English Congregational Church
Lammas Street
CARMARTHEN
About Us
Copyright (C) 2008 English Congregational Church. All Rights Reserved
About us - a little of our history.
On 17th May 1861, readers of the "Welshman" would have noted in the "local intelligence" column under the heading "The New Independent Chapel", the following paragraph:-
"We have seen the plans (now lying at Mr. Lewis, Draper, King Street) for the new English Congregational Chapel to be erected in Lammas Street, and if they are faithfully carried out the building will be an ornament to the town. It is very beautifully proportioned in the Gothic style of architecture with a spire upwards of seventy feet in height. The internal arrangement is very complete, provision being made to seat four hundred people. The work will be proceeded with immediately".
This brief announcement heralded the building of "this beautiful little place of worship", which became known as the English Congregational Church.
The English Congregational Church was built upon the site of the "Red Cow" public house in Lammas Street, Carmarthen..
The foundation stone was laid on the 3rd July 1861 by Mr H. O. Wills of Bristol and the silver trowel used on this occasion is preserved in a glass case within the Church. A contract for the building of the Church was placed with Messrs. Douglas & Jones of Llanelly (now Llanelli) for the sum of £1488. The opening services were held on 21st & 25th May, 1862 and the Church was formally constituted on 20th August 1862 and the first communion service held on Sunday, 24th August in that year
The original organ was sold for the princely sum of £60 after the present organ, built by Vowles of Bristol at a cost of £281, came into service in at a specal dedication service held on 25th Jnue, 1893. In 1989 the operation of the organ was converted from mechanical to electronic at a cost of £1,100. Today, the church organ is probably valued in excess of £100,000
The exterior appearance of the church as seen from Lammas Street has changed little over the years. At the rear of the Church, a small classroom was added in 1904 at the north east corner of the main church and adjoining the schoolroom and now serves as the kitchen ..
In October 1901 it was decided to change the position of the pulpit from the centre of the apse to the left, where it has remained since. In 1953 the front centre pews were removed to improve access to the communion rail.
The heating and lighting of the church has undergone several changes over the years - e.g. lighting units were moved from central hanging globes to positions on the sidewalls where access was easier, and the heating has been changed from gas to electric to overcome excessive condensation, which caused problems with the church organ.
The Church celebrated its Centenary in June 1962 and in this picture the Minister at that time, The Rev. Glyn Edwards Beynon, is holding the silver trowel used by H. O Wills Esq., to lay the Foundation Stone of the Church on 3rd July 1861. This trowel is now on display within the Church. .
The Church pulpit in its present position in the north west corner of the Church.