Hermon Welsh Baptist Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Graded II* as one of the most architecturally interesting chapel facades of its date in Wales, with near complete contemporary interior including fine plasterwork and gallery. History: Baptist chapel of 1832 probably designed by Daniel Evans of Fishguard and Cardigan (from similarities to his Bethania Chapel Cardigan of 1847), but possibly by his father David Evans. A chapel of pioneering design in Wales, in that it is among the earliest examples of the great central arch feature breaking into a pediment, that in cruder form became a standard feature in chapels of the 1860s and 1870s. This design however has a neo-classical subtlety quite exceptional for the period, depending on relation of windowless side bays, acting as piers to the main arch. The original interior survives almost intact although the chapel was modified in 1906-7 by George Morgan & Son of Carmarthen, being extended to the rear for new choir gallery, organ and vestries. The original chapel was built in 1776. Exterior: Baptist chapel, painted stuccoed front, rubble stone sides and slate roof. Fine large open-pedimental front, the pediment deeply overhanging on paired brackets and framing a wide arch. Within centre arch are a large oval gable vent panel with cross within quadrants of Adamesque fan-patterned plaster, the cross pierced with tiny lozenges and a centre circle. Two fine first floor 9-pane sashes set under arched blind fans of similar Adamesque plasterwork, and recessed within broad arched surrounds with long sills. Ground floor has fine recessed portico of 4 bays, 3 Roman Doric columns and a half-column each end, carrying full entablature. Portico is reached by 3 broad slate steps. Within the portico are encaustic tiles, a 6-bay panelled ceiling carried on arches from

From Cadw under OGL v3.