THE HISTORY OF BRYNTECWYN CHAPEL
(up to December 2017)
Bryntecwyn Chapel was built in 1901. A branch of Bethel Methodist Chapel, Talsarnau.
Bryntecwyn, like Capel yr Ynys, was under the care of the Ministry of Bethel Chapel. There were services and Sunday Schools held in Bryntecwyn over the years and later in the century, the chapel was under the care of the Dyffryn District with the Ministers of Moreia, Harlech talong care of us. The first minister I remember as a child in Talsarnau was the Rev R H Jervis, then after coming under the care of the Dyffryn District, the Rev Gareth Maelor Jones, the Rev Ben Williams and the Rev William Williams followed each other in due course and there was a sermon in each of the three chapels in turn. During the early 70's Bethel Chapel was closed.
Towards the end of the '60s, Mr Gwilym Owen, warden at the Snowdonia National Park, was very keen to re-start a Sunday School in Bryntecwyn, and with the help of Ella Wynne Jones, who was a great help with teaching the children to sing, it began with four children, but soon the number had increased and a Sunday School was held regularly on Sunday afternoons and was a success for a number of years. actovituGwilym Owen died in 1973, but despite this loss, all the children were keen to continue coming to Sunday School.
There was a great activity here, with children learning verses from the Bible to take the County Examination and the Standards Examination, and going to the Singing Festival at Caersalem Chapel in Barmouth every year. Singing parties and a choir competed at the Talsarnau Eisteddfod annually - and won first prize with the children's choir more than once. There were annual Sunday School trips – and one year the trip went as far as the Isle of Man on a cruise ship from Llandudno! There have been many visits to different locations and the support of parents was excellent to maintain the Sunday School.
Following discussion with the local Presbytery, Capel Bryntecwyn was established as a church in its own right in 1980, when the population in the Llandecwyn area increased as a new housing estate was built and a number of young families came to live in the area. There was a significant increase in the number of children living here. There were 35 adult members at Bryntecwyn at the end of 1980.
In June 1982, Mrs Ella Wynne Jones and Mrs Mai Jones were ordained deacons with the Presbytery and in 1984, the following officers were elected :- Mrs Mai Jones (Secretary), Mr William Tecwyn Jones (Treasurer), Mrs Ella W Jones (Correspondence Secretary). The organists were Ella W Jones and Mai Jones, all male members of the Church were members of the Buildings Committee, Mrs Eirlys Williams (Collector of mission money), and Mrs Mai Jones and Mrs Carys Jones (Caretakers of the Communion).
In 1985, we came under the care of the Deudraeth District when Rev Ifan Rhisiart Roberts was established as a minister there and we improved a lot in Bryntecwyn. The Chapel at Ynys was sold and an application was made for a share of the money to improve facilities at Bryntecwyn by adding a kitchen and toilet in the building; and these resources were very beneficial to the members and children. A warm carpet was bought warm to cover the wooden floor, the old heavy long wooden seats were sold, easy-to-move chairs were bought and electric fires were installed high up on the walls. Two youth meetings were started - a Fun Club for the younger children, and a Sports Club for the older ones and both Clubs were extremely successful under the care of Ifan and Catrin Roberts.
Two Sunday Schools were held – one for the older children in the morning under the care of Mrs Ella Wynne Jones, and one for the younger children in the afternoon under the care of Mrs Mai Jones and other mothers; particularly Mrs Gwyneth Davies who was very faithful to the Sunday School with her four children attending regularly.
In 1991, Cymdeithas Bro Tecwyn (an evening society) was started holding monthly evening meetings, during the winter months. In 1992, Clwb y Garth (an afternoon club for the elderly in the area) was started – monthly meetings again. After the Chapel was adapted much more could now be done such as hosting a tea party, the Society's supper and the Club's afternoon tea. Both of these societies were extremely popular and Clwb y Garth continued until 2004, with the Cymdeithas Bro Tecwyn ending in 2008. The reason both Clubs finished was sadly due to the death of its members.
After seven years with us, Rev Ifan Roberts and his family moved into a new District in the Vale of Clwyd in 1992.
Another Minister came in 1994 when the Rev Ann Jenkins moved to the area. She was with us until June 1997 when she moved to her new Distrct in Llanilar, near Aberystwyth. We were without a minister for nine years, but carried on and held regular services and kept the Sunday School going, with a large number of children attending and holding their own services. But unfortunately the Sunday School was discontinued in 1999 due to a reduction in the number of children living in the area.
In 2006, after the Rev Anita Parry Ephraim had been preaching on Sundays at Bryntecwyn for some years, we had come to know her very well and after she was inducted as a Minister with the Independents in Bethel, Llan Ffestiniog, after a discussion with her, an application was made to the Presbytery for her to become a Part-Time Minister at Bryntecwyn. We were very fortunate to succeed and to have Anita as Minister and her Induction Service was held here on Thursday, 13 July 2006.
It was a great pleasure to report that the Sunday School had re-started in November 2006, through the enthusiasm of many of the young mothers, with Carys Evans as leader.
The Sunday School continued for a time but the number of children dwindled again, and with too much demand on parents and children, the Sunday School was discontinued. But it must be reported that the children, under the care of Mrs Carys Evans, and the support of their parents, took part in a regular Thanksgiving Service and Christmas Service each year, up until their last Christmas Service on Sunday afternoon, 24 December 2017. It was also the last time with the children for the Rev Anita Ephraim to take part.
There has been co-worshipping for many years with Soar Chapel, Talsarnau on alternate Sundays of the year, and were it not for this co-operation, a much smaller number would be in attendance. Ella Wynne Jones and Mai Jones were organists at Bryntecwyn Chapel and Soar Chapel and served at funerals in both chapels when needed. Sadly, Capel Soar had to close its doors and held their last service on Sunday, December 17, 2017.
There has been an easy and pleasant working relationship with Anita for almost 12 years. She has baptized babies in the area, married members and held funeral services for many of our older members. It is a great pity that Capel Bryntecwyn also has had to close its door, and that we had to terminate Anita's service as Minister. We are very grateful to her for everything – she was a good friend to Bryntecwyn and we will miss this connection very much.
Bryntecwyn Chapel was officially closed with a special service under the care of Rev Anita Parry Ephraim on Tuesday evening, 16 January 2018.
Mai Jones
January 2018
O.N. It is with great sadness that we have to record that Rev Anita Parry Ephraim passed away suddenly at Glan Clwyd Hospital on 18 December 2021 at the age of 61. She will be greatly missed as a Minister in the area and we in Bryntecwyn will have lost a special friend.