Bethel Chapel

Bethel Chapel

This is a three-bay, two-storey chapel with an end entry facade built in grey coursed rock-faced stone with prominent red sandstone dressings. The entrance front is divided into three bays by red sandstone pilasters that rise from a sill band, which forms the coping to a high, two-tiered plinth. A moulded string course separates the tiers, above which are six foundation stones. The lower tier is battered. The pilasters have moulded bases and very large Corinthian capitals supporting a lintel, above which runs a wide moulded band. The outer pilasters extend to the top of the attic frieze, which has a moulded red sandstone coping. In the centre of the frieze is a red sandstone tablet with an arched head reading 'Bethel'. An inscription states that the chapel was built in 1850 and rebuilt in 1903.

Between the central pilasters is a heavily moulded round-headed doorway with jambs partly obscured by the pilasters. The arch rises off imposts with foliage in high relief and contains double panelled wooden doors and an overlight with radial glazing, set back. The windows are similarly detailed: narrow moulded arches rise off square jambs with moulded bases and foliate imposts. There is one window to each bay and storey, with a smaller window above the door. Each window has two lights; those to the lower storey have a horizontal glazing bar, and overlights with radial glazing.

The sides and rear are of rubble stone with large quoins beneath a pitched slate roof with boarded eaves. A lean-to extends to the rear. The two-storey side walls have four windows, each with four panes and an overlight in a red brick surround with segmental head. The lintel of the upper right window has been replaced in concrete. The rear lean-to has a six-over-six-pane sash window to the south side and two similar windows to the rear, one partially boarded over. To the left of the lean-to is a small corrugated tin porch containing a boarded door. A side stack stands on the north side, and yellow brick window surrounds are present.

The interior contains a vestibule with straight stairs to each side leading to a gallery. Two panelled doors open into the chapel with a window between. A three-sided U-shaped gallery is supported on fluted cast iron columns with oversized foliate capitals. The bellied gallery front consists of open ironwork on a wooden plinth supported on brackets with horizontal bands. The ironwork features scrollwork with Tudor flowers and a lattice frieze along the base. Five rows of pews occupy the gallery. Three banks of planked pews fill the lower level, with curved bench ends and planked wainscot. To the front is a blind moulded arch; the jambs have recessed panels lined with egg and dart moulding and foliate bosses. The capitals feature dentils, and a hollow-moulded round arch displays egg and dart and foliate friezes with a scrolled keystone and foliate decoration. A wooden ceiling with diagonal planking contains two decorated plaster ceiling roses. In front stands a wide pulpit with the central section advanced and a straight ironwork screen above wooden panelling. The open ironwork matches the style of the gallery. Around the pulpit is a set fawr with thin, widely-spaced fluted balusters and a moulded handrail. Turned balusters at angles have finials. Two panelled doors flanking the pulpit lead to the vestry, which is open to the roof with dado and wainscot panelling.