The Origins of Paraclete Chapel, Newton
by Elizabeth Evans
Paraclete Chapel
The foundation of Paraclete Chapel in 1816 had the most improbable aristocratic associations and fateful beginning.
In 1814, the Baroness Diana Barham of Kent, arrived in Bristol on her way to visit her daughter Lady Welman in Taunton. She was heiress to Sir Charles Barham, wealthy and an unconventional aristocrat. Lady Barham was a formidable mother, who had seventeen children, one of them Lady Welman. She was highly religious, but with a strong interest in non-conformist religion: Protestant dissenters like George Whitfield and the Countess of Huntingdon were her frequent guests. She travelled with her own private secretary William Hammerton. On her arrival in Bristol with her retinue of servants, Lady Barham received a most inconvenient message: she was informed that her daughter would not be able to receive her for another two weeks! No account is given of this remarkable turn of events, but Lady Barham was stranded in Bristol with no plans, and no arrangements made. She made inquiries, and was attracted by the idea of a visit to Mumbles and Gower. That is what they proceeded to do.
Lady Barham, with William Hammerton, stayed at Fairy Hill and explored the Gower Peninsula. They loved the scenery, in particular the Gower bays. But they were both appalled (William Hammerton was to say in his later diaries) by the ‘spiritual darkness and ignorance’ which they found in Gower. They left again, when their two weeks were up, deeply concerned about the ‘lack of godliness in that dark place’.
Nine months later, in 1815, they both returned to Gower. They were determined to improve the religious condition of the people, and held meetings throughout the Peninsula, in houses and cottages. Funded by Lady Barham, they founded five chapels, or churches.
Bethesda, at Burry Port, Trinity, at Cheriton, Mount Pisgah, at Ilston, Bethel, at Penclawdd and Paraclete, at Newton.
They established Trusts to help with ‘the education and spiritual welfare of children’. These have only recently come to an end. William Hammerton himself became the first Minister at Paraclete, which was later described by Frances Ridley Havergal as ‘this little church on the hill’. The whole movement was reminiscent of the much larger network of dissenter chapels established in the West Country, by the Countess of Huntingdon.
In 1816, Newton had just five members. William Hammerton proved a dedicated minister of the gospel until his death in 1834 and was buried at Paraclete. There is a painting of him on the wall of the Minister’s Room, at Paraclete.
Paraclete membership grew steadily throughout the 19thC, and the Chapel became closely associated with the name of Frances Ridley Havergal, the writer of so many famous hymns. She attended Paraclete and lived in Newton, at Caswell Road. Her portrait hangs today in the main body of the Chapel.
Since 1898, the history of the Chapel has been bound up with the Reverend David Rees. He left behind a brilliant academic career (at Brecon College, then Cardiff University) to take pastoral responsibility for this small Gower chapel. And whereas Lady Barham had simply envisaged it as a “place of worship for Protestant Dissenters”, David Rees constituted it as a Congregational Church. Reverend David Rees was to have a famous nephew – Dylan Thomas, who came to stay with his uncle at Newton. Hence the plaque on the former Manse in Summerland Lane, and the related material in the Dylan Thomas Exhibition at Ty Llen in Swansea.
In 1901, the Chapel was enlarged. By 1924, the present Schoolroom was in place. These changes reflected the drive and influence of David Rees. In 1931, the present pipe organ was installed. And the gas jets were replaced by electricity.
Paraclete Chapel flourishes, still as an independent congregation. Under its Minister Reverend Anthony Gwyther-Jones, and with a rising membership, a further extension will be completed in 2002, to be called The Havergal Centre. The Chapel and its facilities appeal to all age-groups in the community it serves. The Sunday School is popular and well attended, the Mothers-and-Toddlers Group provides support for young families, there is a vibrant Youth Section, and a regular Bible Study Group.
Baroness Barham would be well pleased with the growth in ‘spirituality’ that Paraclete has generated, over many years.
Source: Article in the Herald of Wales on 5 November 1932, soon after the installation of the pipe organ.
My thanks to the Evening Post for their permission to use their material.
See also The Old Village of Newton