Calfaria(1880)

Welsh Baptist, Marien Street, Clydach Vale

Built: 1880 , Extended or Rebuilt: 1881 [Sittings: 600]

Calfaria was a 'Daughter' of Jerusalem, Llwynypia. Anyone familiar with the geography of this area will readily appreciate the logic in this.

  Commercial and other sources

Although a school-room, costing ₤300, had existed since 1877, the main chapel, opened in 1882, at a cost of ₤1,300. Refurbished in 1898 with the installation of a pipe-organ at a total cost of ₤700 meant that the church was saddled with substantial debt not fully cleared until 1916.
    Its first minister, William Elvad Davies, served the church for some 34 years. No subsequent minister gor even close to this achievement.
    Calfaria could boast quite healthy membership figures which peaked during The Revival at 475 but still stood at over 200 in the 1930's. Yet these plummeted drastically in the decades that followed with only 3 in attendance at closure in 1997.
    In fact the main chapel had ceased to be used in 1984. Subsequently vandalised it was sold and demolished in 1991. It may well be that the vestry formed, or inspired, the front-facing entrance of the grand dwelling house subsequently built on the site.

Document Sources:-

MGCS 54/58
Trafodion 2001 pg 34.