13117

 

II*  

Designated  

22/05/1978  

27/09/1996  

Ebenezer Welsh Independent Chapel  

 

Rhondda Cynon Taff  

Tonypandy  

 

 

299532  

192272  

W  

Situated on the main thoroughfare in a commanding position above the road and next to the Police Station.  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

Independent Cause in mid-Rhondda established 1865 under leadership of Charles Jenkins, William Jones, David Thomas. Chapel built 1867-8, builder William Richards at cost of £1000, remained centre of Cause in the Rhondda. Repairs and foundations strengthened 1873, new organ installed and improvements and repairs 1892, Revival 1904-5. Refurbishment possibly by Owen Morris Roberts and Son of Port Madoc.  

 

Main chapel building at present disused and in deteriorating condition. A richly furnished interior. Four sided raked gallery supported by 10 iron bracketed fluted piers with painted capitals, very decorative panelled fronts of carved and polished contrasting woods incorporating fretwork panels and ebony colonnettes with planked soffit; windows have hood moulds and label stops, ventilators and gas brackets on scored walls; platform with 2 flights of stairs to carved and moulded pulpit, decoratively panelled to rear of triple seat and with curved and decoratively panelled front with fretwork to set fawr - all fittings richly carved and the arrangement intact; above is the organ by Peter Conacher of Springwood Huddersfield c1892 flanked by 6 painted pilasters on gallery walls on either side; very decorative ceiling with 2 large roses incorporating ventilators and 13 other smaller versions within a panelled part plaster part boarded framework, a separately decorated panelled rosed ceiling above the organ; coloured glass windows to rear. Because the entrance is via an open loggia rather than the more common enclosed vestibule the windows are much larger and the interior therefore much lighter than is usual in this area.  

Listed II* as one of the finest chapels in the Rhondda, retaining an exceptionally rich interior with fittings complete.  

Ebenezer Welsh Independent Chapel and Ysgoldy Ebenezer Ebenezer Welsh Independent Chapel Of coursed rockfaced sandstone with ashlar dressings, coursed rubble to sides; rendered to rear; Welsh slate roof with ridge tiles and ventilators and gables surmounted by metal finials. Gable end facade of 2 storeys at 3 levels comprising a central pedimented gable with 2 gabled cross bays linked by a slightly recessed 3 bay entrance loggia. Central bay has a 3 window range of 3 round headed windows with keystone and small paned coloured glass, with centre window flanked by 2 smaller lights; pediment above with small gable light and 2 roundels flanking inscription panel 'Ebenezer Independent Chapel Tonypandy AD 1868'. Side bays each have pairs of similar round headed windows with ashlar surrounds incorporating keystones and imposts with pediment above; tiled entrance loggia has round headed arches with keystones and imposts with cornice above leading to opposing doorways with 6 panelled doors. Side elevation of 5 bays has round headed windows with 6/6 pane horned sashes with coloured glass overlights. Ysgoldy Ebenezer Attached to rear left with frontage on Ebenezer Road is former Sunday school wing, Ysgoldy Ebenezer, with 2 bay main frontage with round headed multipane sashes and 3 segmental headed 4/4 pane margin glazed sashes to rendered side and further sashes to cross wing; small tiled forecourt with stone steps, wall, entrance piers, metal gates and railings. The main entrance courtyard to the chapel is listed separately.