Capel Yorath, Cwmgiedd, Breconshire

Disgrifiad

2000 (with Sony Mavica MVC-FD91 digital camera)

Capel Yorath is an old Welsh Methodist chapel situated in the tiny village of Cwmgiedd in the Breconshire parish of Ystradgynlais. When you've studied the exterior views of the chapel, displayed below, use the link at the bottom of this page to access my page of interior views of the chapel.

Image 1:

An old and tattered picture postcard of Capel Yorath (courtesy of Gerwyn Williams). The original black and white photograph was tinted to give the impression of colour. The photo, possibly dating from before World War I, shows the original appearance of the front entrance before the addition of the rather ugly extension shown in the remaining pictures.

Image 2:

The chapel is on the main street through the village. On the morning I visited, the local postman (in yellow) was delivering a Christmas package to one of the small cottages next to the chapel.

Image 3:

The inscription on this plaque, high above the entrance to the chapel, reads: Capel Yorath Trefnyddion Calfinaidd (Yorath Calvinistic Methodist Chapel) Adeiladwyd 1806 (Built 1806) Ail-adeiladwyd ac helaethwyd 1824 (Rebuilt and enlarged 1824) Adeiladwyd drachefn ac helaethwyd 1858 (Rebuilt again and enlarged 1858)

Image 4:

Capel Yorath, on the left of the main street through Cwmgiedd. The village is in the valley of the river Giedd, a tributary of the river Tawe. Over the stone wall on the left is the chapel graveyard.

Image 5:

The southern aspect of the chapel, viewed from its graveyard.

Image 6:

An example of the variety of monuments in the chapel graveyard, with the wooded valley hillside beyond.

Image 7:

One of the older legible headstones in the graveyard (see inscription alongside).

Yma
y
gorphwys rhan farwol
EVAN LEYSHON
o Gwmygiedd yn y plwyf hwn
yr hwn a hunodd Hydref yr
8fed 1849 yn 64 oed
Hefyd JENNET gwraig y dywededig
EVAN LEYSHON a fu farw Awst y 5ed
1866 yn 82 oed
(Biblical text - Job XII 20)
Etto WILLIAM LEYSHON o'r lle hwn
a mab i rhai a enwyd uchod yr hwn a
fu farw Tachwedd y 10fed 1868
yn 45 oed
(Biblical text - Psalm CII 23)
Hefyd CAROLINE ei weddw fu farw Rhagfyr 3 1913
yn 81 oed
Mi a gedwais y ffydd

(see translation below)

Translation:

Here lie the mortal remains of EVAN LEYSHON of Cwmgiedd in this parish who fell asleep on October the 8th 1849, aged 64. Also JENNET wife of the aforesaid Evan Leyshon, who died August the 5th 1866, aged 82. "He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged." (Job Chapter 12, verse 20) Also WILLIAM LEYSHON of this place, son of the above named, who died November the 10th 1868, aged 45. "He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days." (Psalm 102, verse 23) Also CAROLINE his widow, who died December 3, 1913, aged 81.
Wales

• http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/churches/cwmgiedd1a.htm (link opens in new window)