History
by W.O. Jones
Tabernacle Chapel was built in the year 1820 because the Perthi house where the Presbyterians had been meeting had become too small for them. When the Chapel was first opened it was called Capel Burgedin. The building work was overseen by the Offa’s Dyke Borders Society in Montgomeryshire. Since 1920 it has been called the Home Mission Society.
The Chapel was opened on the first Sunday of January 1821 at 10 am! The first preacher was Mr William Owen of Welshpool, who spoke on Psalm 132 verse 8. He was followed by Mr John Parry from Chester who preached from Romans chapter 5 verse 11. In the evening the preacher was again Mr William Owen who this time preached on Genesis chapter 4 verse 26. The chapel was full although the weather was not too good. The Home Mission paid for the building to begin with and then the job of finding the money fell on the members and other chapel attenders. This was quite a problem, as most of the people were very poor.
In 1821-1822 Owen Jones of Gelli made collections in Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury and London towards all the chapels in Montgomeryshire. As part of this he collected £14-5/- locally towards the total debt of £177-10/- owing from Tabernacle. The Home Mission also helped with the running of the chapel, or “the Cause” as it is often known.
The first resident Minister was the Rev William Hughes (1820 – 1841); it was his first post. He also acted as schoolmaster, keeping a day school in the Chapel. Evan Evans was one of the early worshippers in Tabernacle. He lived at Sarnau and died in 1834 aged 94 at the home of his daughter at Lower Hall, Meifod. His son, John Evans of Perthi maintained the family tradition and followed his father as a Chapel man, and was thought to be one of the leading figures at Tabernacle.
Next on the scene was John Fox who lived at the Gornal, Four Crosses, later moving to the Hole or Golden Grove, Arddleen. (I presume that is the place now known as the Grove which is near the old station). On June 3rd 1821 the Rev Henry Rees from Shrewsbury, who was one of the leading ministers of his day preached at Tabernacle. There is a story told of Evan Evans, Gelli, which relates to this time. After he had been preaching for three hours one Sunday at Tabernacle an aged farmer approached the owner of the house where Evan was staying and said: “I would like to give the young man dinner, for he preached devilish good!” The language was not parliamentary but evidently the preacher made quite an impression!
Another story about Tabernacle was recorded by Rev William Hughes about the money still owing on the Chapel. An old man named William Jones, who was known as the “freeholder,” was living on the Wern. He had lent £40 on interest to Tabernacle. Another had lent £60 but in a few years he asked for his money back. In trying to repay him Tabernacle found themselves to be £20 short, and the task of finding this money was assigned to Rev William Hughes. Rev Hughes approached William Jones again and gratefully received an additional £20.
Some time later Rev Hughes visited William Jones and his wife and over a cup of tea the subject of the Chapel debt came up. William Jones said: “I dunna like that there be a debt on God’s house, I dunna mind if I give £10 of the £20 if P and F and E will give the other £10.” Rev Hughes took this message to the brethren, but met with no success as they had already given all they could afford. So, Rev Hughes returned to William Jones to pass on this information. The old man said: “well, well I dunna mind giving the £20,” and so he did. Those of you who are good at maths will have realised that this still leaves us £20 in debt!
Some time later Rev Hughes was visiting the old man and his wife and the subject of the Chapel debt came up once again. William Jones said “I dunna mind if I give another £20. If you bring me the £20 I’ll give up the note for £40 I have on the Chapel.” So Rev Hughes took William Jones four £5 notes. But William Jones was almost blind by this time and was not willing to take the notes, preferring coins. Rev Hughes returned the four £5 notes and returned to William Jones with 20 sovereigns. William Jones then delivered the note or bond for £40. In effect, the Chapel had had a gift of £40 from this old friend. In his own language he said: (for though his name was Welsh his tongue was English) “I give all for the sake of the blessed Jesus. He has done a great deal for our sakes.” A few months later William Jones died, aged 94. This was recorded in the Athraw (Teacher), September 1836. And according to the Minister, Rev William Hughes, Tabernacle was free of debt by 1837. today.
We learn from John Fox’s diary that a Quarterly Meeting was held at Tabernacle on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th April in 1838. At 3 pm on Monday a Leaders meeting was held, and on Tuesday morning a Society meeting. There was another Quarterly Meeting at Tabernacle in April 1839. The Quarterly Meeting is the ancestor of our modern Presbytery.
On Easter Sunday 1840 there was a special service held when John Richards, James Williams of Bala and the Rev William Hughes were the preachers. On January 31st 1839 a Quarterly Meeting was held at Pied House, Berriew, and an entry from that meeting records in John Fox’s own words “I John Fox had the high honour to be chosen as a Deacon at Tabernacle.”
The following is a statistical record for the English Border Chapels in 1838.
Missionary 1, Church Members 10, congregation 130, Sunday School 140, number of sermons per month 6, money in hand £2-12s–8d. The Presbyterian Cause began at Perthi in 1798, but it was preceded by services held at Wernfele, now known as Wernfields. No description of the First Tabernacle has been found to the date when this article was written in 1920, and as far as I know, is still not available