Tabernacle Chapel

Tabernacle Chapel

This Gothic-style chapel, dated 1909, is constructed of rock-faced coursed stone under a slate roof. The building takes its name from the Welsh inscription "Tabernacle Newydd" (New Tabernacle) carved into a wide dressed stone string course on the front elevation, with some letters now missing.

The principal front elevation is dominated by a tall narrow gabled composition flanked by two staircase bays. The central gabled doorcase features angle buttresses, kneelers and a foliate finial. The pointed arched doorway has two orders of mouldings supported on two attached shafts with ringed capitals. A hoodmould with large foliate end bosses frames the entrance. The doors are planked and double, with an overlight featuring vertical struts and Art Nouveau glass. Single lancets with similar hoodmoulds flank the entrance. Immediately above the string course is a large Perpendicular-style five-light window with cinquefoiled light heads, topped by a tall ogee hoodmould rising almost to apex level with a large foliate flourish. At the gable apex is a central trefoiled lancet containing a louvre, flanked by similar blind lancets, all in dressed stone. The plinth across the front is inscribed with six foundation stones to each side of the entrance, dated 1908-9.

The left flanking bay is a two-storey staircase tower with dressed stone battlemented parapets and an octagonal pinnacle at the exterior angle. The right flanking bay is a three-storey tower that has been truncated with a pyramidal roof subsequently added. The lower windows of this tower are two-light with cinquefoiled heads under pointed arches with hoodmoulds. The upper storey windows are two-light with trefoiled heads under segmental arches. The third stage, above a wide dressed stone string course, contains a tall pointed arched window with two cinquefoil-headed lights. The flanking bays each have narrow angle buttresses with offsets and are single-window in their main storeys. The east side of the tower has windows matching those on the south side. A lean-to bay to the right features a two-lancet window under a segmental head to the lower storey and a large dressed cinquefoil to the upper storey.

The main chapel walls are set back and constructed of rubble stone. The east side contains three windows, each separated by an angle buttress. These are horned sash windows with margin glazing in yellow brick surrounds, with segmental heads to the lower storey and pointed arched heads to the upper storey. The west side of the staircase bay is of rubble stone with a lean-to roof and flying buttress. A segmental headed window in a yellow brick surround is offset to the left, with a large cinquefoil above. The west wall of the chapel is similar to the east side.

At the rear is the vestry with a wide north gable end and a ridge stack. Lower narrower gabled bays advance to the east and west. The north end is two-storey with six-over-six-pane horned sash windows with yellow brick surrounds and segmental heads. The upper storey has four windows with a narrower light to the right; the lower storey also has four windows, not aligned, with two narrow lights to the right. The east gable end has a doorway right of centre flanked by one window to the right and two to the left. Two pointed arched windows are in the upper storey with a louvre in the gable apex. The south side of this advanced gable has a door under a segmental head with a window above. The west gable end has only a louvre in the gable apex, with a similar doorway and window arrangement on its south side.

Interior

The interior demonstrates Art Nouveau styling throughout. The entrance vestibule contains stone staircases to left and right, entered under moulded round arches. The left staircase has cast iron balusters. The rear wall of the chapel is curved and contains a wide five-light window flanked by half-lit doors, all featuring Art Nouveau glass. Between the wall and the staircases are low arched recesses with planked wainscot panelling.

The chapel interior features a deep four-sided gallery with wood panelled front on narrow fluted cast iron columns with large foliate capitals. A clock is mounted in the centre of the gallery front. The angles of the gallery walls are curved, with half-lit doors featuring Art Nouveau glass in each angle. Further double doors under high round arches with overlights provide the main access from the vestibule. Deep curved and moulded coving features a frieze of embossed flowers. The panelled ceiling surround includes two large foliate ceiling roses in high relief.

At the lower level is a wide curved panelled pulpit with dog-leg staircases flanking it, fitted with turned balusters. A curved set fawr (communion rail) stands in front with a moulded wooden handrail on iron balusters featuring open scrollwork. Three banks of pews are curved to match the profile of the set fawr. Wood panelled reredos continues up to gallery level, with flanking half-lit doors leading to the vestry. Above the vestry, accessed from the gallery, is a series of well preserved school rooms with panelled doors.

An organ in a Tudor-arched recess above the pulpit was added in 1928. The chapel contains two memorials: a marble tablet to the left of the organ commemorating the first minister, and a wooden World War II memorial. Side windows feature margin glazing, while the south window contains Art Nouveau glass.