Closygraig Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Closygraig Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

A gable-fronted chapel built around 1900, comprising two storeys rendered in stucco with a pitched slate roof. The facade is articulated by raised, squared stucco pilasters at the angles, featuring wider banded bases and matching capitals. Tall arched-headed windows occupy the outer bays, each with raised stucco surrounds and matching sills borne on corbels.

The wide central bay contains two matching arched-headed ground floor entrances, each flanked by raised square stucco pilasters with projecting capitals positioned beneath the arch springs. Both entrances are topped with raised stucco hoods displaying large keystones. The doorways are fitted with paired boarded timber doors, each incorporating a coloured glazed overlight. Above these entrances, at the centre, is a slate plaque set within an arched-headed recess with matching stucco surround and corbelled sill. The space above contains three closely set arched-headed lights with stucco pilasters, capitals, hoods and keystones matching those of the entrances, all positioned above a single corbelled sill. All windows feature 2-light glazing with a roundel in the head. A raised stucco band runs below the gable and beneath the bargeboard. At the gable centre is a roundel with raised stucco surround and large keystones positioned at the compass points.

The north side of the chapel is rendered in painted, undecorated stucco over two storeys divided into four bays. The upper storey has arched-headed windows, while the lower storey features cambered-headed windows, all vertically bisected with stone sills.

The interior, dating from around 1900, is arranged with two aisles and a three-sided rising gallery carried on seven cast iron columns. The pews, pulpit, deacons' seat and gallery front are all constructed from pitch pine. The walls and ceilings are finished in painted stucco. The lobby contains a tiled floor, ceiling corbels and a decorative three-panel light opening into the chapel, featuring Gothic arched heads divided by rounded columns. Two pairs of two-panelled doors provide access to the chapel. The pews in the outer bays are angled towards the pulpit. Throughout the chapel, pews are distinguished by long horizontal panels to their rears and lightly carved terminals.

The pulpit is symmetrical with a slightly projected centre. Stairs to the sides feature turned balusters, a coping rail and larger decorative carved end-posts with round heads. The pulpit base contains two square panels diagonally slatted, with two narrow plain horizontal panels above. A raised timber band sits beneath the upper section, which displays elaborately carved paired Gothic-headed panels vertically divided by rounded pillars. The flanks are set back, with similar plain panels to the base, but the upper sections comprise vertical panels in pierced cast iron displaying fleur-de-lys and foliate motifs, beneath wide coping rails. The pulpit back, positioned between two tall arched-headed windows, consists of an arch in timber painted to resemble stucco. The arch sides feature narrow vertical panels with elaborate brackets at the arch springs, decorated with florid detail. The arch itself bears two bands of foliate decoration to the upper portion, with a plain arched-headed recessed panel at the centre.

In front of the pulpit stands a half-octagonal deacons' seat with pierced cast iron panels to the seat backs bearing foliate designs including a quatrefoil motif, all manufactured by Walter MacFarlane and Co., Glasgow.

Corbels to the ceiling sides sit beneath the gallery, which features curved angles. The cast iron columns are by T. Jones and Son, Priory Foundry, Carmarthen, with classical heads, one dated 1899. The gallery front exhibits a serration pattern beneath a wide timber band positioned between a matching coping rail above and a continuous band of painted cast iron panels below. These panels display foliate designs set within squares and diamonds. Opposite the pulpit, a small clock is set within a small square timber panel.

The main ceiling features a banded stucco cornice with two wide margins, each corner bearing a square timber vent decorated with a Celtic cross motif. At the centre, within a raised stucco circle, is a large ceiling rose with florid and foliate designs. Similar decoration appears on the wide raised margin surrounding it. Smaller, less ornate roses towards the pulpit and entrance sit within diagonal bands of raised stucco leading from the ceiling corners towards the centre. Similar raised stucco bands extend from the triangle points to the central rose, and from the centre rose to the chapel sides.