Moriah Chapel

An increasing number of migrants, seeking employment in Blaenavon in the nineteenth century, came from the counties of England and could not speak the Welsh language so it became necessary for English-speaking nonconformists to form their own chapels. The English Baptists erected their first chapel, a somewhat humble building, in Broad Street in the year 1844. The chapel was rebuilt in the year 1888, in a much grander, classical form. The renovated interior contained ornate iron pillars, supporting a gallery with an iron balustrade. The exterior was also enlarged, incorporating elaborate masonry on the rooftop.

Following the opening of a new forge and steelworks on the other side of the Afon Llwyd in the 1860s, a new area of Blaenavon, known as ‘Forge Side’, developed. The English Baptists believed that the Baptists living at Forgeside should have easy access to a place of worship and therefore funded the creation of Zion English Baptist Church, which was built from rubble pennant sandstone in 1874.

Broad Street Chapel is now a Grade II Listed Building and many of the improvements made during the 1880s can still be seen, giving the chapel much of its distinct character. The rooftop masonry, however, was removed during the 1980s. A schoolroom extension, which was erected at the rear of the chapel, also survives and has long housed a pet & garden shop, known as Hawkins’ Corn Stores.

Since 1968 Moriah Chapel has accommodated the Blaenavon Evangelical Church and a strong congregation continues to worship at the chapel today.