Merthyr’s Chapels: Moriah Chapel, Cefn Coed

Moriah Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Cefn Coed

At the end of the 18th century a Mr Rowland Pugh came to Cefn Coed from North Wales. He became a member of Pennsylvania (Pontmorlais) Chapel, and in time became a deacon there.

Within a few years he started a Methodist Society in his own house at Cefn Isaf, Cefn Coed and as the cause grew it became apparent that a more suitable place of worship was required and the first Moriah Chapel was built in 1807. The congregation increased and a new chapel was built in 1830, and two branches were established that became Bethlehem Chapel, Caepantywyll and Carmel Chapel, Clwydyfagwyr.

By the 1880’s it became obvious that a new chapel was needed, so the chapel was again rebuilt and was opened on 21 March 1886. A small notice of the chapel’s reopening appeared in the Merthyr Express on 3 April 1886 which is transcribed below:

“MORIAH CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHAPEL

The Opening services of this chapel were held on the 21st and 22nd ult. when the Revs J Lewis, Cilgerran; T Davies, Treorchy and T C Phillips, Abercarn preached eloquent sermons to large congregations. Collections were made in each service towards the building fund which amounted to over £200. The church at Moriah now posess undoubtedly the neatest and prettiest place of worship in the place.”

In 1908 a controversy occurred. The minister at Moriah at the time, Rev D Watts-Lewis, officiated at the memorial service for Rev Dr Thomas Rees, former minister at Pontmorlais Chapel and a very eminent man in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church. However, shortly after this he announced his intention to resign as minister of the chapel and the Calvinistic Methodist Church and join the Church of England. He was accepted into the Church of England in June 1908 and immediately became a curate at Skewen.

The membership at Moriah declined steadily after the Second World War, and by the mid 1960’s the chapel closed. The building was demolished in 1972.

2 thoughts on “Merthyr’s Chapels: Moriah Chapel, Cefn Coed”

  1. A very interesting article.
    I am a 5th generation Grandson or Rev Thomas Audrey 1808-1867. He was a Wesleyan Minister and rose to the Rank of President of the North Wales Wesleyan Conference for 12 years .
    I know of the Audrey Memorial Chapel and the stain glass window of the Good Shepard which was removed to the Unitarian Chapel
    After the Aubrey Chapel was closed.
    I have found a lot of information on Thomas through my research into my Family Tree , I would be very interested to know if this topic has ever featured in the History of Cefn Coed and an article in your society ‘s journals
    If so, I would be very happy to pay for copies of any information that has been published

    1. Hello.

      Thank you for your message. Nothing has really been published about Aubrey Chapel, but I have a few things here that I more than happy to share with you. Give me a couple of days to sort through what I have and I will get back to you.

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