Albert Road

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Albert Road Methodist Church & Community Centre

Located in Albert Road, Penarth, the rear of the building (from the door on the right of the picture) was extensively re-furbished in 2007, to provide a modern multipurpose church hall, and three floors of rooms with kitchen facilities and toilets on all floors, together with lift access. Click on the Map to see its location.

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History

After the destruction by fire of its Arcot Street church, the Wesleyan Methodist congregation chose a site in Albert Road for its new building, designed by Henry Budgen, FRIBA, in an Early Decorated Gothic style. It opened in 1907, with 'modern tip-up seats' in its galleries. The schoolroom was destroyed by fire during the Second World War, when it was in use as a NAAFI canteen, but the church escaped damage. Re-building in the 1950s restored the lost schoolroom accommodation. In 1973 it was decided to convert the church and schoolroom into a multi-purpose building offering a wide variety of community service while remaining a place of worship. Albert Road was the first church in Penarth, and one of the earliest in the country, to undertake such a transformation. The alterations which were designed by David Pile, were carried out by members' labour and skills. The stained glass from the John Henry Fraser memorial window is now on the other side of the Atlantic, having been re-set in Bell Street United Church, Ottawa. The 1922 organ is in use in Brunswick Street chapel, Swansea. The church tower has lost its original pinnacles, which had become unsafe, and now has a more solid appearance.

In 2006, with the need for much structural work to be undertaken to safeguard the future of a church to serve the community in this part of Penarth, it was decided reluctantly to divide the building into two parts and to sell the old “landmark” church building, to a developer with planning permission for flats. The funds thus released in 2007, along with generous grants obtained from the Vale of Glamorgan and Biffa, together with legacies and generous gifts in memory of former members, enabled the old schoolroom and the rest of that part of the building to be refurbished up to the standards of the 21st Century. The architect responsible was Liddell + Associates, and the builders: R & M Williams, who had connections with the church in the past. During the year of “exile” all the church groups continued to meet, thanks to the hospitality of other nearby churches and the Church Centenary in May 2007 was celebrated in St Augustine’s Parish Hall. The church re-opened in January 2008, and continues to flourish and serve the community, by offering space for large groups for meetings, dance classes, rehearsals etc.; medium sized rooms for educational/health classes, and small rooms for personal counselling services.

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Cadoxton Methodist Church, Barry

Located in church road, Barry. See here for a map.

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Awaiting details

History

It was in the early 19th century that Bethel Chapel was built on the edge of the common, to meet the needs of the large influx of workmen engaged in building embankments to hold back the sea and to reclaim land on the moors. Many of these workmen were Methodists. Bethel was opened in 1815 and services were conducted in Welsh. It could accommodate approximately 100 worshippers. Bethel was a small chapel, and to accommodate this number, seats were built in tiers, rising from the pulpit steps to the rear, where the seats were very close to the roof. On warm days the atmosphere became stifling and a number of worshippers would faint from the heat.
By 1855 it became obvious that a new chapel would have to be built, partially to cater for the English-speaking members and to alleviate the overcrowding in the old chapel. In that year out of 24 services held, only 8 were in English. Many English speakers, to join in the act of worship, were content to sit in the other 16 services, although they were unable to understand the sermons.
In the 1860's the decision was taken to build the present church. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jenkins of New House gave the land and Miss Mary Ann Morgan of East Barry House, guaranteed the cost of building the new Chapel. In 1862 the Church opened for worship. Hard times were to follow, as many worshippers who had come to reclaim the land at the Moors, left the district to work elsewhere. The Church managed to survive until 1884 when a tremendous influx of workmen arrived to start the work of building the docks.
The years immediately following saw a great increase in the number of worshippers attending services, so much so that the decision was taken in 1896 to extend the building with the addition of two transepts. These were opened in October of the same year. Unlike many Churches in the area, Cadoxton built their Schoolroom after their Church, and it was opened in 1931.

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Crossway Methodist Church

Located at the junction of Crossways street and Court Road, Barry. See here for a map.

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Crossway Methodist Church was formed by the amalgamation of Holton Road and Court Road Methodist Churches. The original Church on the Court Road site was one which was built by an offshoot of the Wesleyan Movement, "The Bible Christians". Before building their Church in 1905, they met for worship, as did many others in Barry, in member's houses, and later in a large room in the Barry Dock Hotel (now Amy Evans). To accommodate some of their bigger prayer meetings a large tent was purchased and erected in fields in Court Road. By 1891 sufficient funds had been raised by contributions from working men, and generous contributions from Mr. John Cory (when building work faltered through lack of finance) to enable a permanent building to be erected there. "The Andrew Carnegie Fund" helped purchase the organ with a donation of half its cost. Mr. Lever, Corn Merchant of Court Road gave the silver Communion service. The congregation of a small Church in Buttrills Road named "The Methodist Free Church" began to meet for worship in a building in Spencer Street in 1897. The following year they moved to Buttrills Road to a larger building. In 1905 they sold their small Church, and together with the Primitive Methodists, (whose Church which opened in 1897 and was situated in Pyke Street), joined with Court Road Wesleyan Methodists. Under an Act of Union of 1905 all Methodist Churches and Wesleyan Chapels then became "The United Methodist Church" taking as its name "The Methodist Church." By 1963 the Churches at Court Road and Holton Road combined and met for services in the former St. John's Anglican Welsh Church in Court Road, whilst their new Church "Crossways", was being built.

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Dinas Powys Methodist Church

Located in the heart of the old village. Click on the Map to see its location.

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Methodism became established in Dinas Powys in 1875, when Rev James Carr established a Methodist Bible Class in The Star Pub in Dinas Powys. James Carr was a retired Methodist Minister living in Cardiff and he is buried in St Andrew’s graveyard. Later the Methodists acquired Kynance Cottage which became the first Methodist Church in the village. Later the present Church was added.

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Eastbrook Methodist Church Dinas Powys

Chapel Row, Eastbrook, Dinas Powys. Click on the Map to see its location.

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Eastbrook is one of the smallest of the churches in the Circuit and meets in an old TIN TABERNACLE originally built as a mission church for the navies working on the Barry Railway line…which runs just across the road from the Church. As the name suggests the church is situated east of the brook than runs through Dinas Powys and it serves a very defined community. The building was taken over in 1887 by the then Wesleyans, later to become The Methodist Church. There is a faithful membership of 9 and a regular congregation of between 9 and 11.

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Porthkerry Road Methodist Church, Barry

Located in porthkerry road, Barry. Click on the Map to see its location.

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Porthkerry Road Methodist Church beginnings were unlike many of its contemporaries who held meetings in small rooms. The Church started its life in a purpose built building. Early in 1889 plans were passed for the building of the Church and Thomas Walker, who built the Docks, was entrusted with the work. By September of that year the schoolroom /Chapel opened, and in the ensuing years lighting, which was by oil lamps, was replaced by gas. The building that now houses Hyper-Value (formerly Bethesda) was used for a short time as a Sunday school by the church. In 1896 the Church was so successful that plans were put forward for the building of a larger Church on the site. By the following year the foundation stones of the new building were laid and in January 1898 the Church was opened. The driving force behind the building of the Church and of the Methodist cause was Mr. John Lowdon who had arrived in Barry less than 6 months previously. This church is not currently being used for services and the congregation has joined with URC congregation at their church in Windsor Road. The existing building is currently on the market for Sale.

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St. David's Methodist Church, Barry

Located at the junction of Winston road and Colcot road Barry. Click on the Map to see its location.

History

The Church has its roots in a Mission run at a war army camp in Barry in 1914. Later on a Sunday school was set up in a house to serve the Colcot area of Barry, which was followed by a 'tin shack' and then the present church.

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St. John Methodist Church, Barry Island

Located in a Lane off breaksea drive, Barry Island, behind the Red Cross building. Click on the Map to see its location.

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History

Members of Barry Island Wesleyan Methodist Church, like so many others in the late 1890's, met in rooms in member's homes, until the numbers wishing to join in the services became so many that an alternative venue was needed. This was found in the upstairs room of a shop in the Triangle. When this too became overcrowded, a decision was taken to build a Chapel on the Island. In 1901 building work started, and in September the same year, it opened for worship. The description of the Church on its opening was "The Church is built in red brick with Bathstone dressings, and is entered from the eastern end through double doors into a large porch. The Church is 53ft 6ins long by 30ft wide, complete with a vestry 18ft by 10ft. It has folding doors to enable the Church to accommodate seating for over 300". The builder was Mr. David Morgan of The Parade, Barry, and the Architect was Mr. Birkenhead of Cardiff. The total cost of the building was £900.

The Rev. T. Hind of the Penarth circuit conducted the opening service, and Alderman Agar, who was presented with a silver key by the architect for the purpose, formally opened the church. The Rev. David Young conducted the first service.

In 1905 further work took place with the building of two new schoolrooms designed by Mr. Birkenhead, and built by S.S. Martyn of Barry. Mrs. C.H. Bailey of Newport opened one of these schoolrooms with a suitably inscribed silver key. She commented that the first bazaar she had ever opened, and now this, the first opening ceremony that she had ever performed, were both at Wesleyan Churches. She also noted that her great grandfather, William Hardcastle, was a Wesleyan minister converted by John Wesley himself.

In 1914 the building was taken over and converted for use as a hospital, which was staffed by members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade for the duration of the First World War. It finally closed as a Hospital in December 1919 and the building was handed back to its members.

During its time as a Hospital it treated nearly 4,000 bed patients and 30,000 outpatients. At one time so many wounded arrived in Barry, that tents, marquees and wooden buildings were erected and pressed into service as temporary accommodation for the wounded.

Amongst the members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade who served at Barry Island was F.R. Hortop, Divisional Superintendent. Mrs Pardoe was later appointed Superintendent and at the end of the war was awarded the OBE. Mrs M.Lucas, Departmental Superintendent was awarded the Order of St. John for her efforts. Other members were C. Lennox and A. Paul (both ambulance officers), Sgt. T. Morris, Corp. J. Collins and J. Dally, all of whom were conscripted into the R.A.M.C on call-up. Another member, W.H. Adams, was invalided out of the war but served at Barry Island as a V.A.D.

At first most of the equipment used was donated, and the organisation of the hospital was undertaken on a voluntary basis, but later the War Department gave the hospital funds to enable it to cater for more patients. Sgt. George Clemett organised events to raise money for equipment. Doctors Budge, Kent and Scott were the hospital's medical officers. As a tribute to the work carried out by the St. John Ambulance Brigade the Church was re-named St. John Methodist Church.

In 1923 after renovation and the addition of new stops, the pipe organ at the church was re-opened. Mr Fred Jones of Cardiff, who played the organ on its installation in 1920, gave a recital. The organ, which is one of the oldest in South Wales, was built by Jas. Horton of London in the 18th century. It gave good service in one of the churches in Newport before being sold to St. Peter's RC Church in Cardiff, who later sold it to St. Paul's Church, Barry, where it was used for many years until it was finally acquired by the Barry Island Church.

During the Second World War the Schoolroom of the Church was used as a Forces Canteen, but services were permitted to be held in the main Church.

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The Gathering Place, St. Athan

The Gathering Place at St Athan has its own website at http://thegatheringplace-stathan.org/ which has full details.

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Trinity Methodist Church, Penarth

Trinity Methodist Church has its own website at http://www.trinitypenarth.org.uk

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The Amelia Trust

The Amelia Trust has its own website at http://www.ameliatrust.org.uk/