Heritage Site: Moriah Chapel & Schoolroom, Loughor

The photograph above shows Moriah Chapel, Loughor, South Wales, with the Schoolroom to the left of the picture. This is the place where the young 26-year old Evan Roberts preached to the young people and set off a chain of events that we now know as the 1904/1905 Welsh Revival. This was a time when the Holy Spirit of God moved firstly on a nation and then across the world, touching hundreds of thousands of lives. Since that time millions have been affected as a result of the continuing witness.

Evan Roberts prayed "Bend me, Lord", and the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way!

Young people sat on these very benches in the Schoolroom, listened to Evan Roberts preaching, and were mightily touched by the Holy Spirit.

The picture above shows the interior of the Chapel where Evan Roberts led the congregations to God. Last week Andrew Strom (New Zealand), David Servant (USA), Alex Tinson (UK), and myself, had the wonderful privilege of sharing God's Word with people who travelled from around the world to attend the Wales International Revival Gathering.

With the historical link to the last great Welsh Revival, the Moriah Chapel and Schoolroom complex is a Heritage Site of International interest, and should be proclaimed as such. Visitors travel from all over the world to come on pilgrimage to this site in order to experience the special feeling that comes from standing in the very place where God's Spirit came to change lives and turn a nation. The visitor's book bears witness to the folk who have travelled from all across the globe for the experience.

Yet this site is maintained by a dedicated few people who work on the most meagre of shoe-string budgets. Recently, thanks to some volunteer help from folk from other chapels in the area, the lower sections of the schoolroom have been given a fresh coat of paint, although much work is needed still to get the upper gallery and ceiling in any semblance of good order. Outside, the decay in the windows reflects the dire shortage of funds that are so badly needed to restore the building. The pictures below show the extent of the decay, something which can only be rectified by replacing all of the windows. The cost of replacing the windows to the front of the schoolroom with hardwood framed windows has been estimated at £8400 (approx. US$11,750).

I plan to help the folk at Moriah Chapel to set up a 'Friends of Moriah Chapel Association' in order to help raise the money that is needed to restore this historic site and preserve it for future generations.

Apart from the decay which these pictures show on the front windows there is a row of windows to the side of the schoolroom and on both sides of the chapel which are all in a poor state of repair and need to be repaired or replaced as necessary as soon as possible.

The initial target for the work of restoration will be, I estimate, around £100,000 (US$140,000). If you can help then please make cheques/money orders payable to Moriah Chapel, and send your gift to Mr Dyfrig Griffiths, Moriah Chapel restoration Fund, 11 Ystrad Einon, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 6HY.