Gwawr, Aberaman

Gwawr, Aberaman was a Baptist chapel in Regent Street, Aberaman, near Aberdare, South Wales, formed as a branch of Calfaria, Aberdare

Gwawr was formed in 1848 and the earliest meeting were held at the King William Inn, Cardiff Road, Aberaman. This provides evidence that there was a closer link between early nonconformist chapels and public houses than is often thought and that the cause commenced very early in the history of Aberaman as an industrial settlement when the local seams of the locality began to be exploited by Crawshay Bailey and David Davis, Blaengwawr. The chapel was built in 1849. 121 members were released from Calfaria, Aberdare to establish the church.

Later that year David Bevan Jones (Dewi Elfed) was called to minister the church. Jones apparently fell out with Price and the Baptist denomination and sought to associate the chapel with the Latter Day Saints. Price initiated legal action to reclaim the building and eventually led a march to the church which led to the minister being turned out in November 1851..

Following this turbulent episode, William Jones, an assistant preacher at Calfaria, Aberdare was ordained as minister at Gwawr. It can be assumed that this was arranged by Price so that he could prevent a recurrence of the previous difficulties. Jones was followed by another minister, D. Evans of Llaneurwg, who also remained for only a short period. In 1858, the Rev T Nicholas of Pembrey accepted a call to minister the church and was inaugurated on 26 December 1858. He remained at Gwawr until his death on 9 November 1865. In 1859, there were 270 members. During his ministry, new churches were formed as branches of Gwawr at Abercwmboi in 1860 and Seion, Cwmaman in (1861.

In 1866 the Rev Morgan Phillips of Tabor, Brynmawr accepted a call to minister Gwawr and was inaugurated on 30 April. By this time the original building proved to be to small as the population of Aberaman grew rapidly. Gwawr was rebuilt in 1870 at a cost of £1,707 and now had capacity for 850 people.was established as minister. Phillips resigned his ministry on 6 September 1874 and died soon afterwards.

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