. I shall be looking at the sites and photos you mentioned. Your input is very much appreciated.
Regards
Tigger
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Does anyone know if there was/is a Burial ground attached to the chapel in the 1910/30 period? If not which Cemetery would have been used?
Tia
Pete
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I have a photo that shows headstones laid against the outside wall of the chapel so it seems burials would have taken place in the grounds. I would guess for the period you are enquiring about that Cathays Cemetry would have been used which was some 2/3 miles away.
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Thanks, I'm trying to work out wher Rev William Winks and his wife would have been buried
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Hello!
I currently work in House of Fraser Cardiff, and I'm really interested to find out more about the original buildings that make up the store.
Theres a lot of original features still in store and theres a few stories about them but I was wondering if you had found out anymore information as I'm struggling to find anything.
Also, I would love to see the photos of those headstones!
Thanks
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Have you an email address I can send the photo to?
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http://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/0704howell.html
If you email them and give the reference HF 124, the lovely lady might be able to send you some information they have in Glasgow Uni.
I cant send the file on here its too big.
jessicachandler@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks!
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@tbirduk
I think they buried people there, theres a crypt somewhere in the building, and apparently if there was any major disturbance to it, it would have to be blessed before any work could go ahead... but were not allowed there, cant think why!
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Thanks but I contacted Cardiff County Council and they confirmed that as wdytyanoidea suspected the Rev. W E Winks and hs wife were buried in Cathays, and a week later they kindly sent me a photo of the monument which certainly save me from a long drive :)
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Western Mail, May 12, 1884
OPENING OF A NEW ORGAN AT BETHANY CHAPEL
A very handsome new organ which has been erected in Bethany Baptist Chapel, St Mary Street, was opened on Sunday morning. The instrument was built by Messrs Peter Conacher & Co of Springwood, Huddersfield, and cost £500. It stands on a gallery which was constructed especially for it in the apse at the eastern end of the chapel, immediately behind the pulpit. The gallery was built by Messrs Jones and Bros at a cost of £150 ...........
regards
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The Western Mail, Friday, April 20, 1894
Renovation of Bethany Chapel Cardiff
".................... the whole of the work, including some additions to the organ, is estimated at £200 ......................."
regards
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Whilst scouring the Welsh Newspapers on line I found this interesting article.
...The memorial stone was a large slab of freestone, which was lowered into its place by pulleys, immediately over the keystone of the arch surmounting the principal entrance to the
new chapel, facing St. Mary-street. The walls had already been erected to a corresponding height. M. GRIFFITHS, in presenting a silver trowel to Mr. Hopkins, stated that he had been
selected to lay the foundation stone as being the only surviving member of the church from its formation. He read the inscription on the trowel, as-follows Presented to
Thomas Hopkins, Esq., on the occasion of the laying of a memorial stone in the New Bethany Chapel, Cardiff, August 16th, 1861; he being the sole surviving member of the church at its
formation, and now in the 85th year of his age, and the 57th of his deaconship, and the 58th of his membership.
Mr. Hopkins then, taking the trowel, proceeded to lay the stone in its place, and to give it the customary taps with a mallet after which the workmen completed the job of fixing it in its place.
Mr. Barry meanwhile had placed in a recess formed in the stone a glass jar containing the following articles Carte de visite portraits of the Revs. W. Jones, A. Tilley, and R. Griffiths, Messrs. J. Edy,
T. Hopkins, T.Rees, sen., D. Jotham, J. T. Barry, T.Jenkins, T. Rees, jun., T. Price, David James, Thomas Jones, R. Benjamin, T. Tiist, R. Evans, and Mr. W. P. James and P. Price, the builders of the chapel.
A copy of the Cardiff Times and of the Cardiff News of May 27th, 1864, containing a report of the closing service in the old chapel; Cardiff Times of October 23, 1863, with a report of the Sunday School Jubilee,
Cardiff Express of August 16, 1864; The Times, August 16, 1864; The Freeman, August 10, 1864; Baptist Magazine, August, 1864; Baptist Messenger, August, 1864 and The Church, August, 1864.
A printed list of the members for 1863; an admission ticket in connection with the recognition services of the Rev. Rees Griffiths; and a document prepared by Mr. Griffiths, containing a sketch of the
history of the rise, progress, and formation of the church......
Cardiff Times 18th Aug 1864
If you read the article there is a mention of burials
I'm chasing an ancestor who was a builder in Cardiff - a newspaper report on his death mentions he was the builder of the Tabernacle in Cardiff - I'm eliminating the Chapels one by one!!