Old Blaina Chapel

[HistorySeeker]

Hi hourihane,
Thanks for the links - there is a good deal of very interesting info there about Nantyglo and Blaina, isn't there?  I found the part where the minister John Lewis is mentioned, however, in the very next sentence it says "Then in 1845 the Reverend William Roberts received the call and laboured for 30 years".  So doesn't that imply that William Roberts would've been the minister when both your ancestors (in 1864) and mine ( in 1871) were married?

What I was also drawn to was the third paragraph before John Lewis is mentioned, starting "1n 1837 the first Salem was built".  It then mentions that this chapel is used by Blaina Band and then next paragraph mentions the "present" chapel being built in 1851 - is it possible that the "first" Salem chapel is what we are looking for?

I think I need to read the link in much more detail 

[hourihane]

Hi Helen
Your right about the next sentence saying about the Reverend William Roberts laboured  for 30 years .And “William Roberts” probably was the full time minister. But it’s also possible that on the days when our family were married ,that “Reverend John Lewis” etc had taken over for what ever reason. I’m assuming that these ministers were not like today’s vicars, assigned by the bishop to a specific church. Perhaps my family knew ministers “John Lewis” very well and preferred him to marry them who knows .
Mike       

[HistorySeeker]

Hi Mike,
I've read the link again, but I'm no clearer really.  You are probably quite right that the family became close to one of the ministers more than the other and chose to have him conduct the marriage ceremony, or perhaps the Rev John Lewis preferred to do the marriage ceremonies while the other did the baptisms for example.
Anyway I'll assume it is Salem Baptist Church that we're looking for.
Happy researching!
Helen
 

[spangleann]

This was a photo of Old Blaina Chapel taken four years ago.  I was told by some locals that for years it had been used as a car repair workshop.

[hanes teulu]

The Western Mail Jun 1 1877 carried a report of Trigamy and referred to one of the marriages at "Herman Baptist Chapel, Blaina in 1867"

regards

['Trish']

The old Blaina Chapel was still standing up to 10 - 15 years ago.  I have a photo which I have tried to download but the file is to big. 

regards Trish

[hanes teulu]

Have a look at Historical Directories (searchable on line)     http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/

The two Directories closest to your 1871 date are -

Worrall's Directory of South Wales 1875
Slater's Directory of Glos, Herefs, Mon, Shrops and Wales 1868

Describes the churches, ministers etc in the Brynmawr area

regards   

[HLW]

Hi
Any information on Blaina, try contacting
BHAG- BLAINA HERITAGE ACTION GROUP

www.blaina.moonfuit.com

They have lots of info

[hanes teulu]

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/~simon/blaina/wfha/990227.htm

Nice picture of Salem, Blaina 1848

regards