“Nonconformists” is a term utilised that refers to a
Protestant Christian who did not “conform” to the governance and usages of the
established Church of England. The Church of England saw Nonconformity as a
threat to the natural authority of the gentry, and as a result some ministers were
refused ordination unless they were willing to give up itinerant preaching and
settle in a parish.
1600 – late 1680s: The Dissenters otherwise known as Conventiclers or Puritans, were persecuted for their beliefs, so they were forced to meet illegally in places such as barns, the open-air, woods, dingles in hills, cottages, or at a home of sympathisers who would risk sheltering them. These gathered churches did not have a purpose built building, and the preacher became an important role to the congregation, as he was the sole focus of their attention throughout the sermons.
1689 - 1710: The Act of Toleration of 1689, allowed congregations to register their buildings as chapels, and build new chapels - these first chapels were built from the need of the congregations having a space in which to hear the Scripture. From this time until 1720, there were roughly fifty established chapels. The building of a chapel was usually supervised by the deacon, or the minister, or even an elder of the chapel, and they were constructed with the skill of local men of the congregation, who had experience of building such structures as houses, farms, and barns. This might have led to the influence which determined the design of the chapel at this time, as all early chapel styles contained a form of a barn-like appearance. The chapels which were built or converted from barns were usually in a rectangular form, with the side or long wall as the façade to the chapel. There was no attempt to imitate the style of an Anglican Church.
1600 – late 1680s: The Dissenters otherwise known as Conventiclers or Puritans, were persecuted for their beliefs, so they were forced to meet illegally in places such as barns, the open-air, woods, dingles in hills, cottages, or at a home of sympathisers who would risk sheltering them. These gathered churches did not have a purpose built building, and the preacher became an important role to the congregation, as he was the sole focus of their attention throughout the sermons.
1689 - 1710: The Act of Toleration of 1689, allowed congregations to register their buildings as chapels, and build new chapels - these first chapels were built from the need of the congregations having a space in which to hear the Scripture. From this time until 1720, there were roughly fifty established chapels. The building of a chapel was usually supervised by the deacon, or the minister, or even an elder of the chapel, and they were constructed with the skill of local men of the congregation, who had experience of building such structures as houses, farms, and barns. This might have led to the influence which determined the design of the chapel at this time, as all early chapel styles contained a form of a barn-like appearance. The chapels which were built or converted from barns were usually in a rectangular form, with the side or long wall as the façade to the chapel. There was no attempt to imitate the style of an Anglican Church.
1735 – late 1790s: The Welsh Methodist revival was one of the most
significant religious and social movements in the history of Wales. The revival
began in Wales with the prominent Methodist preachers Griffith Jones
(1684-1761), William Williams “Pant-y-celyn” (1717-91), Daniel Rowland
(1713-90) and Howell Harris (1714-73). The revival ended with their subsequent deaths.
It was a revival that began as a movement within the Church of England with the
aim to revive it, and encouraged their members to take communion at their
parish church. Due to this revitalisation, by the middle of the nineteenth
century Wales became predominantly a nonconformist country.
1800 – 1820: The Methodist Revival aided a rise in
chapel-building, which in turn increased the amount of itinerant preachers who
would travel through Wales. The Revival also aided to the increasing numbers
of the Nonconformist congregations, as they needed more space in their chapels,
and so the original chapels were either demolished or renovated usually with
the addition of galleries.
1820 – 1850: This period sees a rapid and sustained growth of Nonconformity due to the continuation of the Revivals and the Calvinistic Methodists becoming a separate denomination. All of the denominations had built their own chapels, which retained some relationship with vernacular architecture, progressively the shape and design of the chapels began to alter with the aid of a professional architect. The façade moved from the side-wall to the gable-end and the auditorium chapel succeeds the meeting-house style. This period sees the increasing importance for the role of the architect, who traditionally would be the minister. Like many of the architects of the time, the chapel architects referred to the re-discovery of the Ancient World, which incorporated the works of Greece and Rome. They also referred to the ecclesiastical architecture of England, France, Italy and Germany.
1850 – 1860: The Classical Revival style was popular during this period, with a flat façade and the upper storey of the chapel became central to a cluster of a three-window display, all of which contain a round-head and the centre window being the larger one. Certain denominations had established a Chapel Loan Fund, to assist needy causes, if the help was insufficient to build a completely new chapel, then the original chapel was renovated, enlarged, or refurbished. The most obvious renovation was a gallery to the chapel’s interior, which increased the number of seats for the congregation and usually required the height of the roof to be raised.
1820 – 1850: This period sees a rapid and sustained growth of Nonconformity due to the continuation of the Revivals and the Calvinistic Methodists becoming a separate denomination. All of the denominations had built their own chapels, which retained some relationship with vernacular architecture, progressively the shape and design of the chapels began to alter with the aid of a professional architect. The façade moved from the side-wall to the gable-end and the auditorium chapel succeeds the meeting-house style. This period sees the increasing importance for the role of the architect, who traditionally would be the minister. Like many of the architects of the time, the chapel architects referred to the re-discovery of the Ancient World, which incorporated the works of Greece and Rome. They also referred to the ecclesiastical architecture of England, France, Italy and Germany.
1850 – 1860: The Classical Revival style was popular during this period, with a flat façade and the upper storey of the chapel became central to a cluster of a three-window display, all of which contain a round-head and the centre window being the larger one. Certain denominations had established a Chapel Loan Fund, to assist needy causes, if the help was insufficient to build a completely new chapel, then the original chapel was renovated, enlarged, or refurbished. The most obvious renovation was a gallery to the chapel’s interior, which increased the number of seats for the congregation and usually required the height of the roof to be raised.
1860: The Gothic Revival style gained influence, which coincided with the
Gothic movement in England. As with the Classical Revival style, the Gothic
Revival style was also altered from its original form. It is usually the Welsh
language congregations that favoured the Classical Revival styles, whereas the
English language congregations and the Wesleyan Methodists tended to favour the
Gothic Revival style (as some denominations, viewed the pointed-arch symbolism with
deep suspicion). Also, the Gothic Revival style echoed that of the Church of
England - something which the Nonconformists did not wish to be closely
associated with.
1880: Referred to as Nonconformity’s golden age, there was a massive
increase of its numbers amongst the congregations throughout all of the
Nonconformist denominations, which resulted in a huge influx of chapel building
across the country. It has been estimated that on average one chapel was built
every eight days, it also has been thought that if the seating capacities of
all of the chapels in Wales were combined then that number would exceed the
population of Wales.
1900: By the dawn the 20th century, there were 1,763,000 members in England and Wales in the main Nonconformist denominations.
1904 – 1905: During this period the Welsh Revival was the last and largest revival in Wales and was essentially a Nonconformist and Welsh language phenomenon. It began under the leadership of Evan Roberts (1878 – 1951) who was born in Loughor, near Swansea, and a charismatic a 26 year old former collier and minister in training (however, he never completed this training).
1900: By the dawn the 20th century, there were 1,763,000 members in England and Wales in the main Nonconformist denominations.
1904 – 1905: During this period the Welsh Revival was the last and largest revival in Wales and was essentially a Nonconformist and Welsh language phenomenon. It began under the leadership of Evan Roberts (1878 – 1951) who was born in Loughor, near Swansea, and a charismatic a 26 year old former collier and minister in training (however, he never completed this training).
Evans’ message was for everyone regardless of their denomination, and his
was an appealing message, especially one which was followed by the Daily Press,
such as the Western Mail - this awareness within the media was a first for all
revivals. His message was conveyed through meetings which contained a mixture
of prayer, self-examination and singing all of which could have lasted for a
few hours. This created communal hymn singing known as the Cymanfa Ganu, Bible reading, and Temperance to become a favourite activity
of many people across the country.
By the middle of 1905, the revival was coming to an end, but even though the revival lasted less than a year, it is estimated that at least 100,000 people were converted and it also gave chapel building a boost.
1914: The First World War breaks out and chapel-building is stopped. Subsequently, there is a sharp drop in the number of chapels that are built and there is a decline in the Nonconformist membership.
By the middle of 1905, the revival was coming to an end, but even though the revival lasted less than a year, it is estimated that at least 100,000 people were converted and it also gave chapel building a boost.
1914: The First World War breaks out and chapel-building is stopped. Subsequently, there is a sharp drop in the number of chapels that are built and there is a decline in the Nonconformist membership.