Jerusalem(1867)Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, Church Road, Ton-PentreBuilt: 1867 , Extended or Rebuilt: 1881 [Sittings: 920]
You will read in the history of Bethel, Ystrad of the tension that arose in the formation of this cause so I will not repeat it here although the MGCS article does embelish it.
 Image © Copyright Glamorgan Archives - Reference: MGCS/CS/54.107
But, as with many Rhondda townships, Ton-Pentre owes its population to the development of Maindy Colliery and the increase demanded a local chapel rather than the long walk to Bethel. A photograph of the original, more modest, home appears uner 'Extra Content'.
I have mentioned him elsewhere but here is the proper place to write about Jerusalem's most celebrated and longest serving minister William Jones. The MGCS articles is incorrect inasmuch that he commenced his ministry at Bethel. His only full-time pastorate was Jerusalem with oversight of Bethel during the afformentioned controversy.
But the Rev. Jones was more than a simple shepherd. His 'profession' was that of an architect and in his time designed many chapels. And whilst it is not mentioned in either document it, for me, is more than plausable that he designed the much grander new chapel opened in 1881at a cost of ₤2,700.
Jerusalem's healthy membership witnessed the formation of branch causes at Pentre (Nazareth) and lower Gelli (Duffryn) plus an English-speaking cause also in Ton-Pentre (Bethany).
The church could still claim a respectable membership of over 70 at the time of the MGCS survey. No doubt this depleted over the years and the church ceased to exist on or before 1992.
When I visited the location in 2009 there was nothing to remind one of the chapel's existence which I described as a 'waste land'. Yet this is a location that I travel past quite frequently and a building rose from 'the ashes' with a design that makes some attempt to remind one of the past. It has a plaque on its frontage with a date of 2013. For some time, even when I took a more recent photograph last year, only the upper story was developed and appears to be residential. But this year (2024) the local 'Spar' relocated to here plus a 'Greggs' which, I guess, makes local residents more than happy.
Source Documents:-
MGCS 54/107
'Hanes Eglwys M.C. Jerusalem Ton' 1920.
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