Capel M.C.
Llithfaen

The Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Llithfaen is registered as a Grade II* listed building. The present chapel, known locally as Capel Isaf, is the fifth chapel to be built in the village for the Methodist community. It was erected in 1905 by Griffith Jones, Morfa Nefyn, following the plans of Owen Morris Roberts, Porthmadog. The interior of the main chapel is designed to seat around 700 people. The plaster The gallery in the chapel is special as it is on four sides of the building. roof is in moulded sections and large concentric circles. The walls are plastered and painted like stone. The wood used is pine. A gallery of 5 rows of seats is supported by corrugated iron columns. The front of the gallery is ornate and carved, and it is striking because of its curved corners on all four sides, not to mention the dedicated space for the then local male voice choir on the east side. There's a lower gallery behind the pulpit, housing the organ. In 1999 it was described as a large well-preserved chapel with their impressive carefully designed interior, built as a religious and social focus for the local community at a time when the quarry industry was at its peak in the area.

The chapel cost £3081, 8 shillings and 2 pence to build. The first public service was held by Evan Roberts, the Revivalist, on 12 December 1905. The Reverend E. Sidney Morris, lead the prayers and read from the Bible. This happened, despite the chapel not being quite finished at the time. The painters had not finished their work. They preached in the new chapel on 1 April 1906 and the first marriage was administered on 15 August.

Hafod Ceiri is a company set up to develop Capel Isaf, Llithfaen into a multi-purpose centre for Llithfaen Photo of the chapel early at the beginning of the last century. and the wider local. We have signed a lease for the building for the next 99 years. Hafod Ceiri as a company aiming to keep the unique heritage of the local area alive and to support a wide range of people, helping to introduce them to their heritage through educational and participatory activities and events; develop community confidence and encourage enterprise and promote employment in the area, as well as securing a place of worship for the village of Llithfaen and the preserving an unique building.

The Llithfaen Regeneration Committee came together in 2012 with a view to spurring community development in and around Llithfaen. The Committee was formed with a number of active individuals in the village with the support of the Community Council, the Chapel Elders and it's members and local groups. In 2013, financial support was received from the Llŷn Area of Natural Beauty and Mantell Gwynedd. Work was commissioned to identify the community's priorities and to investigate the opportunities offered in the area, looking at several sites in the village. One of those buildings was Capel Isaf, and they developed recommendations and conducted a feasibility study, with a view to develop the building. This was the beginning of Hafod Ceiri as company.

Map showing the location of the chapel in the village.