National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Capeli
How many chapels feature in this film that demonstrates the great variety of styles employed in their building? Answers on a postcard are welcomed.
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Overview
A history of the chapel in Wales, from its spare and simple origins in tucked-away places (owing to the persecution of non-conformists) through classical incarnations to the foursquare, dominating buildings of its heyday. At the time of filming, however, many of these mighty buildings had fallen on hard, secular times and were being used as e.g. nightclubs, one even becoming a factory for the production of ladies underwear. But some remained true to the original vision.
At the height of chapel-going in Wales, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, places of worship were built that could accommodate as many as 2000 people at one time. They boasted elaborate architecture, plaster ceilings, wooden galleries and magnificent organs. Harley Jones, who directed this film, and who was the first head (1966-82) of the Newport Film Unit at the Newport College of Art and Design, caught these leviathans on film before their complete demise. And he also filmed what is rare footage of a Cymanfa Bwnc [a festival involving a chanting recitation of part of the Bible] at Capel Rhydwilym, Llandysilio.
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