Tabernacle(1874)

English Baptist, Hannah Street, Porth

Built: 1874 , Extended or Rebuilt: 1878 [Sittings: 1150]

Tabernacle traces its origins to a small gathering in a room above a shop at Dinas. As the gathering outgrew its home, the congregation split with some going to Tonypandy and others to Porth. The church's first chapel in Porth, built at the same location as the latter onewas, as stated, a quite modest affair.

  Commercial and other sources

Tabernacle's most celebrated, but not longest-serving, minister was Rhys Bevan Jones. I have mentioned him in the histories of Salem, Porth and Ainon, Ynyshir so I will not repeat those words apart that he should serve both a Welsh-speaking and an English-speaking church in Porth. He also founded a bible-school in Porth, which trained future ministers, during his tenure at Tabernacle plus a branch cause in the Mount Pleasant District.
    Rather curiously Tabernacle withdrew from the East Glamorgan English Baptist Association. I believe this happened sometime during the tenure of F.S. Copleston himself a 'graduate' of the bible-school. I have no information as to the reason behind this move.
    And whilst Tabernacle's name still appeared in denominational records until the early 1970s with the Baptist Union ony subsequently listing details of its own members no ferther information is forthcoming. I do, however, understand that services are still held to this day.

Source document - MGCS 54/15.