Who is Buried Here? - Tabernacle Independent Chapel, Elder Street.

The Tabernacle Chapel, Adare Street - Built in 1850.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a lady enquiring about the history of the chapelyard in Elder Street. I have visited the site chapelyard quite a few times but again, realized that I didn't know a lot about who was buried there. I also realized that many people do not know that the chapelyard exists! Due to the popularity of the Unitarian Chapel post, I have decided to write a this post about my findings.

Background

The first Tabernacle of Welsh Congregational denomination was erected at the corner of Elder Street and what is now Adare Street. Although the chapel was completed in 1810, the Tabernacle traces its origins back to the erection of The Meeting House at Newcastle Hill.

The Tabernacle Hall, once used as a school room, was erected in 1805. Later, in 1850 a new chapel, adjoining the old one was erected in Adare Street. The original chapel (built in 1801) was not demolished until 1914. The current chapel, opened in 1989, is situated on the site of the old Palace Cinema at Derwen Road.

Some Interesting Facts.

Earliest Inscription: 1811
Latest Inscription: 1890.
Condition of the graveyard:  At some point before 1986, the gravestones were taken and propped up against the wall. The graveyard was then concreted over.
Condition of the monuments: Dismantled, headstones broken and very worn inscriptions.  
Occupations Recorded: Minister
Places: Penyvai, Merthyr Mawr, Carmarthen, St. Mary Hill.

Below are transcriptions of the 1986 recordings of the monuments in the chapel yard of the Tabernacle, Elder Street. 

1: Sacred to the memory of Anne the wife of Griffith Jones and daughter of William & Mary Jenkins who died August 4th 1849 aged 22 years. 

Also, the above named Griffith Jones who died April 22nd 1886 aged 56 years. 

2: Sacred to the memory of David son of John Lewis by Margaret his wife who died Decr 6 1840 aged 6months. 

Also, two children of the above named who died in their infancy. 

Also, Margaret wife of the above named who died March 11th 1860 aged 52 years. 

Also, Hannah wife of the above named who died Dec 31 1871 aged 67 years. 

Also, of the said John Lewis who died January 23 1889 aged 82 years. 

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

3: Sacred to the memory of Margaret relict of Jenkin Evans of this town. She died Novr 19th 1831 aged 52 years.  

"Hi fu'n ffyddlon yn y winllan/gweithiodd ei diwrnod allan/oddiwrth ei llafur y mae'n gorphwys/ni hyderwn, y'mharadwys."

4: In memory of Mary, wife of Revd. W. Jones, Minister of this chapel, who died Oct 23, 1836 aged 47. 

Also, two infants Also the above named W. Jones, who died June 15 1847 in the 61 year of his age. 

"Yma y gorwedd gewddillion un gafodd pwy o blesser wrth ddarllen gair duw a myfrig ynddo, nah mewn di arall yn.."

5: In memory of William Francis He departed this life March 24th 1826 aged 39. 

Also, Frederick son of Thomas & Ann Francis died Febr 18th 1839 aged 18months. 

…. the aforesaid Thomas Francis who died Sepr 22nd 1880 aged 79 years.

"Ond grist sydth d bo-peth ac yn inho...op...h'"

Also Ann the beloved wife of the above who died Jan 18th 1885 aged 81 years.

 "My heart is fixed, O god, my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise." 

6 – no inscription. 

Two illustrations of the chapelyard and sites of the three Tabernacle Chapels.

7: In memory of Gwenllian daughter of John & Mary William …. in the parish of Merthyr Mawr, who died 29th Janry 1841, aged 33years. Also the above named John William...

Also, to the memory of Mary wife of the aforesaid John William who died March 25th 1859 aged 83 years.

8: In memory of Elizabeth wife of John Tanner many years a schoolmaster at Bridgend. 

She died March 3rd 1833 aged 81. 

Also, the above named John Tanner died January 14th 18.. aged 89 years. 

9: Sacred to the memory of Catherine Emmeline Davis daughter of David Davis... of this town/.... Jan 6 1855.

10: In memory of David the son of Morgan & Mary Phillips of this parish who died Aug 10 1867 aged 11 years. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

11: In memory of Thomas and Jane Morgan both from the county of Carmarthen also of David Major of this town/and the son of the above named/who died July 16th 1832 agd 43years. 

Also, of Ann eldest daughter of the said David Major by Grace his wife who died April 30th 1831 aged 6 years. And likewise of two infants. 

"Truly the end of a good man is peace."

Also, Grace wife of the said David Major who died Dec 9th 1864 aged 75 years. 

12: In memory of Mary, the wife of John Thomas who died May 25th 1814 aged 52. 

Also, John the above named who died November 20th 1819 aged 57 years.

A view of the chapel yard at Elder Street.

13: Very badly flaked.

In memory of Watkin of Willm Richards by Catherine his wife who died Febry 18 aged 5 years. 

(Part of Verse..)

Also,Watkin the fourth son of the above named who died July 8th 1811 aged 6 months. And also William the eldest son of the above named who died Janry 1815 aged 19 years. Also Liam the fifth son of the above named who died Janry 19 1818 2 years. 

14: ABCDEFGHIJKLM – abcefghijklmn 

David Jenkins Oldcastle Bridgend .

15:  Elim – Eliz – Watkins – died Decr 4th 1884 aged 44 years.

16: (Half of a headstone) 

In memory of Elizabeth daughter of Owen and Martha Lewis she died July 5th 1824.

17: Sacred to the memory of …. son of William …..re.... died 22nd Decr 18... aged 4 years.

18: In memory of Jane wife of William Elias of the parish of Newcastle she died Febry 1847 aged 76 years. Also, William Elias who died Oct 26 1869 aged 85 years. 

19: "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

 In memory of Sarah daughter of John Jones by Mary his wife who died Feb 23 1864 aged 2 years. Also, the above named Mary Jones who died June 27 1866 aged 39 years. Also Ann Jones their daughter who died Nov 12 186.... years. 

Also, the above named John Jones who died Jan 9 1878 aged 48 years.

20: In memory of Jennet the wife of William Gronow of this town who died Fed 11th 1861 aged 74 years. Also the above named William Gronow who died Decr 14 1869 aged 70 years. 

A few of the gravestones at Elder Street.

21: In memory of Mary the wife of David Llewellyn of this parish who departed this life May 12th 1851 aged 80 years. 

Also, Catherine the daughter of Richard and Ann Gronow who died Nov 17 1866 aged 14 years. 

22: In memory of Elizabeth Thomas who died Febry 1st 1845 aged 86 years. 

Also Elgan the son of Robert & Eliz. Thomas died March 24 18.. aged.. years.

23: In memory of T...es who … 2 years. … Jones who.... Also Thos Jones. Who died 1815. 

Also..... wife Jones who died Janry 11th 1821 aged 35 years. 

24: Sacred to the memory of Catherine the wife of Benjamin Cross who died Octer 5th 1843 aged 57 years. Also Jeremiah Cross son of the above named who died March 7th 1856 aged 27 years. Also the above named Benjamin Cross who died April  14 1874 aged 84 years.

25: In memory of Edward son of Morgan Williams by Margaret his wife of the parish of Saint Mary Hill who departed this life January 10th 1840 aged 23 years. 

Also, the afore named Margaret wife of the said Morgan Williams who died Decr 2nd 1859 aged 73years. 

Likewise the said Morgan Williams who died April 16th 1860 aged 73 years. 

Also, Edward son of the above Edward Williams who died at Coed y Mwstwr Coychurch Jan 8 1887 aged 47 years. 

26: In memory of Alexander son of Jenkin Jenkins of this town and Mary his wife who died Febr XXI MDCCCXXXIX aged IV months.

A few of the gravestones at Elder Street.

27: In memory of Catherine daughter of Robert Thomas by Ruth his wife she died Janry 8th 1832 aged 4 years & 10 months. 

Also, Mary daughter of the above named died Decr 12th 1836 aged 13 years. The aforesaid Robert Thomas died Sept. 13 1859 aged 66.

28:  – Sacred to the memory of Daniel Lewis son of David Lewis,East Gate, Bridgend by Margaret his wife who departed this life Decr 16th 1847 aged 8 years. 

Also, David son of the above named who died May 30th 1854 aged 22 years.

29: In memory of Ann the wife of Cradock David of this town who died Dec 24 1848  aged 30 years. Also, John son of the above named who died May 31 1861 aged 16 years. 

Also, Mary second wife of the above named who died May 24 18.. aged 54 years. 

30: In memory of the four children of John & Sarah Phillips of this town 

William Jones died Nov 20 1854 aged 7 years.

Sarah Jane died March 21 1862 aged 4 months.

Also, Sarah Jane died April 25 1865 aged 14 months

Susannah died Dec 18 1872 aged 15 years. 

Also, the above named John Phillips who died May 7 1876 aged 57 years.

Also, the above named Sarah Phillips who died Oct 4 1877 aged 55 years.

31: In memory of Jane the daughter of Evan & Gwenllian Williams of Penyvai whod died Mar 6 1854 aged 13 years. 

Also, Evan son of the above who died Aug 12 1857 aged 18 years. 

"The Lord gave and the lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Also, the above named Evan Williams who died Feb 18 1878 aged 68 years. 

Also, the above named Gwenllian Williams who died Dec 23 1889 aged 78 years.

"Yr hyn a allodd hon, ni ai gwnaeth."

The gravestone of monumental mason, David Jenkins of Nolton Street.

32: In memory of David son of Thomas & Margaret Lewis who died Feby 5th 1826 aged 11 months. Also John son of the above named who died April 5 1839 aged 2 years. 

Also, Thomas Lewis of the above named who died Decr 6 1854 aged 62 years. 

Also, the above named Margaret Lewis died April 30 1863 aged 66 years. 

Also, Thomas Lewis their son who died Sept 13 1890 aged 68 years. 

33: … the memory of Elizabeth wife of Thomas Hopkin of this town died August 28 1849 aged 32 years. Also, 4 children who died in their infancy. Also..... - …. - 

Also, Elizabeth..... ….. and Teresa Jo.. who died June 1868 aged … years.

Also, the above named Thomas Hopkin who died June 5 1870 aged 54 years. 

34: In memory of Ann Lawrence she died Sept 24th 1827 aged 74 years. 

Also Elizabeth relict of Rowland Jones of this town who died March 3rd 1839 aged 80 years.

35: In memory of Mary wife of John Elias who died June 19 1882 aged 74 years. Also the above John Elias who died June 17 1889 aged 78 years. 

36: Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth the daughter of William & Elizabeth Francis of this town who died Decr 13 1849 aged 13 years. 

Also, the above named Elizabeth Francis who died Septr 24 1865 aged 67 years. Also the above named William Francis who died June 2 1877 aged 77 years. 

37: In memory of Catherine daughter of William and Ann Gregory died Oct 6th 1862 aged 17 years. 

38: In memory of James son of William and Ann Gregory who died Oct 31 1850 aged 3 years. 

Also, Ann the wife of William Gregory died Nov 2 1854 aged 45 years. 

Imprint of a gravestone that was attached to the wall.

(Sources: GFHS - Dr. Randall - WelshChapels)