davidc
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Posts: 7
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Post by davidc on Dec 21, 2009 21:42:54 GMT 1
Hello Everyone
Having grown up in Troedyrhiw during the 1950's and 60's I have always had a great affection for and interest in the area and, although now living in Nottinghamshire, am still a regular visitor back 'home'.
Over the past year I have become particularly involved in researching the history of Saron Chapel and my modest efforts to date can be viewed at troedyrhiwtimes.com . I would be very interested to make contact with anyone who is in possession of information, memories, photographs, documents etc that they would be prepared to share.
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Post by swcxl06 on Dec 23, 2009 20:42:18 GMT 1
My Name is Carl Llewellyn local historian I've just taken an intertest in Saron Chapel Here is a picture of the Rev J.W Price nd Mrs Mary Price who died in September 1930. There is file in Library with some memberships records 1903 1908, 1923, 1925, 1930 carlllewellyn@btinternet.com I've a few other things to send Attachments:
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davidc
First Few Posts
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Post by davidc on Dec 24, 2009 12:21:19 GMT 1
Thank you Carl
My name is David Collier
Although I didn't attend Saron (I went to Mount Zion which was itself, sadly, demolished and replaced by houses a number of years ago) my family have a strong connection with the chapel having been contributors to the 'cause' through three generations from the middle of the nineteenth century up to my grandfather who died in the 1940's. My mother, who died in January at the age of 92, explained to me that when her father married her mother who was English at Saron in 1911 they had every intention of continuing to worship there and, since they were both musical, for a time they played together at services (he the organ and she the violin). Unfortunately my grandmother, despite making a brave effort (some of the handwritten lessons which my grandfather produced for her still survive) was unable to learn Welsh and so couldn't follow the services. She was forced to attend first St Johns Church, and then, as she found the long walk from Taldwyn Terrace difficult, she began to attend Mount Zion. There was also an effect at home - since my grandfather was unwilling to speak to his children in a language his wife did not understand neither my mother nor her brothers and sister grew up being able to speak Welsh - a fact that they and succeeding generations have come to regret.
I have recollections from childhood of going to Saron graveyard with my mother to lay flowers on the family plot (in fact, there are several plots) and of the time in the early 1960's when my grandmother was laid to rest there with my grandfather. Thereafter I was a regular visitor, entering by the side entrance from the footpath running behind the vestry into what seemed to be a different world with its unique atmosphere - timeless, calm, orderly, sad but somehow comforting. We obviously cannot bring this world back but we can, at least, pay due respect to these sons and daughters of Troedyrhiw by trying to understand the way they lived and preserving as much of the surviving historic fabric as possible (particularly when, as in this case, it is of such a sensitive and important nature).
Best Wishes to you and anyone else who reads this
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Post by qygs1966 on Dec 28, 2009 16:57:37 GMT 1
Hi David,
I am afraid the world as changed a lot from those somewhat gentile days of the 50's and 60's.We had to much respect to desecrate the local cemeteries.We were not even allowed to play football on Carmel Hill.
Besides yourself remember David "Shenko"Jenkins,Derek Evans,Dai Thomas amongst others in the gang organising us younger ones for timed races around the block as well as cricket and football teams.Wonderful memories.
Glad to know you are keeping well.
QYGS1966
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davidc
First Few Posts
Posts: 7
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Post by davidc on Jan 3, 2010 16:03:04 GMT 1
Thank you QYGS1966 for reminding me about those earlier less complicated times when it was still possible for children to play in the streets without risking either being mown down by the traffic or scratching a neighbour’s pride and joy.
If I put down my rose tinted glasses for a moment, though, I quickly realise that the world was not always that kinder more forgiving place of fond memory and this has certainly been the case with Saron Chapel. A brief list of historical points follows:-
1820 The ‘Cause of Saron’ was founded in Troedyrhiw.
1835 The first Saron Chapel building was erected.
1851 Congregations of 200 – 300 were usual at Sunday services.
1852 A larger building and graveyard were constructed on the same site.
1886 The vestry hall with a capacity of 200 was built behind the chapel.
1904 The chapel was packed for Religious Revival meetings.
1935 The membership of Saron was 200.
1953 The Saron entry won Troedyrhiw’s Coronation Pageant.
1983 Saron Chapel closed its doors for the last time.
1985 The owners of the Saron site attempted to sell the lease.
? The Saron buildings were demolished.
2009 A petition from 1250 Troedyrhiw people was presented to the Council.
Friends of Saron was set up by present and former residents of Troedyrhiw.
I would be grateful if anyone reading this is able to fill in any of the gaps.
QYGS1966 please contact me at david_collier@ntlworld.com
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Post by emrysjohn on Apr 3, 2012 10:49:35 GMT 1
Hello. My father, Emrys John, his brother Philip and his father Ben John (and his father!) lived in Mount Pleasant, numbers 7 and 9. I believe that they went to either Saron or Zion - do any records exist, i think that my grandfather Ben was some sort of official there.
I also have a medal awarded to Ben John, the inscription simply says Awarded to Ben John by P.C.C 1906-7. I'd really like to know what it was for, i'm guessing attendance at something.
I'd be grateful for any information.
I last visited Troedyrhiw a couple of years ago.
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Post by merthyrlad on Apr 3, 2012 17:16:55 GMT 1
Hello emrysjohn.
Just a thought about PCC.
As Troedyrhiw is close to Pentrebach,could the inscription relate to The Plymouth Collery or Plymouth Cricket Club perhaps?
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Post by emrysjohn on Apr 26, 2012 11:35:09 GMT 1
Thanks very much merthyrlad for the suggestions. He would have been 9 or 10 years old, and i can't picture him playing cricket!
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Post by lee on Apr 27, 2012 21:20:53 GMT 1
PCC suggests to me Parochial Church Council which would have referred to the Anglican (Church of Wales) Church rather than the Congregational churches of Mount Zion (English) and Saron (Welsh).
St John's is the Church in Wales in Troedyrhiw.
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Post by rhodfa on Apr 30, 2012 13:29:34 GMT 1
I remember taking part in Christmas carol services in Saron as a member of the Troeydyrhiw Junior School choir. We took part in a few services in the early seventies. I remember the pews being somwewhat sticky during one rehearsal they must have recently revarnished the seats.
Our music teacher Mr Gareth Jones conducted the choir but I also recall some choir rehersals with Ken Adams Morgan presiding, happy memories it was a lovely chapel it had great atmosphere.
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Post by emrysjohn on May 10, 2012 13:21:11 GMT 1
PCC suggests to me Parochial Church Council which would have referred to the Anglican (Church of Wales) Church rather than the Congregational churches of Mount Zion (English) and Saron (Welsh). St John's is the Church in Wales in Troedyrhiw. I suspect Plymouth Colliery may have been the connection - he was a miner there. I have also discovered that at the time of the centenary of the Chapel, my grandfather was a Deacon. Is there any news or a link to Friends of the Chapel? |
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davidc
First Few Posts
Posts: 7
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Post by davidc on Jun 7, 2012 20:41:37 GMT 1
As some readers may be aware Friends of Saron was formed in 2009 with the primary aim of rescuing the graveyard of the former Saron Chapel in Troedyrhiw from the effects of almost 30 years of neglect. Our proposals are to create a low maintenance Memorial and Wildlife Garden on the Saron site. Although we still have a long way to go before this is achieved an excellent start has now been made through a programme of Welsh Government funded clearance and consolidation work which was carried out earlier this year. Some significant obstacles to further progress still remain as we work to obtain an acceptable legal arrangement from the leaseholder and to unlock necessary funding.
If you would like to make contact with us our email address is saron@troedyrhiwtimes .com
David
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ader1
New Member
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Post by ader1 on Sept 22, 2012 16:52:51 GMT 1
Thank you QYGS1966 for reminding me about those earlier less complicated times when it was still possible for children to play in the streets without risking either being mown down by the traffic or scratching a neighbour’s pride and joy. If I put down my rose tinted glasses for a moment, though, I quickly realise that the world was not always that kinder more forgiving place of fond memory and this has certainly been the case with Saron Chapel. A brief list of historical points follows:- 1820 The ‘Cause of Saron’ was founded in Troedyrhiw. 1835 The first Saron Chapel building was erected. 1851 Congregations of 200 – 300 were usual at Sunday services. 1852 A larger building and graveyard were constructed on the same site. 1886 The vestry hall with a capacity of 200 was built behind the chapel. 1904 The chapel was packed for Religious Revival meetings. 1935 The membership of Saron was 200. 1953 The Saron entry won Troedyrhiw’s Coronation Pageant. 1983 Saron Chapel closed its doors for the last time. 1985 The owners of the Saron site attempted to sell the lease. ? The Saron buildings were demolished. 2009 A petition from 1250 Troedyrhiw people was presented to the Council. Friends of Saron was set up by present and former residents of Troedyrhiw. I would be grateful if anyone reading this is able to fill in any of the gaps. QYGS1966 please contact me at david_collier@ntlworld.com Hello, I'm researching some of my family tree and the brother of one of my ancestors I think was a minister at Saron Chapel. I believe he had 11 children. His name is Ezer Davies and was born in 1802 in Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire. He was a minister and I know he moved to Troedyrhiw, Merthyr. I found this doing a search for Chapel and Troedyrhiw. "There were a number of chapels here. Saron, Welsh Congregational, was opened in 1835 and then rebuilt in 1852; sadly it closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1990. Controversy remains over the overgrown Saron Cemetery and there is a community project to maintain it. The next chapel was Bethel, of Wyndham Street; opened in 1890, but within 5 years the congregation moved to Tabernacle as this building had become too small. This building has also been a Salvation Army Citadel and a upholsterers. The English Baptist Tabernacle was opened in 1895 and then renovated and altered in 1952." www.alangeorge.co.uk/troedyrhiw.htmHis age and the dates of the chapels opening up would suggest he was at Saron. Does anybody have the names of the ministers who had preached at Saron or where I can find this information? Thank you. |
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Post by stevieb on Sept 24, 2012 10:00:07 GMT 1
Hello,
I have lists of the ministers at all of the chapels in Troedyrhiw, but unfortunately your relative doesn't appear on any of them.
If you would like to e-mail me - stevebrewer68@hotmail.co.uk, I would be more than happy to send you the lists of the ministers for all of the chapels.
Steve
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ader1
New Member
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Post by ader1 on Sept 24, 2012 12:53:10 GMT 1
Thank you Steve. That's interesting even if a little disappointing. I know Ezer Davies was a preacher as I have found references to him preaching in North Wales and also there's mention of him as a preacher here: The following were raised to preach in this (Hebron Chapel in North Pembrokeshire) church : www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM/Hanes7.html#Heb Maybe he didn't end up working as a minister in Troedyrhiw then....? Interesting. |
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