Capel Moriah

Capel Moriah is a stone chapel of Welsh nonconformists, tied to the start of one of the best-known religious revivals in Wales. The chapel stands in Upper Loughor (Welsh: Llwchwr), in the City and County of Swansea, on the north side of Glebe Road, about 60 metres west of the junction with Woodlands Road.

What kind of building is it?

The present chapel was built in 1898 for a Calvinistic Methodist congregation. It cost £1,700. The foundation stones were laid by Samuel Thomas, owner of the Broadoak Colliery, and William Clement, and the congregation's first minister was the Rev. Daniel Jones. The building is a Grade II listed building, with the listing dating from 2002.

The adjoining schoolroom and the gates and railings are each listed separately. Together they form a compact group typical of a Welsh nonconformist chapel, where the congregation, the sermon and the singing mattered most.

What happened here before 1898?

The congregation is older than the current building. The first chapel dates from 1828 and is described as a thatched structure known as Capel y To Gwellt, "the thatched-roof chapel". It was altered several times, including in 1836, 1842 and 1849, when a gallery was added. The 1842 chapel stood beside the new building and was converted into a schoolroom in 1903.

Why does Capel Moriah matter?

The best-known episode took place in the schoolroom. On 31 October 1904 Evan Roberts addressed a youth meeting here, an event regarded as one of the beginnings of the Welsh Revival of 1904-5. That movement spread quickly across Wales and had an influence beyond its borders.

Evan Roberts is buried at Moriah, and his memorial stands in the chapel forecourt. For anyone interested in religious history, Wales and nonconformist heritage, it is a stop worth making.

Practical tips for visiting

• It is a listed building, so it is best viewed from the outside, from the pavement on Glebe Road and the forecourt.
• Look at the gates and railings, which have their own listing.
• The memorial to Evan Roberts is in the forecourt in front of the chapel.
• The site sits among the houses of Upper Loughor, a few steps from Woodlands Road.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Capel Moriah? In Upper Loughor (Llwchwr), Swansea, on the north side of Glebe Road, about 60 m west of the junction with Woodlands Road.

When was the current chapel built? In 1898, at a cost of £1,700.

What is the link with Evan Roberts? On 31 October 1904 he spoke to a youth meeting in the schoolroom, an event seen as one of the starting points of the 1904-5 Welsh Revival. He is buried at the chapel, and his memorial is in the forecourt.

Is the chapel listed? Yes. The chapel, the schoolroom, and the gates and railings are each Grade II listed.

Which denomination did the congregation belong to? Calvinistic Methodist.