Images of some source documents can be seen on the History Documents Page

The first record of Baptists meeting in Llantrisant dates back to 1650. This was a time when non-conformists, and Baptists in particular, were subject to persecution.  In 1812 a Baptist group met in the Market Hall (the site of the old Police Statio

n) and a request to the Marquis of Bute to meet in the Town Hall was granted. Increased membership saw the church group move from the Town Hall to a local house in Swan Street. The record of dissenting meeting places registered at the BIshop’s Court  shows on 3 October 1823: “Baptist: the school-room of Edmund JONES, Baptist Minister, situated in Swan Street, being the property of R.F. RICKARDS, esq, of the town, but in the occupation of the said Edmund JONES”

In 1824 land was acquired to build a church at the rear of the High Street, opposite the Cross Keys pub. In the original Trust Deeds dating from that time, it was given the name Tabor Welsh Baptist Church. The record of registered dissenting meeting places shows on May 1st 1826: “Baptist; a house built upon the property of J.HARRIS, Treverhig, situated near the Crosskeys; David JAMES of Llantrisant, Baptist Minister.”  The Religious Census of 1851 shows a return from William Thomas, local preacher of Gwern-y-Moes Farm, stating that at the time the Baptist Church had “300 free places” and an attendance of 65. To accommodate 300 seatings there must have been a balcony in place in the old building.

The small building served the local congregation for 100 years, after which it was substantially enlarged. The original, smaller building still stands, forming what is now the rear section of the church, or “vestry” meeting room. At the beginning of the 20th Century members pledged to give regularly each week for several years to save up enough money to fund the extended building, which, complete with balcony, could seat 350. The new building was opened in 1924.

The Chapel was Welsh-speaking originally but changed to English-speaking during the 1920s. It was once noted that “The Harvest Festival held each autumn attracts large numbers to hear the outstanding preachers of the movement.” When there were multiple non-conformist chapels active in the town, it is said that Tabor catered mainly for the classes at the lower end of the social spectrum – mainly the farming community. This might explain the renown of the Harvest Festival services.

In the mid-20th century the Sunday School was reported to have an attendance of up to 100, and the Band of Hope young people’s meetings up to 200. The Band of Hope was  a national organisation which involved promotion of temperance and abstinence from alcohol.

Of the eight or so non-conformist chapels active in Llantrisant during Victorian times, Tabor Church is the only one still in use as a place of worship.

Most of the old records of Tabor Baptist Church have been lost. A register of marriages at Tabor Church covering the years 1932-1938 is lodged with the Records Office in Cardiff.

Past ministers of the Chapel include (dates approximate):

1823 william morgan

1823  Edmund Jones

1826  David James

david evans

john thomas

john phillips

1865  Edmund e. Jones

1871 Jenkin Jenkins

1880  Thomas Baker

1895  John Jones

1913  john evans, served 40 years

1953  Norman A. lloyd

1968 charles durke

1983 richard wigham

2013 andrew love

Images of some source documents can be seen on the History Documents Page

(We are grateful to Dean Powell, local historian and Freeman of Llantrisant, for some of the old photographs and supporting information – used with permission).