Ramoth, Hirwaun
Ramoth, Hirwaun was a Baptist chapel in Trevenock Place, Hirwaun, Aberdare, Wales. Following closure in 1982, the building continues to be used for worship by the Assemblies of God.[1]
History
The history of Ramoth starts in the early 19th century, when meetings were held in a house owned by George Overton of the Hirwaun Ironworks.[1] A chapel was opened in 1825 as a branch of Calfaria, Aberdare and was the mother church of Heolyfelin, Aberdare. By 1849, membership had increased to 178.[1]
Thomas Joseph, a colliery proprietor, was a deacon at Ramoth. In the early 1850s he opened a new colliery at Trecynon and persuaded many Hirwaun colliers who were members at Ramoth to move with him. Joseph was the pivotal figure in the formation of the new church at Holyfelin ,and for a time the membership at Ramoth declined considerably and the cause struggled to remain in existence.[2]
J.S. Johns arrived as minister in 1899,[3] but died two years later at a young age.[4]
Peak membership was reached in 1904, and in 1913 a new organ was installed following a gift from Andrew Carnegie.
The chapel closed as a Baptist cause in 1982, but continues to be used for Christian worship.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Jones. Chapels of the Cynon Valley. pp. 150–1.
- ↑ Turner 1984, p. 6.
- ↑ "Cyfarfod Sefydlu y Parch. J.S. Johns (gynt o Benybont) yn Hirwaun". Seren Cymru. 30 June 1899. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ↑ "Claddedigaeth y Diweddar Barch J.S. Johns, Ramoth, Hirwaun". Seren Cymru. 8 March 1901. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
Sources
Books and Journals
- Jones, Alan Vernon (2004). Chapels of the Cynon Valley. Cynon Valley Historical Society. ISBN 0953107612.
- Turner, Christopher B. (1984). "Religious revivalism and Welsh Industrial Society: Aberdare in 1859". Llafur: the journal of the Society for the Study of Welsh Labour History. 4 (1): 4–13. Retrieved 9 September 2016.