Seion Welsh Independent Chapel, Meifod Montgomeryshire Powys

LAYING MEMORIAL STONES OF NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL. It has been in contemplation for some years by the members and congregation of the Wesleyan church at Meifod to erect a new and commodious place of worship, but no steps were taken towards carrying out the project until the spring of this year, when the Rev. J. Evans, the minister of the circuit, succeeded in forming a committee and deciding upon a plan of action. Subsequently subscriptions were promised, a suitable site secured, plans were approved of, and in due time the contract was let, and on Friday, October 10th, a very interesting meeting took place in connection with laying the memorial stones of the new building, which has by this time attained a considerable height. The chapel which be in the Gothic style, built of native dark blue stone, with sandstone dressings etc. , will occupy the most commanding position in the village and prove quite an ornament to the neighbourhood. The architect is Mr R. Owen, Breck Road, Liverpool, and the contractor Mr E Humphreys of Caersws. [Cambrian News 17 October 1873 page 6-7]

MEIFOD. NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL. -We understand that Mr C. W.W. Wynn, M.P. for Montgomeryshire, has recently given a handsome subscription to the building fund of this new chapel, which is now in course of erection, and which promises fair to be an ornament to the village. [Cambrian News 2 January 1874 page 5]

Seion Methodist Chapel was first built in 1820, but its lease expired in 1860 and the congregation bought a plot in the centre of the village to build a new chapel. This new chapel was designed, and its erection superintended, by the architect Richard Owen of Liverpool. It was probably opened during a ceremony on 9-10th August 1875. It is built in the Gothic style with stone walls, slate-roof and gable entry plan. The front facade has a centre gable with coping, kneelers and buttresses with two offsets. The wide pointed giant arch with dripstone encloses has a punched wheel window, over a window of three flat-headed lights with columned mullions. The doorway below has a carved typanum and two doors each of 3 diagonally-boarded panels. To each side of the doorway is a stone plaque. The left hand plaque is inscribed 'Calvinist/ Methodist/ Chapel', and the right hand one 'Erected/ AD/ 1874'. The central gable is flanked by stair turrets with saddleback roofs, the last with lozenge-shaped slates and crest tiles. The fronts of the turrets have tall lancet openings with punched quatrefoils above tall cusped lights. The side elevations each have three windows with arched heads. The forecourt is enclosed by a dwarf stone wall, octagonal ashlar gate piers, and contemporary iron railings and gates. Attached at the rear is a lower and narrower vestry, "which can be thrown open", thus bringing the seating up to 250. This has a steep-sided slate roof and, in the rear gable, two windows with arched heads.

The cost of the building as £800 and the cost of the land £200. The contractor was first given as Mr E Humphreys of Caersws. However, the report of the opening [Y Goleuad 21st August 1875 page 9] states “The work was brought forward in a most demonstrable manner by Mr. John Pickstock, an elder of the church, and under the supervision of Mr. R. Owen, Liverpool.“

Reference    Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard 17 October 1873 page 6-7
Reference    Cambrian News 2 January 1874 page 5
Reference    Y Goleuad 21st August 1875 page 9 – formal opening