150th Jubilee Celebration of Esgairnant Chapel (1806 to 1956).

Disgrifiad

ESGAIRNANT CHAPEL

The Methodist movement goes back a very long time in Talley. It is recorded that there were about sixty members as early as 1743. At that time Mrs Griffiths, Glanyrafonddu Ganol was a staunch member and Howel Harris and many other prominent people would stay with her. It is said that very many important meetings took place at Glanyrafonddu Ganol.

In 1793 a Mrs Jane Lloyd of Pantyrespair gave a house by the name of Esgairnant for members to hold services and this carried on for the next twelve years. In 1806 Mrs Lloyd gave the house a piece of land on which to erect a chapel and also a small field. This was the beginning of Esgairnant as it is today. The cost of erecting in 1806 was £180. In 1828 it was extended at the cost of £180. By 1858 it was decided to have a gallery in the chapel at the cost of £125. A little later, the vestry was erected, cost unknown. In 1878 a small dwelling house was built on the original plot of the house named Esgairnant.

In 1899 the whole structure was taken apart, the work being given to Daniel Davies, Contractor of Ty Ann Arthur, Talley. The work was a treat to see. The cost of the renovation was £420. There was a generous gift of £100 given by a gentleman from Anglesey. Through the hard work of the Minister, Rev. J. D. Evans and his band of members they collected enough money to pay for the Restoration, bar £50, which they borrowed from an elder John Thomas. On his death he gave the £50 as a gift. The chapel was then out of debt by December 1922.

The Rev. J. D. Evans was minister of Esgairnant from 1893 - 1933. Then the chapel was without anyone until December 1942. Since then there have been nine ministers. Esgairnant has had a licence to perform marriages since June 1872. There has been very little change in the inside structure since 1899.