Grove Place Chapel

Grove Place Chapel

A chapel built in 1904, with a distinctive three-bay gable end facade of snecked rock-faced stone with sandstone dressings. The main entrance is a round-arched doorway with a keystone and moulded impost band, set within a square-headed doorcase with dressed quoins and an entablature bearing the engraved date. The double panelled doors feature radial glazing to the overlight and are flanked by pairs of small square-headed windows with continuous hoodmoulds of dressed stone, large keystones, and corbelled sills. These windows are single-pane horned sashes with margin glazing. Foundation stones sit beneath each pair of windows above the plinth; the stone on the right was laid by Edward Davies of Port Talbot, while the one on the left is now eroded.

A string course marks the first floor level. Above the doorcase are three single lights with high round moulded arches and keystones rising from an impost band, each with a roundel beneath the arch and a single-pane sash window below. Similar single lights flank these, featuring raised segmental arched heads with overlights and corbelled sills. A moulded string course at eaves level forms a pediment with dentilled verges. Three stepped round-headed windows in the gable apex, each with a keystone and multipane glazing divided by a vertical bar, sit above a corbelled sill. The dressed stone panels beneath read "Grove Place" and "Methodiaid Calfinaidd" (Calvinist Methodists).

The sides and rear are rendered under a slate roof with dentilled eaves. The sides feature five-window two-storey elevations; the upper storey windows are round-headed with raised surrounds, moulded imposts, and corbelled sills, while lower storey windows are similar but with square heads. A continuous sill band runs across the south side. The north side has two lower storey windows on the right and a vestry adjoining to the left. The rear contains a lean-to organ chamber with a smaller lean-to to its left featuring a square-headed window, and a small boarded vent to the gable apex.

The vestry is constructed of snecked stone with yellow brick dressings, roofed with slate and featuring decorated ridge tiles and the remains of a cupola. An entrance to the right, set within a catslide section, has a boarded door. Two large two-light windows with multipane overlights face the front, while the north side has two similar windows and the rear has three. The vestry is rendered elsewhere.

Interior

The chapel's interior begins with a vestibule containing two panelled doors leading into the main chapel space, between which is a six-light window with Art Nouveau glass. Tiled flooring and steps to each side provide access to the gallery. The gallery is three-sided, supported on fluted cast iron columns with large composite capitals decorated with flower bosses. The gallery front features moulded wood panelling with pairs of recessed panels between fluted pilasters and a dentilled handrail, with a clock positioned at the centre. Six rows of panelled pews occupy the rear of the gallery.

At the opposite end is a large basket-arched recess within a square-headed surround, its cornice featuring egg and dart moulding. Wide fluted pilasters with moulded capitals decorated with egg and dart and flower bosses frame the opening. The moulded arch contains a fluted keystone. The organ is wood panelled with flanking panelled doors.

A three-sided wood panelled pulpit stands in front, featuring a heavily moulded and dentilled handrail with flanking dog-leg stairs and turned balusters. A wide wood panelled set fawr with square angles and three banks of panelled pews with curved bench ends sit before the pulpit, with wainscot panelling throughout. A panelled door to the north provides access to the three-bay vestry.

The ceiling is highly ornate plaster, featuring moulded rear arches to windows with foliate bosses. Coving includes a foliate frieze in relief with dentils above, while the wood panelled ceiling surround incorporates pierced vents outside of which moulded plasterwork includes a band of rosettes. Three highly ornate plaster ceiling roses are positioned inside, with the larger central rose decorated with bands of rosettes and foliage with palms to the outer edge.

Three white marble tablets are mounted within: one commemorates Parch T J Morgan (died 1948), while the other two serve as war memorials.