Hope(1898)

English Baptist, Park View, Gelli

Built: 1902 , Extended or Rebuilt: 1906 [Sittings: 700]

Hope is one of the handful of Rhondda churches where its original chapel is still en situ. Naturally, iy was the significaant increase in population in the Ton-Pentre/Gelli townships that deemed the neccessity of an English-speaking cause since the nearest was in Pentre (Zion) from which some 19 members transferred to Hope.

  Image by permission of Rhondda Cynon Taf Libraries - Reference: 2887

Meetings were initially held at the Girls' School on Sundays with members' houses being held for weekly prayer meetings. Siloam, Gelli as kindly lent to them their chapel to hold communion services.
    The chapel could accommodate 400 worshippers. But in less than three years attendance had out-grown this with little alternative but to building larger premises on land at the rear. The new chapel cost ₤2,350.
    Hope was also one of the three Rhondda churches that joined the Glamorgan English Strict Baptist Association.
    I have no information as to when the larger chapel, which can be seen in the photograph, ceased to hold services. Subsequently demolished and residential accommodation built on the site.
    Services were transfered back to the original chapel and I have it on good authority that they continue to this day.

Source document - MGCS 54/104.