Ramoth, Hirwaun originally a Baptist chapel in Davies Row,
Hirwaun
Hirwaun (, ; ) is a village and Community (Wales), community at the north end of the Cynon Valley in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. It is NW of the town of Aberdare, and comes under the Aberdare post town. At the United Ki ...
,
Aberdare
Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...
,
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. Services at Ramoth were held in the Welsh language. Following renovation in 1982, the building continues to be used for Christian worship as an
Assemblies of God
The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), commonly known as the Assemblies of God (AG), is a global cooperative body or communion of over 170 Pentecostal denominations that was established on August 15, 1989. The WAGF was created to provi ...
fellowship.
Foundation and early 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.
However, the early years were difficult and meetings ceased to be held for a time following the closure of the ironworks. The cause revived in 1818. A chapel was opened in 1825 as a branch of
Calfaria, Aberdare.
There were around 50 members during this period and the opening services were held on 18 June 1826. The chapel was licensed in 1830 and Ramoth accepted to the East Glamorgan Baptist Association at
Aberfan
Aberfan () is a former coal mining village in the Taff Valley south of the town of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
On 21 October 1966, in the Aberfan disaster, a colliery spoil tip collapsed into homes and a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
...
in 1831.
The first minister between 1832 and 1834 was William Lewis, who was also minister of
Calfaria, Aberdare.
In 1840, with membership at 76, it was decided to build a new chapel, which was opened in 1843. While the new chapel was being built, Benjamin Evans, a student from Pontypool College, was ordained as minister of Ramoth. He remained for fifteen years and during this time a branch of Ramoth was opened at
Heolyfelin.
By 1849, membership had increased to 178.
In 1853,
T.W. Rammell's report on public health in the parish of Aberdare stated that the burial ground at Ramoth was nearly full and, due to its proximity to housing, should be among a number of nonconformist burial grounds that should be closed.
Thomas Joseph, a colliery proprietor, was a deacon at Ramoth. In the early 1850s he opened a new colliery at
Trecynon
Trecynon is a village near Aberdare, situated in the Cynon Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It dates from the early nineteenth century and developed as a result of the opening of the Aberdare Ironworks at Llwydcoed in 1800.
Toponymy
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 Heolyfelin, and for a time the membership at Ramoth declined considerably and the cause struggled to remain in existence.
The following ministered at Ramoth in the late nineteenth century: Benjamin Watkins (1857–58), D. Davies (1863–69), E. Colwyn Evans (1872–91) and David Collier (1892-97).
Twentieth century
J.S. Johns arrived as minister in 1899,
but died two years later at a young age.
Peak membership was reached in 1904, and in 1913 a new organ was installed following a gift from
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...
.
George Hague was minister from 1903 to 1910 and was followed by E. Cefni Jones (1911–20).
E.J. Hughes was the longest serving minister from 1923 until 1958.
There is a wax cylinder recording o
Rev. E. Robertsmade at Ramoth during the Welsh Revival of 1905.
The chapel closed as a Baptist cause in 1982, but was renovated and re-opened as a place of Christian worship in the 1990s.
'
Ramoth Christian Centre'' celebrated 150 years at its present location in 2018, and the current building is in its third incarnation.
References
Sources
Books and Journals
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Online
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External links
Coflein entry
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Chapels in Rhondda Cynon Taf