Aberystruth

Church and chapel data from The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1, South Wales. Ed. by  I.G  Jones, & D. Williams. UWP,  Cardiff, 1976. The names given towards the end of each entry are those of the informants.  Check with  Gwent RO to see what extant records are held, and possible names of chapels/churches built after 1851.

PS  - These entries are as listed in the Return under Aberystruth Sub-District, Aberystruth Parish - so for Ebbw Vale, see below AND Bedwellty parish

Aberystruth parish statistics; Area 11,788 acres; Population 7994 males, 6389 females, total 14,383

• St Peter's Church, commonly called Aberystruth or Blaen Gwent. -  Was a chapel of ease to Llanwenarth, the mother church.   Attendance - morning 126+52 scholars, aft 160, even 142. One Welsh, two in English.      Daniel Rees, Minister or Perpetual Curate.      (Erected 1827 - Lewis 1848)
• Nantyglo School Room. - Licensed for Divine Service, possibly in 1837.   Erected by Messrs Bailey, props of the Nantyglo Ironworks.   Three services, one Welsh two in English.   David Morgan, Vicar.    (Church district formed in 1844 - Lewis 1848)
• Beaufort Church. Licensed as additional church in 1841. Erected by private Benefaction. Attendance - morning 82+54 scholars, aft 68 scholars, even 90. Two services, one Welsh, one English.    William H James, Minister, Ebbw Vale. (Church district formed in 1846 - Lewis 1848)
• Bethel, Aberystruth, Welsh Wes.Meth. -  Erected 1827.  Attendance - morning 174, evening  288.    William Roberts, Wesleyan Minister, Brynmawr, neasr Abergavenny.
• Hermon Chapel, Particular Baptist. - Erected 1820, enlarged 1830, rebuilt 1850.  General congregation about 1000.   Samuel Williams, Minister, Nant y Glo
• Salem, Cal. Meth (Welsh).  - Erected 1818, rebuilt 1833.   Attendance - afternoon 152+150 scholars, evening 80+70 scholars.   "In this district a great number of the men are employed in the manufacture of Iron and obliged to work on the Sabbath, and consequently unable to attend Public Worship."   W Williams, Secretary and deacon, Nantyglo.
• Berea, Independent. - Erected 1841 (new chapel being built).   Attendance - morning 296+261 scholars, aft. 261 scholars, evening 380.  Meetings held occasionally at Abertillery.    Thomas Davies, Deacon, Miner, Berea, Nr Nant y Glo.
• Blaenau Gwent, Baptist. - Erected 1715 (re-erected 1819).  Attendance - morning 155, aft. 114 scholars,  even 215.    John Lewis, Minister, Abertillery Tinworks near Newport.
• Primitive Methodist Chapel, Cwmtilerey. -  Erected 1848.   Attendance - morning 66 scholars, aft 50, even 70.   Thomas Preese, Steward, Cwmtilery.
• English Baptist Chapel. - Attendance - morning 80, aft 150 scholars, evening about 200.  Erected by Welsh Independents who sold it to build a larger chapel, rented lately by English Baptists. William Roberts, Baptist Minister, Blaena Works, Informant.
• Salem Baptist Chapel. - Erected 1848.  Attendance - morning 60 scholars, then main service 300, afternoon 190 scholars, evening about 600. William Roberts, Baptist Minister, Blaena.
• Primitive Methodist Chapel. - Erected 1848.  Building used form Public Worship, Sunday School and Day School.  Attendance - morning 50+23 scholars, even 90.       Llewellyn Walkley, Steward, Cwm Celyn and Blaena Ironworks.
• Hope Chapel, Welsh Cal. Meth. - [Re]-Erected 1845.  Attendance - morning 56+150 scholars, even 40+118 scholars. First chapel was built in 1840, it was "undermined and fell". Edward Jones, Secretary, British School, Blaina.
• Ebenezer Chapel, Cal Meth. - Erected 1851.  Attendance - morning 183 scholars, aft 420, even 420.   Informant; John Evans, Grocer, Ebbw Vale.
• English Wes Meth Chapel, Blaina Ironworks - Erected 1844.   Attendance - morning 230+80 scholars, aft 150 scholars, even 450.   Informant; Thomas Hinton, Trustee and Steward, Blain Ironworks.
• Latter Day Saints Tabernacle, Blaina Iron Works. - Erected 1849.  Attendance - morning 60+40 scholars, aft 60, even 80.  "Building used for Weekly School also". Informant; Thomas Parry, Mine Agent, Blaina.
• Salem Baptist Chapel. -  Erected 1848 (in lieu of another built in 1835)    Attendance - morning 283, aft 170 scholars, even 498. ("Often have 750/800 on a Sunday evening")   William Roberts, Minister, Blaina Works
• Moriah, Welsh Wesleyan. - Erected 1842.  Attendance - morning 35 scholars, aft 40, even 38.  "There are a few of our members who are not well and others which do live far off." William Thomas, Steward, New Wesleyan Chapel, Blaina Iron Works.
• Ebenezer Chapel, Cal Meth, Ebbw Vale. - Erected 1850.  Attendance - aft 79+100 scholars, even 160+125 scholars.  "Many of the workmen are employed in the Iron Works and are obliged to work on the Sabbath."   John Evans, Elder, Grocer, New Town, Ebbw Vale.
• Primitive Methodist Chapel, Newtown.  Congregation inc. Sunday scholars - morning 100, even 150.   Joseph Williams.
• Salem, Aberystruth, English Particular Baptist. - Erected 1833.  Attendance - morning 30+20 scholars, aft 60 scholars, even 70.   "The English Cause was commenced in the old Welsh chapel Oct 1849".   William Hiley, Deacon, Grocer and draper, Blaina, nr Newport.
• English Wesleyan Chapel, Nantyglo. - Erected 1823.   Attendance - morning 200, even 180.    James Emery, Wesleyan Minister, Brynmawr.
• Zion, Ebbw Vale, parish of Aberystrith district ("of Tredegar as far as I know") - Erected 1847. Attendance - morning no service, aft 70+27 scholars, even 100+14 scholars.    Geo Price, Primitive Methodist Minister.