Ebenezer(1910)

Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, Station Terrace, Maerdy

Built: 1912 [Sittings: 600]

Although not as complex as was the case of Hermon, Tonypandy, the back-story of the founding of this cause is equally interesting since it also throws light on perceived moral opinion in the 1900's. The source document, also within the Calvinistic Methodist Archives at the NLW, is actually a newspaper article from 1990 which is more about the 'Mother' church of Bethania, Maerdy.

  Image by permission of The History Press/David Owen

In 1906 the then minister of Bethania, David Jones, lost his wife and took in a pretty house-keeper to look after his four children. Valley folk being what they always have been - it is often said that your neighbour knows more about you than you do - sensed some improprietry in this arrangement so much so that a number of chapel Elders walked out, started a new cause not so far away from Bethania, with the net result that the congregation was split.
    Now, as discussed with Hermon, the Monthly Meeting must approve the new church. It appears that this was done in 1910. And it does appear that they were more sympathetic in this case. This may be a coincidence but this was the year that David Jones moved on and he was subsequently to marry the young lady.
    As a point of interest the old photograph depicts the opening of the chapel in 1912.
    As the years passed it was realised that Maerdy could not support two Calvinistic Methodist churches and it was decided that Ebenezer had to close. This occured in or around 1964. Most, but not all, of the remaining members of Ebenezer returned to Bethania.
    The least said about the 'horrible' building that replaced Ebenezer - Teifi House - the better.

Source Documents:-
NLW CMA EZ3/95