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Baptist Union of Great Britain History Handbook from the 1912 Baptist Union Conference held in Cardiff Holton Road Baptist Church History Information and photos on Holton Road Baptist Church, Barry (1890 - 1980) Vale of Glamorgan Baptist History The first Baptist Church in the Vale of Glamorgan was Croes Y Parc Church established at Peterston-Super-Ely [Llanbedr Y Fro] by members of Penygarn Baptist Church, Pontypool in 1777. One of the first people to be baptised there was Dafydd William, the compiler of the hymn collection Gorfoledd Ym Mhbeyll Seion [Rejoicing in the tents of Zion] who referred to his hymns as "A few of the tasty crumbs which my soul has enjoyed from the table of the Lord". He preached in the Barry area and in his declining years he lived at Holton Farm, Barry, where he dies in 1794 aged 82. He is buried at Croes Y Parc graveyard. As early as 1778 members of Croes Y Parc Baptist Church were preaching in Barry and Cadoxton. Eventually, a small flock was gathered together and in 1813 they bought a small orchard in Cadoxton and built a small chapel which they named Philadelphia. Membership remained small because the population of the whole are was small. The population in 1881 was 500, but in 1884 the construction of Barry Docks began, and the town grew like a mushroom. By 1896 the population was about 20,000, a quarter or a third of whom were Welsh, and some of these were English only speaking. New members flooded into the chapels. Philadelphia soon hived off a Welsh church, Salem, and an English language church, Mount Pleasant. It was not long before Mount Pleasant formed two more English language churches, Bethel and Holton Road. Philadelphia built herself a new chapel named Calfaria in Court Road [this chapel closed in 2003]. Three other English language churches were formed by the Baptist Union of Wales. Salem History The History of the Baptist cause in Barry began at Philadelphia chapel built in 1813 in Cadoxton, then a village with a population of 150. This together with the Wesleyans and Presbyterians were the mother churches of the Barry area. All promoted a strong faith in an agricultural community. In those early days there were no regular ministers at Philadelphia until the Rev. J.A.S. Parrott was appointed. Welsh was predominant language for services. With the construction of Barry Docks, beginning in 1884, and the steady influx of outsiders seeking work in a burgeoning town, the pattern of worship changed with the Welsh language facing competition from English. The size of congregations increased and Barry was very much a Christian town. People came to Barry as Christians and were employed by the railway company, at Barry Docks and by local business whose trading elite were eager to sustain Christian values and discipline. It was the Rev. Llechidon Williams who in April 1890 left Philadelphia Welsh Baptist Church in Cadoxton to hold mission services in a room near Thompson Street, Barry, owned by James Jones undertaker and who who began the Baptist cause in the Barry Dock area. Later, on 19th May, 1890, he resigned the pastorate at Philadelphia and supported by 25 members formed the nucleus of a new church at Barry Dock. |
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| Rev. Llechidon Williams | First Meeting Place | Salem 1891 |
| A schoolroom was
built between Lombard Street and Beryl Road at a cost of £600. Opening services at the
schoolroom took place on 6th October, 1890. Much progress had been made since 1812 when
the early Baptists purchased land in Cadoxton for £12 on which was constructed a white
washed building with two doors, a removable pulpit and a small gallery at the far end from
the pulpit. Before 1880 baptism had been conducted in a nearly stream and Christmas Evans,
the great Welsh preacher baptised converts there. Church members, many on horseback, had
travelled long distances to attend church and they were ministered to by visiting preachers.
It was the Rev. T. M. Rees who became the second Pastor at Salem and he ministered to his members from 1896 to 1900. There is a conflict between the photograph below and the commemoration plaque in the church It was either on 9th June 1897 or 6th October 1897 that 12 foundation stones were laid. Those who laid the stones are listed on the Roll of honour in the church as the names on the stones have now been warn away.
Laying of the Foundation Stones of Salem Welsh Baptist Chapel Barry Dock - June 9th 1897
In May, 1898 the church building was formally opened, the church and manse having cost £3,400. Such was the cost of the church that much fund raising was undertaken and by October, 1900, the debt had been reduced by £100 per annum. By 1919, the outstanding debt was £765 and when a local man offered £25 for every £100 collected, the remaining figure was collected in a short period of time. A special meeting was organised to witness the burning of the bills by the Pastor to indicate the church's freedom from debt. The third Pastor, Rev, Owen Jones enjoyed a successful period at Salem from 1900 to 1912 and he was succeeded by the Rev. David Morgan whose pastorate lasted 29 years. |
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| Rev. T. M. Rees | Rev. Owen Jones | Rev. David Morgan |
| During David Morgan's ministry the Sunday
School membership reached a peak of 437, but because of the depression in the 1930s by 1940 the recorded
membership was about 200. In June 1936, Salem members celebrated the Pastor's coming of age (21 years at Salem).
Services in Welsh and English were delivered in the church and schoolroom (vestry) respectively on Sunday,
supported by the Juvenile choir. On the following Monday, a complimentary supper was arranged and a service
held in the church. Senior members of the church spoke in appreciation of Rev. Morgan's ministry as did
representatives of the Christian Endeavour, the Sisterhood, President of the Sewing class, the Children's
Choir, the Band of Hope and the Conductor of the Orchestra. The Orchestra at Salem dated from 1908-9 and
apart from the war years, it functioned continuously both within the church and by supporting various festivals
in the County of Glamorgan.
In 1946, the church welcomed the Rev. T. Omri Jenkins to begin his pastorate. In 1950, Salem members celebrated the 60th anniversary of the church. Later in June 1952, the Rev. T. Omri Jenkins resigned the pastorate to take up an appointment with the European Evangelistic Crusade. Wednesday 28th August 1946 The Ordination of Mr. T. Omri Jenkins and Induction to the Pastorate - Order of Service The church was without a minister for two years, but in 1954, the Rev. W. Oswald Williams came to Salem. After serving in the Royal Navy and returning to take up a civilian appointment, he decided to enter the ministry and was trained at the South Wales Baptist College from where he spent three years in his first pastorate at Capel y Bont Welsh Baptist Church at Pengam before coming to Barry. As a Welsh speaking pastor, he was well qualified to meet the demands of a bilingual congregation and he continued with the practice of holding Welsh services in the church on Sunday morning while English services were conducted in the vestry. It is recalled with some interest that when the English Presbyterian Church was forced to close in Barry, the Rev. David Morgan invited the members to continue their worship at Salem and thus began the English services. Subsequently, a number were baptised and many in turn strengthened the cause at Salem. In 1964 the church membership was 125. In 1965, Salem Deacon, Mr. A.H. Apps became lay Paster at Aberthaw Baptist Church (a position he held admirably until his death in 1999). In 1965, the Rev. W. Oswald Williams decided to finish his ministry at Salem in order to take up a teaching appointment in Bristol. His main aim had been to establish a strong fellowship based on family worship and in this he was strongly supported by his family and the diaconate. A Sunday School of 250, the result of well organised canvassing for members in the area around Salem, testifies to his success. After a successful ministry of 12 years at Salem, the farewell service took place on November 29th, 1965. |
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| Rev. T. Omri Jenkins | Rev. W. Oswald Williams | Rev. Gwyn Rogers |
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| Rev. T. Omri Jenkins and Girls Guildry 1947 |
| Salem Diaconate - 1961 |
| Back Row L-R - A.H. Apps, Ivor Ll. Griffiths, Hywel Davies, Gwyn Williams, W.G. Thomas (Treasurer), Leslie Humphries (Junior S.S. Supt.), W.W. Jones, Cyril Humphries (Precentor) |
| Front Row L-R - John Thomas (S.S. Supt,), Evan Evans (Secretary), Rev. W. Oswald Williams (Minister), T.L. Spickett (Treasurer 1938-61), Ivor Prosser (Financial Secretary) |
| After being a year without a
Minister, a successful call was given to Rev. Gwyn Rogers who came to Barry from Caersalem
Baptist Church, Dowlais. Again Salem was fortunate to have a bilingual pastor able to
continue with the Welsh language services. Such a provision had been made since 1924 but
in 1966, because of diminishing numbers, the question of combined services was examined. A
compromise was reached with Welsh services being held on two Sundays a month. In August 1969,
the Rev. Gwyn Rogers informed members of his decision to take up a full time appointment as a
teacher at Sully Junior School but was prepared to continue with his role as minister but
defined as a free minister. In September 1969, the first reference was made to the uniting of
Salem Welsh Baptist Church with Holton Road English Baptist Church, an indication of membership
difficulties at Salem. By 1975 membership had fallen to 49 and Rev. Gwyn Rogers resigned as free
minister.
In 1978 the Sunday ministry was maintained and links with Holton Road Baptist Church, itself facing the problem of nine years left on its lease, were examined. In 1979, a merger of the two churches at Salem and at Holton Road was now a serious consideration. With Salem being a freehold property and having a small membership, a merger with the church at Holton Road, itself with no future at that location, was clearly a solution that would benefit the witness and faithful of both churches. The lengthy process of amalgamation went ahead with many meeting and discussions culminating in January 1980 when a draft copy of the constitution appeared followed by meeting to resolve any issues including the appointment of a minister. |
| In 1980, joint worship by members of the two churches took place in Salem and the last meeting of the deacons took place on 11th July, 1980. Thereafter a joint diaconate accepted responsibility for church affairs and many months later on 27th July, 1982,the merger was finally completed. The Rev. W. Arthen Edwards who had been minister at Holton Road Baptist since 1952 was appointed minister at Salem. In 1983 the rules were changed so that his retirement could be extended from the age of 65 to 70. On 13th September, 1988, the retirement of the Rev. Edwards from the ministry after 50 years of service was celebrated with appropriate services and meetings and his contribution to the life of the church and the town of Barry was fully praised. |
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| Rev. W. Arthen Edwards and Diaconate - 1988 |
| After over four years without a minister during which time were indebted to the number of lay preachers in the church and from the East Glamorgan Baptist Association who led our services week by week, a successful call was made to the Rev. R. Clive Jones. Rev. Jones had trained at the South Wales Baptist College, Cardiff. His first pastorate was at Port Talbot, his second at Centenary Baptist Church in March, Cambridgeshire where he had been minister for ten years. He moved to Barry in January 1993 with his wife, Gaynor and three daughters. |
Saturday 6th March 1993 - Induction Service of Rev. R. Clive Jones - Order of Service
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| Rev. R. Clive Jones |
Some of the Salem Firsts: |
- First Baptism - Mrs. B.P. Davies and Mr. T.E. Jenkins
- First wedding of Salem members - Mr. & Mrs. A. David Brown
- First organist - Miss S.B. Thomas
- First to suggest the name Salem - Mr. W. Rees
- First student to enter the ministry - Rev. Glyndwr Morgan (son of Rev. David Morgan)
- First lay preacher - Mr. Evan Evans
Ministers at Salem: |
- 1890 - 1895 Rev. Griffith Llechidon Williams
- 1896 - 1899 Rev. T.M. Rees
- 1900 - 1912 Rev. Owen Jones
- 1915 - 1944 Rev. David Morgan
- 1946 - 1952 Rev. Omri Jenkins
- 1954 - 1965 Rev. W. Oswald Williams
- 1966 - 1976 Rev. Gwyn Rogers
- 1980 - 1988 Rev. W. Arthen Edwards [1952 - 1980 - Holton Road Baptist]
- 1993 - 2017 Rev. R. Clive Jones
- 2018 - Rev. Ray Ellis
