Maesyronnen Chapel
Encyclopedia
Maesyronnen Chapel is about 1 miles (2 km) north of the village of Glasbury
, Powys
, Wales
. It is a Grade I listed building. The chapel is one of the earliest Nonconformist
chapels to be built in Wales, and is the only chapel existing from that time to be largely unchanged and still in use as a chapel. It is currently administered by the United Reformed Church
.
granted Nonconformists freedom to worship in their own buildings without certain legal strictures that had formerly applied. Maesyronnen Chapel was one of the earliest buildings in Wales to be created for this purpose. It was developed from an existing longhouse (a farmhouse with an attached cattle-shed), the cattle-shed being converted into a chapel and the farmhouse used by the caretaker. The conversion took place in the 1690s, either in 1691 or in 1696–97. It was registered as a chapel in 1697 and was used by a congegation which had been meeting in secret in a barn nearby since the 1640s. The chapel was built on land given by Charles Lloyd, squire
of Maesllwch. The original farmhouse would have been a substantial building dating from the Elizabethan era
. At some time it was replaced by a much smaller house, a chapel-house, for the minister. The original roof was replaced in the 18th century and the floor, formerly beaten earth, was flagged
.
In 1980 the chapel received a grant for repairs, having been recognised as a building of "outstanding architectural and historic importance" by the Historic Buildings Council
. Further restoration and repair became necessary in the 21st century and Cadw
gave a grant of £50,000, following a recommendation from the Historic Buildings Advisory Council for Wales. The chapel re-opened for worship in the spring of 2008.
ed and limewashed. The entrance front faces south and contains two doors, one at the western end, the other towards the eastern end. Between the doors are three mullion
ed windows with timber frames; there is another window beyond the east door. Over the west door and the most easterly window is a small gable
. In the gable over the west door is a sundial
.
, and divided into six bays
. Much of the 18th-century furniture is still present in the chapel. The interior is dominated by the pulpit
, that stands in the middle of the long wall opposite the entrance. Behind it is a window, which both provides light for the preacher, and surrounds him with a "halo
". In front of the pulpit is a large table, two benches (which are dated 1728), and another table which is used for communion
. The communion table is dated 1727. Also in the church are box pew
s, and some simple backless benches. On the walls are memorials dating from the early 19th century that include inscriptions in Latin
.
and is available to be rented for holidays.
Glasbury
Glasbury , also known as Glasbury-on-Wye, is a village in Powys, Wales which lies at an important crossing point on the River Wye, connecting the former counties of Brecknockshire and Radnorshire. The village is just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park, north of the Black Mountains. The...
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is a Grade I listed building. The chapel is one of the earliest Nonconformist
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
chapels to be built in Wales, and is the only chapel existing from that time to be largely unchanged and still in use as a chapel. It is currently administered by the United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
.
History
In 1689 the Act of TolerationAct of Toleration 1689
The Act of Toleration was an act of the English Parliament , the long title of which is "An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes".The Act allowed freedom of worship to Nonconformists who had pledged to the...
granted Nonconformists freedom to worship in their own buildings without certain legal strictures that had formerly applied. Maesyronnen Chapel was one of the earliest buildings in Wales to be created for this purpose. It was developed from an existing longhouse (a farmhouse with an attached cattle-shed), the cattle-shed being converted into a chapel and the farmhouse used by the caretaker. The conversion took place in the 1690s, either in 1691 or in 1696–97. It was registered as a chapel in 1697 and was used by a congegation which had been meeting in secret in a barn nearby since the 1640s. The chapel was built on land given by Charles Lloyd, squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
of Maesllwch. The original farmhouse would have been a substantial building dating from the Elizabethan era
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
. At some time it was replaced by a much smaller house, a chapel-house, for the minister. The original roof was replaced in the 18th century and the floor, formerly beaten earth, was flagged
Flagstone
Flagstone, is a generic flat stone, usually used for paving slabs or walkways, patios, fences and roofing. It may be used for memorials, headstones, facades and other constructions. The name derives from Middle English flagge meaning turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga meaning slab.Flagstone is a...
.
In 1980 the chapel received a grant for repairs, having been recognised as a building of "outstanding architectural and historic importance" by the Historic Buildings Council
Historic Buildings Council
Three separate Historic Buildings Councils were created by the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, one for each of England, Scotland and Wales...
. Further restoration and repair became necessary in the 21st century and Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
gave a grant of £50,000, following a recommendation from the Historic Buildings Advisory Council for Wales. The chapel re-opened for worship in the spring of 2008.
Exterior
The plan of the chapel is that of a simple rectangle, measuring about 55 feet (17 m) by 26 feet (8 m). The small house is attached to its western side. It is built in stone, plasterPlaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
ed and limewashed. The entrance front faces south and contains two doors, one at the western end, the other towards the eastern end. Between the doors are three mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed windows with timber frames; there is another window beyond the east door. Over the west door and the most easterly window is a small gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. In the gable over the west door is a sundial
Sundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
.
Interior
The ceiling is barrel-vaultedBarrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
, and divided into six bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. Much of the 18th-century furniture is still present in the chapel. The interior is dominated by the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, that stands in the middle of the long wall opposite the entrance. Behind it is a window, which both provides light for the preacher, and surrounds him with a "halo
Halo (religious iconography)
A halo is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes...
". In front of the pulpit is a large table, two benches (which are dated 1728), and another table which is used for communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. The communion table is dated 1727. Also in the church are box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, and some simple backless benches. On the walls are memorials dating from the early 19th century that include inscriptions in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
Present day
The chapel is used by the United Reformed Church who hold services there every Sunday morning. It is accessible to wheelchair users and there is some limited parking for cars. The attached cottage is administered by the Landmark TrustLandmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
and is available to be rented for holidays.