Penuel Baptist Church

Penuel Baptist Church is a large, square-plan chapel dating from the 19th century, built in a simple classical style. It includes a vestry and schoolroom positioned behind the main building. The exterior is characterised by smooth render, with added stucco dressings. It has a slate hipped pyramid roof finished with terracotta ridge tiles. The facade features thin raised surrounds to the openings, hoods over the arches, angle quoins, all added later. A central arched doorway is flanked by four arched windows, the two outer windows being longer. The windows are fitted with 20th-century glazing. The entrance is protected by panelled double doors featuring a coloured glass fanlight with intricate radiating glazing bars. The side walls are two-storeys high with three windows each, featuring flat-headed windows. A gabled vestry is located to the rear, with a modern brown uPVC door and a corrugated iron extension.

The interior, dating from 1839, is described as “grandly scaled and remarkable for its period”. The space is square in plan, arranged with the entrance behind the pulpit. The joinery retains remarkably complete painted graining. The pews are arranged in a tiered configuration with box pews at the lower level and panelled, raked, and canted gallery pews, radiating outwards from the pulpit. The first row of gallery pews serves as a large seated area. A remarkably large and high rectangular balustraded pulpit platform features vertical panels, turned balusters, and matching straight steps on both sides—this platform covers a total immersion font. The back wall has a three-arched timber panel flanked by panelled pilasters. Windows with coloured margins are positioned to either side of the lobby, with lobby doors set into a canted wall on each side of the platform steps. A low balustrade provides access to an additional gallery level.

The gallery is exceptional, with deep canted angles creating an almost five-sided appearance. It is supported by eight plain iron columns. The gallery front features a painted cove, bracketed cornice, and a decorated band of quatrefoils. The front of the gallery includes unusual arched panels, each containing a double arch with a tiny quatrefoil in the central spandrel. Small turned columns are placed in each angle of the front, and a clock by Williams of Merthyr is centrally positioned. A later 19th-century ornate painted organ by Peter Conacher & Co. of Huddersfield is located within the centre gallery.

The floors retain oil cloths beneath carpets, and the lobby features a tiled floor. Plaques commemorate the ministries of the Revs. George Griffiths and John Jones (Mathetes). The ceiling incorporates a plaster cornice and border, along with a large multi-coloured boarded square. This square features a central rose with a radiating leaf and flower motif, two patterned bands, a wide plain circle, and an outer moulding. The rear vestry still contains its original panelled closing partition.