The Baptists

It never ceases to amaze me about our village. This week I’m wondering why we’ve got 2 Baptist Churches within half a mile of each other

Edgar Chappell tells us that there were tiny Baptist communities established in Lisvane and Caerphilly in the late 18th century

Because travelling was difficult, local Baptists agreed to meet here in the village instead. First at the old farm Gwauntreoda on the common, and then as numbers grew, in 1824, they built a small chapel across the road. This they called Ararat as the plot was on slightly raised ground. Even though they called the chapel Ararat, it was always referred to as Capel-y-Waun (Church on the Common)! Like most of the village, they were all Welsh-speaking

The brook adjacent provided a very convenient location for baptisms until they were able to build their own internal Baptistry in 1879

On the edge of the village, Ararat was very rural, surrounded by fields and hedgerows. During the 19th century, the village expanded, and the small hamlets all morphed into the long village which we would recognise even today. As the village grew, so did Ararat, with membership increasing from 79 in 1829 to 136 in 1860

In 1851, the chapel was rebuilt (at a cost of £600) with seating for 350 people. The sketch shows the chapel in 1901 with the graveyard in front

By 1915, Ararat was rebuilt again as the building we know today (although with many extensions since)

In the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th centuries, churches were famous for their fundraising through ‘Grand Bazaars’. Does anyone remember stories of these?

The Welsh-speaking congregation at Ararat came under pressure from the (mainly) English-speaking incomers, and so both Welsh and English services started. However, by 1865, a small group of English-speaking Baptists decided to form a separate house church, based in another farm on the common (Cornel-y-Waun). This new congregation chose the name of Bethel for their group

Of course, the Welsh-speaking congregation at Ararat continued to meet, albeit with fewer numbers

Within a few years, Bethel outgrew their barn and started meeting in a thatched cottage behind the Maltsters Arms pub. In time, even this proved too small, and 2 years later they acquired a plot of land in Penlline Road to build a ‘small vestry’ with seating for 100

The Bethel membership continued to grow, and in 1884, fundraising began to build a new chapel. It took 10 years, but the Bethel we see today was erected (at a cost of £1,024). It had seating for 350, although they only had 42 members

The sketch below shows Bethel about 1900

By 1901, with a new minister, Bethel’s membership had grown further so that a gallery was installed. By 1920 the original ‘small vestry’ had been demolished and replaced by 3 new schoolrooms. Whilst the work was progressing, Bethel met in a large marquee in the ‘Plas-y-Llan’ fields opposite, where Whitchurch High School stands today

Then in the 1950s, a new building was erected on land behind Bethel to provide additional schoolrooms and hall. This allowed children’s work and the uniformed organisations to flourish

In more recent times, Bethel’s interior has been transformed with the removal of the fixed pews and formal pulpit enabling more flexible worship. On Penlline Road, a glass vestibule has been inserted

Very recently, the rear schoolrooms near the car park have been remodelled as the Whitchurch Centre with totally new facilities

With a succession of younger ministers recently, Bethel has attracted a younger membership which continues to grow, with great emphasis now on family worship, and outreach to the community

Back to Ararat. With the loss of many of their English-speaking congregation in the 1880s, membership dropped, but over time regrew. By 1905 membership stood at 150 (double that of 1883)

It is ironic that at the start of the new century, Welsh-speaking Ararat finally succumbed to be an English-speaking church

The story of Ararat during the 20th century and beyond is one of great encouragement. A growing membership (in spite of the world wars and economic hardships), Ararat expanded its accommodation front, back and sidewards. A series of very charismatic ministers helped with growth. The most recent of alterations with the Ark Cafe has made Ararat incredibly accessible not only to the local population, but as an events-location for the whole city

Whilst Ararat retained its pews and gallery, the front worship area allows total flexibility and as a result marches fearlessly onwards

So, 2 English-speaking Baptist churches in the village. Over the years, each had its own uniformed organisations for both girls and boys, and very intense rivalry. I’m sure there must be stories to share

 

PS Much thanks to Chris Soughton for the information on Ararat, and to Bethel for the information on their early life (from their book ‘Born in a Stable’)

 

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