Alpha Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Heritage listing

History: Built 1903. By Habershon, Fawkner, and Groves, architects of London and Newport, Mon. Cost 5400. Occupies site of 1747 chapel, long held to be the first built under the direction of Howell Harris, hence the appellation "Alpha"; the first permanent society of Welsh Methodism having been founded at Wernos Farmhouse eight miles from Builth. Exterior: Snecked bull-nosed local grey stone, contrasting smooth bathstone dressings, purple slate roof with red copings. Free version of late Gothic style with Perpendicular detailing. Long facade faces The Groe (N), gabled entrance front faces W. Unusual tapering tower in grey stone, topped with contrasting bathstone square turrets and pierced screens. Three-light windows in upper stage, horizontal bands and small trefoil windows in cream limestone. 2-light perpendicular window with banding at sill level. Below this, bathstone panel with inscription Alpha . To left of tower, gable to adjoining schoolroom. First floor has square-headed window of 4 trefoiled ogee lights. On ground floor, broad 6-light window with perpendicular style tracery under 3-centred arch. Entrance doorway to school with 3-centred arch and window above set at eaves level. To right of tower, projecting gabled bay has multi-light perpendicular window at first floor level, square-headed window on ground floor. This bay flanked at first floor level by 2-light windows set under eaves with perpendicular tracery and 3-centred heads. One window to left and 2 to right. Ground floor windows square headed with trefoiled ogees. Entrance front has steep gable with sides splayed back to join body of chapel. Gable has bathstone coping and kneelers; in apex, tiny 2-light window with bands, large multiple light perpendicular style window to first floor and shallow porch

From Cadw under OGL v3.