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HOLTON ROAD BAPTIST
CHURCH, BARRY (1890 - 1980)
About 1890, a few brethren met together for Divine worship in a
loft over a stable in Barry Dock. Afterwards, they rented a
room over a shop in Holton Road, and they were under the oversight
of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Cadoxton, Barry. They were
greatly blessed and prospered, and soon decided to erect a small
building in the same road. It seated 300, and cost about
£500. The church was formed in 1892. In 1893, the Rev.
T. Pandy John was invited to the pastorate. He had been
educated at Haverfordwest College, being also a native of that
town. He had been pastor at Creswell Quay (1884-60) and at
Penar, Pembroke Dock (1886-93). In both places he did good work. He
brought much blessing to Barry. When he came to Barry in 1893,
the membership at Holton Road was 90 and by 1912 this had risen to
334, with 400 scholars in the Sunday School and 37 teachers.
The small structure of a church had grown to small and a wooden
extension was added to seat another 300 people. In 1898 the
chapel was built. the new church had seating for 1,000 people
and cost £3,500 to build. There was school accommodation for
800 children.
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| Rev. T. Pandy John
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Holton Road Baptist Church
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| Holton Road Baptist Church |
| Anniversary Tea and Concert,
1929
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Organ Recital, 1925
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| Annual Garden Party, Jenner Park, 1932
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Holton Road Dramatic Society,
1938
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| Holton Road Diaconate 1951 |
| Back Row L-R - L. Viv Hewins, Fred C. Keating, T.M. Lloyd, P. John |
| Middle Row L-R - W. G. Willaims (Treasurer), A.C.W Booth (Ass. Secretary), W.H. Chamberlain. W.J. Williams (Elder, S.S. Awbery, Bryn Watkins (Financial Secretary), Fred W. Harding |
| Front Row L-R - Mrs. J. Ireland (Elder), Mrs. S.R. Jones (Elder), B.I. Newton (Secretary), A. Rees Jones (Elder), Rev. M.W. Mollin (Minister 1917 - 1951), E.W. Thomas (Elder), Miss Nellie Williams, Mrs. B.A. McMillan |
| Holton Road Baptist Sunday School and Dramatic Society
1959 |
Wednesday 9th July 1952 -
Service of Reception and Welcome for Rev. W. Arthen Edwards -
Order of Service
Wednesday 9th July 1952 -
The Induction Service for Rev. W. Arthen Edwards -
Order of Service
Sunday 7th July 1968 -
BBC Radio Broadcast of Sunday Half-Hour -
Programme
| Rev. W. Arthen and Mrs. Eluned Edwards celebrate 25 years at Holton Road, 1977 |
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In 1979 Holton Road Baptist Church, was facing the problem of nine years left on its lease,
the landlord originally set the freehold cost at £75,000 but later
raised this to a much higher amount. Links with Salem Welsh
Baptist Church 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 Holton Road and Salem took
place 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. Holton Road
Baptist Church was demolished in 1982. There is currently a
Superdrug store on the old site.
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