Bethany Chapel, Ammanford

[1] John T. Job, the Welsh hymnwriter and one of the leaders of the 1904-1905 revival in Bethesda, was from Llandybie; his mother, Mary, was one of the original members of Bethany Chapel and was notable for her godly character.

[6] Following a vote of the members in July 2023 the Calvinistic Methodist/ Presbyterian Church of Wales cause at Bethany was officially decommissioned by the local presbytery on October 26, 2023.

There might be uncertainty regarding the future of the building but the same gospel message of Jesus Christ preached at Bethany is still being proclaimed in the Ammanford area.

[1] Bethany's roots were not actually in Ammanford, but in an older branch of the Methodist cause across the river Aman in the parish of Betws: Seion Chapel.

[7] The home of Hopkin John, "Argoed" house in Betws, became the cradle of both the local Welsh Independents (Annibynwyr) and Methodists in 1748 when it was "registered a place for dissenting protestants".

[15] He was an effective minister who established the tradition of biblical preaching in Bethany, and also started the weekly Bible class and Gobeithlu (Band of Hope).

[16] At the age of twenty he started to preach and in 1895 he went to the prestigious grammar school in Newcastle Emlyn and from there to Trefeca College to train as a minister.

[23] Joseph Jenkins preached on Sunday, November 6 and in the afternoon the chapel was full to hear the preacher recount stories of the waves of conversions in New Quay and Blaenannerch since February that year.

[24] Another meeting was held on the Tuesday, where a young girl stood up to pray and the chapel was set ablaze with the singing of praise and much prayer until 2:30 am.

[24] On the Friday evening Nantlais was humbled by his own sin and self-righteousness and felt miserable until he heard the words of the hymn – "Diolch Iddo byth am gofio llwch y llawr" ('Thank You forever for remembering the dust of the ground') – and experienced a sudden peace and the joy of forgiveness and salvation.

[20] This was reflected elsewhere, with new converts giving up hobbies and sports to focus on the family and church; even Ammanford RFC was disbanded until 1907.

This caused him much spiritual discomfort until the church held an evangelism crusade in 1946 with a number of young preachers from the Llanelli area.

[36] The Corlan y Plant and Gobeithlu (Band of Hope) flourished during his ministry and the young people's society experienced many waves of blessing too.

[38] "He preached with theological discernment, earnest longing for the salvation of men and women, unavoidable application and a Welsh warmth of spirit.

Following a vote of the members in July 2023 the Calvinistic Methodist/ Presbyterian Church of Wales cause at Bethany was officially decommissioned by the local presbytery on October 26, 2023.

There might be uncertainty regarding the future of the building but the same gospel message of Jesus Christ preached at Bethany is still being proclaimed in the Ammanford area.