Elim Pentecostal Chapel, Dowlais
In 1873, a schism occurred at Beulah Chapel, and the Minister and 34 members left that chapel and started their own cause.
They acquired a piece of land on Walter Street and they built a small tin chapel there and called it Tabernacle. Within three years however the number in the congregation increased dramatically and it was decided to build a larger chapel. Three cottages and a shop were purchased in Ivor Street and new larger chapel designed by Mr John Williams, was built in 1876.
When, several years later, the schism between the two congregations healed, the congregation at Tabernacle moved back to Beulah, and Tabernacle became the Undenominational Christian Mission.
In 1919 a group of men, who were converts from the 1904/1905 Welsh Revival, invited Stephen Jeffreys of Llanelli to conduct a series of Revival Meetings. Both this group and Stephen Jeffreys himself had come into contact with some of the newly formed independent Pentecostal group.
They were offered the use of the Undenominational Christian Mission, at first renting it and then, in December 1919 buying it at a cost of £600. Late in 1924 there was the first formal agreement between the leaders of the church and the Elim Pentecostal Alliance. The chapel was called Elim-Tabernacle and became the first Pentecostal Chapel on the British mainland.
This agreement was renewed in 1927 and the church became a member of the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance in 1928.
The old chapel was forced to close and was demolished in 1974 due to the redevelopment of Dowlais and a new chapel, Elim was built in 1975 in Upper Elizabeth Street and continues to prosper.
Absolutely fascinating to see the too and fro of the various Christian denominations at a time of great social upheavel in Dowlais and Merthyr.
A number of the Spanish immigrants (including my grandmother, Brigida Arriaga) joined Elim in the early 1920’s with ministers holding services in Spanish for them.
That is really interesting – thanks for sharing it