Tonyrefail like many others towns and villages throughout the UK has seen changes in religious beliefs in recent times. Falling congregation numbers have caused many churches and chapels to close. some have been demolished, some have found a new use. This page lists Tonyrefails old churches and chapels.
AINON CHAPELAinon chapel was first built on Waunrhydd road in 1860, then rebuilt into the chapel you see here in 1894. due to falling congregation numbers the chapel closed its doors for the last time in October 1990 and was demolished in March 1992.The land the chapel sat on has now been turned into a children’s play area by the workman’s club. for current photos and photos of the burials etc at the chapel please visit the Ainon chapel page
ST PETERS CHURCH (LLAMBAD)St Peters church, more commonly known in the area as Llambad church isn’t actually in tonyrefail, but its close proximity to Tonyrefail (its by the wind farm) meant that it was used by tonyrefails’s residents. The original church dates back over 800 years, the current church was built around 300 years ago.the church closed in 1812 and has since fallen into ruin. for more information please check the St peter / Llambad church pages
CAPEL Y TONCapel y ton was first built in 1791 in High street, due to its popularity it was rebuilt twice, the first in 1836 and then the current chapel, which was built in 1863 and has since received a facelift into its current condition in 1905.The chapel also at one point had a vestry built to the side off it. this was demolished many years ago leaving a grassy patch tha the council have put a bench on.With congregation numbers falling from over a hundred during the second world war to only 12, the chapel was closed on the last Sunday of 2002.For more information about Capel y ton includingits history, photographs and details of the chapels burials please check the Capel y ton pages
ZION CHAPELZion chapel was built on penrhiwfer road and opened in 1878. it was one of the first chapels in the area to hold services in English instead of Welsh and as such proved popular with the newcomers to the area who only spoke English.The chapel closed in the seventies and has now been converted into several flats.
METHODIST CHAPELThis chapel was opened in Mill Street in 1910 as a temporary home until their new permanent home was completed at the end of mill street.it closed in 1925 when St Georges opened. its had several uses since then, the latest of which was a small garden centre called the flower house which closed about ten years ago.
ST GEORGES CHURCHSt. George’s opened in 1925 as the permanent home to the methodist chapel which had formaly been in the temporary building further up Mill Street.it closes in 1970 is now home to St George’s day centre and the meals on wheels service for Tonyrefail.
ST JOHNS CHURCHSt Johns church on Llantrisant road is one of the oldest churches in the area having originally been built in the early 1500’s.The church is now used as Tonyrefails scout hall.the graveyard is in a particularly bad condition, not just overgrown but dangerous with many grave stones having fallen over.for more information please check the St Johns page
BETHANIA CHAPELBethania chapel in Thomastown was built in 1910 and opened in 1911 as a daughter church of Capel Y Ton. It flourished for many years due to the influx of people for the mines, but due to falling congregation numbers closed in 1949.since closing as a church its had many uses, as a a tool makers, yts training centre, a HQ for a contract cleaning company and now its been converted into a block of six flats.
PRIMATIVE METHODISTSYears ago there used to be a chapel next to the ely (now fagins) in Francis street. the primitive Methodists where know as the pm’s or pimms. Other than that I know nothing of the chapel or its history. if you do, please email meThe chapel was demolished quite some time ago and now two houses have been built on the ground it occupied.
THE ENGLISH METHODIST CHAPELThe English Calvinistic Methodist chapel was built in Pretoria Road in 1904 as an English language break away from Capel Y Ton in High Street.It was a temporary building built of timber with a corrugated iron roof, where it got its nickname of the “tin chapel” it was destroyed by fire in 1957, although its congregation had been saving for many years to build a proper chapel, it was never rebuilt.if you have a photo of the chapel or know any of its history please email me
Tonyrefail also had several other churches and chapels, as I get more information and photographs i will update this page.if you have any information about bethania chapel, the chapel by the joinery, the chapel in coedely that’s now the bungalow next to the community centre, the chapel that used to stand next to fagins opposite thomastown club or any others in Ton please contact me
 "514 thumb")
 "306 thumb")
 "72 thumb")
 "805 thumb")
 "879 thumb")
 "878 thumb")
 "847 thumb")
 "894 thumb")
 "888 thumb")
