The Methodists

The Methodists have been a pillar of Whitchurch society for such a long time, and we all know the church at the roundabout near the library. But who are they and what is the history?

Before Easter, we looked at the Calvinistic Methodists, who became the Presbyterians at Tabernacle. Over 250 years ago there was another branch of the Methodists in Whitchurch too, called the Wesleyans and they were closely connected

Like so many of our local stories, there is also a connection to Velindre and Melingriffith. We know that the Quakers from Somerset moved into Velindre in the 1720’s and developed the ironfoundry at Melingriffith; they were deeply committed to the spiritual life of their workers

Whilst the Calvinistic Methodists were strong in the local area, with their first pastor at Watford Chapel by 1734, a small independent Methodist society was formed in Cardiff. Sadly, this fledgling society fell apart by 1752 due to personal conflicts based on theological differences

The famous preacher John Wesley first visited Whitchurch in October 1739 and again in April the following year, but the local cause wasn’t helped as the Wesleyans spoke mainly English whilst most of the locals spoke Welsh

Of course, many of the new workers at Melingriffith were English-speaking migrants so heard the Wesley message

As the Melingriffith works grew and the numbers of workers increased, the growth of Wesleyan Methodism also grew. John Wesley continued to visit over the next 30 years, and his brother Charles (the hymn writer) stayed locally at times. All of the Wesleyan Methodist meetings were home-groups for teaching, and then off to St Mary’s for worship

The Methodists were different from the other nonconformists as they relied on lay preachers who travelled around the local area and, in later years, with ordained ministers who only stayed with their local chapel for 7-10 years before moving on. This is largely true even today

About 1820 a first Methodist chapel was formed at Melingriffith. This was in a very small barn at Penylan

TW Booker was drawn to Methodism, and was very sympathetic. He provided financial assistance (and building materials), and within a few years a new, larger building had been erected adjacent. In spite of the earlier conflicts, these early Methodist services were bilingual, but by 1850 were solely in English

Numbers of Methodist attenders continued to increase, and the new building became too small, so another larger building was erected nearby by 1862. Much of the construction and labour was by voluntary contribution

Towards the end of the 19th century, with the continued population growth in Whitchurch and of Methodist attenders, thoughts led to yet another rebuild. This time, land was acquired near the crossroads (the current chapel site) and by 1893 the foundation stone laid. The chapel was completed quickly with the pews and pulpit reused from Melingriffith. The chapel was officially opened in 1895

The sketch below suggests how the new chapel might have looked by the turn of the century. It was set back from Penlline Road and had a small porch with a gas lantern over the front entrance. There is a hint of the houses on the newly-opened Kelston Road beyond

Then even more changes! A harmonium was given to provide music for the Wesley hymns, and by 1900 a vestry was added to the rear. By 1911 the chapel was extended to the front with the façade we see today, all to increase the seating capacity

Between the wars, electric lighting was installed and numerous schoolrooms and halls were added to the rear. A new hall was built on the corner of Kelston Road by 1935, and a pipe organ installed

Whilst the congregations in more recent times have been smaller, the chapel has undergone further adaptions with a complete refurbishment and a new kitchen by 1996, and in 2012 the insertion of a café/coffeeshop, the ‘Roundabout Café’

For the past 125 years, the Methodists have celebrated and sung at this prominent location with so many locally well-known families with a warm welcome offered to all

Does anyone have any memories of the Methodists, their Sunday School and the uniformed organisations held there over so many years?

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