Capel Bethlehem

Capel Bethlehem is an independent chapel originally built in 1833, with a facade substantially remodelled in 1909. The building is constructed in painted stucco with a hipped, slated roof.

The front elevation presents a French-influenced classical style with a two-storey, three-bay composition. The facade features a wide central bay flanked by narrow side bays. These are framed by channelled piers with labels to capitals and a cornice broken forward over each capital. A raised plinth supports an arched broad doorway with paired panelled timber doors and a fanlight. The arch has moulded imposts and keystone, set within a heavy architrave of panelled pilasters carrying paired console brackets beneath a steep pediment with flat wings over the brackets.

Two raised stucco piers continue the pilaster line to the top cornice, forming a minor order between the centre first floor windows and bearing labels under the cornice. The centre bay has a sill band beneath wide spaced windows: a central timber 3-light and single-lights to each side, all with top-lights and flat heads under a main cornice frieze. A raised stucco inscription in the centre frieze reads "Adnewyddwyd 1909" (Renewed 1909). The flanking bays contain tall, narrow windows with top-lights of 6-pane over 12-pane configuration, with moulded arched hoods carried over long keystones and moulded sills with apron panels beneath.

The coped parapet above features raised piers corresponding to the four main pilasters and two minor centre divisions, with the outermost piers stepped down slightly. The parapet panels are inscribed with dates and inscriptions: "Adeiladwyd 1765" (Built 1765) to the left, "Seddwyd 1871" (Settled 1871) to the right, and the central bay bears "Bethlehem" at centre, with "Helaethwyd 1785" (Enlarged 1785) to the left and "Adnewyddwyd 1833" (Renewed 1833) to the right.

The sides contain three windows on each floor with boarded wide eaves. The return of the main facade features a single bay matching the side bays but without a parapet. The right side retains original cross-windows with small panes in 6-6 over 12-12 configuration, painted roughcast walls, and a stucco string course between floors. The left side is rendered with 20th-century plastic windows and eaves. A vestry is attached to the rear.

The interior dates from 1908-10 and features a four-sided raked gallery with a choir gallery behind the pulpit platform, finished in good quality pitch pine. The lobby has a tiled floor and stained glass leaded lights with florid design leading to the main chapel.

The chapel interior contains pews arranged in three blocks, angled at the sides towards the pulpit, with lightly decorated ends and square-panelled backs. The gallery is supported on seven painted cast iron columns with rings below plain capitals. The gallery front is carried on a cornice with paired brackets corresponding to the columns. The attractive front features large vertical panels divided into two vertical panels below and one horizontal pierced cast-iron panel above with a lattice pattern.

A three-sided deacons' seat sits adjacent to a large panelled platform with steps up each end. The platform panelling uses long vertical panels divided into two sections with a projecting centre carrying the lectern. The long vertical panels are each divided with two horizontal panels below a small cornice and six small square panels above, with a dentilled rail. A projecting canted-sided pulpit with narrow vertical panels (1-2-1 arrangement) and a centre bookrest stands at the platform front. Matching panelled pilasters flank each end of the platform with turned finials, mirrored on stair newels. The back wall behind the platform and under the choir gallery is similarly panelled with vertical panels bearing smaller square panels above, with two wide panelled pilasters flanking the pulpit centre.

A moulded cornice from the main galleries runs around above the panelling, while the choir gallery front is lower with a moulded top rail ramped down and a panelled front with smallest panels at the centre. A large pipe organ in five sections, by J. J. Binns, Fitton and Haley Ltd. of Bromley, Leeds, occupies the gallery.

The gallery has stairs to the lobby and a dog-leg stair to the vestry below the choir and organ. The ceiling features a stucco cornice and two diamond-shaped timber-framed vents with raised bands at the centre. A datestone from the 1833 chapel is housed in the vestry.

A schoolroom and vestry to the rear complete the building.