Ministers
Fellowship was formed and met at the Neuadd Farmhouse in Scethrog in
1813. Around 1815 a property in Scethrog called ‘Mount Pleasant’ was
rented and turned into a place of worship.. This house was also the
birthplace and home for the first 13 years of Revd John Tertius
Phillips.
Various preachers led worship – Revd T Powell of the Plough, Brecon;
Revd J Jones, Talgarth and Revd W Williams, Tredustan.
Revd Evan Pritchard
took charge in 1836.
Land was leased in Pennorth from Gwynne Holford of the Buckland Estate
in 1840 and the present chapel built and opened in June 1841
Revd Evan Pritchard completed his ministry at Pennorth in 1856
1856-1858 no Minister
Revd Philip G
Thomas
1858 – 1882
Revd John Hughes
1885 – 1886
Revd W
Catwg Davys
1886 – 1906
Chapel rebuilt in November 1893
Revd William M Saer
1908 – 1920
Revd Matthew Owen
1926 – 1935
Prof John Evans led worship at the age of 104
Tabernacle Congregational Chapel, Pennorth resolves to join the United
Reformed Church in 1972
Revd Eifion Thomas
1949 –
1979
Revd Alan Willcocks
1999 -
2005
Revd Michael
Hodgson 2006
– 2017 in partnership with
Revd Greg Thompson
from
2009 - 2014
Tales from the
Treasurer
In Pennorth my earliest records would appear to be the Finance Ledger
from 1923. It is apparent from the beginning until October 1949 Pennorth
had long periods without its own minister. Supply Preachers were quite
readily available from the Colleges at Brecon, Trefecca and Carmarthen.
The proximity of the railway, the Brecon to Merthyr line ran in the
cutting next to the chapel, gave access to Preachers from Cefn Coed,
Rhymney, Porthcawl, ystradgynlais, Bargoed, Troedyrhiw, Penydarren,
Newport and Cardiff to name but a few areas that Ministers came from on
a regular basis. Some were provided with accommodation for 2 shillings
and sixpence a night and occasionally 5 shillings for the weekend.
The Chapel made frequent donations to The London Missionary Society
[LMS]; the League of Nations; Brecon Hospital; Miners Welfare Fund;
Ministers Widows Fund and the Colleges listed above.
The Brecon Beacons Pastorate is a creation of the last five years, but
the ledger shows interaction with The Plough, Libanus, a contribution on
the 15th May 1949 of 2 guineas donated to Maesyronnen
restoration Fund, and in 1963 a donation was made to Tredomen Chapel for
a plaque to commemorate the last service preached by Prof John Evans at
the age of 104. The plaque is now displayed at Pennorth.
Regular activities held at the Chapel included Gymanfa, Singing
Festivals, Harvest, Carols when programmes and posters would be printed
and advertised in the B&R at 5 shillings each. Also Dress Making classes
held in the vestry and paid for by the Education Department of
Breconshire County Council.
On the 9th October 1949 the Revd Eifion Thomas took his first
service at Pennorth as the newly appointed Minister of the Brecon Rural
Group of chapels. A contribution of £12 ten shillings per quarter was
made to the Zone Churches Account and £2 six shillings per year National
Insurance and Superannuation.
In November 1957 an insurance claim for £27 and one shilling was made to
repair damage to the chapel due to an explosion resulting from a lorry
transporting dynamite catching fire and exploding on the A40 at Scethrog
one mile away. It made a huge crater in the road, luckily the driver was
in the phone box calling the fire brigade when the lorry blew up at
about 6am. The then efficient Roads and Bridges Department had the A40
reopened the same day!
In 1923 the chapel had an income of £98.18sh.5d and expenditure of
£96.5sh.0d. Other milestones in the life of the chapel are in 1926 a
carbide gas generator and lighting was installed for £8.1sh.3d.
In 1929 Mr Heathway was paid £1 to clean all the gravestones. In 1931 it
cost £1.6sh to tune the piano and a new cheque book was 4 shillings. In
1952 £2.18sh.5d was paid to the County Council to connect a water supply
to Chapel House. In 1954 electricity was provided to the Chapel and
house for £1.9sh.8d the wiring being donated by the Morris family.
Electricity bills were less than 10 shillings per quarter. Electric
heating followed in 1959 at a cost of £148.7sh.0d raised mainly by a
sale of work. In 1965 a new petrol mower was purchased for £32. Five
gallons of petrol and a quart of oil cost a further £1.10sh.7d. In 1969
a new bathroom was built on Chapel House for £162 with fittings costing
a further £47.9sh.10d. In 1972 the kitchen was added to the vestry at a
cost of £223 with fittings and electric costing £67.17p partly financed
by a grant from the Welsh Churches Act.
In 1979 on September 30th Revd Eifion Thomas retired after 30
years service.
Roger Young
Treasurer
August 2018