Smyrna Congregational Chapel and Hall

Smyrna Congregational Chapel and Hall is a Congregational chapel with an attached hall, listed at Grade II. It stands in Llangefni on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales, on Glanhwfa Road, opposite the Shire Hall.

Where is the chapel?

The building sits on the west side of Glanhwfa Road, set back slightly from the street. The Shire Hall faces it across the road, which makes the spot easy to find. The coordinates are roughly 53.254 N, 4.312 W. The chapel lies in the centre of Llangefni, the island's historic administrative town, so it fits naturally into a short walk through the centre.

What is its history?

The first chapel on the site dates from 1844. The present building went up in 1903 and replaced that earlier place of worship. A tablet on the front records both dates, reading "Smyrna, Independent House of Worship" with the years of building (1844) and rebuilding (1903). Anglesey Archives also mention an earlier rebuild in 1870.

The name Smyrna is typical of Welsh Nonconformist chapels, many of which took biblical place names. Congregationalists, known in Wales as Annibynwyr (Independents), ran self-governing congregations, and the chapel served as the centre of religious and social life for each of them.

What does the building look like?

The chapel is a gable-entry design. A hall stands alongside, linked to the chapel by a vestibule at the rear. The front is in a simple Classical style, built of snecked rubble, which is rough stone laid in neat courses, with freestone dressings around the openings and corners.

Why is it listed?

Cadw, the Welsh heritage agency, listed the building on 16 June 1989 and amended the entry in 1998. The listing describes it as a well preserved early twentieth-century chapel. It forms part of an excellent group of civic and religious buildings put up at the turn of the century, together with the neighbouring buildings along this street.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Smyrna Chapel? In Llangefni, Anglesey, on Glanhwfa Road, opposite the Shire Hall.

When was it built? The present chapel dates from 1903. An earlier chapel stood on the site from 1844.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it is Grade II listed in Wales.

Can I go inside? The building is mainly appreciated from the street. Check locally about interior access before you visit.

What is nearby? The neighbouring Shire Hall and the centre of Llangefni, with its late nineteenth and early twentieth-century architecture.