Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Bethany English Presbyterian Church (Port Talbot, Wales).
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The English cause in Port Talbot began in 1878 when Carmel Church began a Sunday School in English in the old vestry to cater for the growing need of English speakers moving into the area. Land was leased from C. R. M. Talbot, with work beginning in 1879 and Bethany church opened in 1880. The building cost £1,700 with Carmel loaning £900 and the remainder being raised by public subscription. Due to declining membership, a joint pastorate was formed in 1973 with Bethel Church, Briton Ferry. Due to the deterioration of the building, the cost of major repairs and falling membership, it was decided to close Bethany in October 2000 and hold services and meetings in Carmel. The building also became listed by CADW in 2000. At the annual general meeting held in March 2009 it was decided that Bethany would cease at the end of that year; the closing service was held on 27 December.