The building erected in 1875 replaced an earlier chapel on the corner of Llewelyn Avenue and Vardre Lane. The first Tabernacle chapel in Llandudno, dating from 1815 was itself rebuilt in 1835. The chapel was extended in 1902 by G.A.Humphries to incorporate the schoolroom, the ionic-pillared portico and a new main entrance.
The chapel closed in 2013. The adjoining schoolroom is used as an exhibition centre.
A plaque records that the chapel's minister, the Rev Lewis Valentine was one of the three Welsh nationalist activists who made an arson attack on the RAF Bombing School at Penyberth, Pwllheli on 8 September 1936.
The red plaque reads:
Cenedlaetholwr a heddychwr.
Gweinidog Capel y Tabernacl, ac un o sylfaenwyr, a Llywydd cyntaf,
Plaid Cymru. Fe'i carcharwyd am losgi'r
Ysgol Bomio Rafftiau ym Mhen y Berth, Sir Caernarfon.
Nationalist and pacifist.
Minister of Tabernacl Chapel and a founder and first President
of Plaid Cymru. Imprisoned for the burning of
RAF bombing school at Pen Y Berth, Caernarfonshire.
Capel Tabernacl (Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Chapel) is Grade II listed.
A contribution to Inspired Sundays.
I find it interesting how church building often change over time. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteNeat building. Arson seems like an odd thing for a pacifist to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Linda after reading the small print. Nice photos, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteWhat an odd thing for a pacifist to do, what if he had killed someone. Nice looking old church and good it is still in use if for some other purpose
ReplyDeletei am glad they are still using it ... such history. ( :
ReplyDelete