Reference Code: GB 0214 DBAP5

GLAMORGAN RECORD OFFICE/ARCHIFDY MORGANNWG

Reference code: GB 0214 DBAP5

Title: Ararat Baptist Church, Whitchurch, Cardiff

Dates 1793-2000

Level of description: Fonds

Extent: 12 standard boxes; 0.24 cubic metres

Name of creator Ararat Baptist church, Wauntreoda, Whitchurch

Administrative/Biographical history The Baptist church began about 1824 as an offshoot from the Baptist church at Lisvane (Llys-faen) but the building was not completed c1828. It was located on a corner of Waun Treoda common, hence its familiar names Capel y Waun and (sometimes) Waun Treoda, and baptisms were conducted, until the opening of a baptistry in 1879, in a pool near Cornel-y-waun farm. The church appointed its first minister John Williams; minister 1828-40) and it was admitted to the East Glamorgan Baptist Association in 1828. Some early entries (from 1793) in the baptisms register (DBAP5/1), apparently made by John Williams, relate to members born in Whitchurch, Llanishen and Llandaff North (Llandaff Yard) and must have been extracted from the registers of another chapel, possibly Lisvane (Llys-faen) established in 1782. Welsh was used exclusively in services till 1878 when they became bilingual. Increasing anglicisation led to the dropping of Welsh in 1905 and the last Sunday School in Welsh was in 1907. The rapid urbanisation of Whitchurch in the 19th and 20th centuries required rebuilding of the church in 1851 and again in 1915 (the present structure). The church benefited from a number of energetic ministers, notably John Williams, James Bevan (1885-99) and Luther Jones (1919- 44). See Ararat Baptist Church, Wauntreoda, Whitchurch. Centenary Celebration. Souvenir [booklet] 1824-1924 (Cardiff 1924); Old Whitchurch. The Story of a Glamorgan Parish by Edgar L Chappell (Cardiff 1945); and Whitchurch – A Brief History by Hilary M Thomas (Cardiff 1982). For Lisvane: Lisvane Baptist Church. Brief Historical Sketch by Titus Llewellyn (1882), trans. Olwen Williams (1929).

Scope and content The records of Ararat Baptist Church include minutes; roll books; registers; records of societies; financial records and Sunday School records.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information All records offered have been accepted and listed

Conditions governing access Open access

Ararat Baptist Church, Wauntreoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff DBAP5

Conditions governing reproduction Normal Glamorgan Record Office conditions apply.

Language/Scripts of material English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements Fair to poor condition

Finding aids Detailed list available for the group of records deposited in 1971. The deposit received in 2003 has not yet been listed.

Date of description Listed 1971; relisted June 2003; description revised December 2003

Ararat Baptist Church, Wauntreoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff DBAP5

DBAP5/1 Register of births 1793-1838 entries are not in chronological order and were fair copied after 1830, probably c1838 flyleaf: 'This Book was bought by John Williams for the Use of the Baptist Church at Waenteroda in the County of Glamorgan in the Year, One Thousand and Thirty' The volume contains a note setting out the form for certifying extractions from a family Bible of a birth ('Daniel Williams born the … day of March …') of a birth ('Extracted from the Register of Baptist Chapel Wauntrodau' and certified as correct by Isaac Thomas, Deacon, 29 March 1879) [For early entries, see Administrative/Biographical History above] [1 vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/2 Church meetings minutes book, including preparatory 1883-1891 meetings and special church meetings flyleaf: 'Isaac Thomas Secretary. January 1st 1883' and attached notice from Surveyor of Cardiff Union Rural Sanitary Authority that the Cardiff Corporation water is now laid on throughout the mains in the district and that recipients of notice should provide and fix the necessary fittings in accordance with Corporation bye-laws. The notice is endorsed: 'Mrs Thomas came from Tabernacl Cardiff May 3d 1889' and 'Mrs [?]Chinna January 4 English Church 1889 Abercarne' [1 vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/3 Church meetings minutes book, including special church 1907-1913 meetings [1 vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/4 Church meetings minutes book, including special church 1916-1917 meetings and deacons meetings, and list of collections [1 small vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/5 Record of preachers and theme of sermons, and 1845-1848 miscellaneous notes [1 small vol; Welsh and English; poor condition]

DBAP5/6 Receipts and disbursements 1853-1863 [1 small vol; poor condition]

DBAP5/7 Receipts and disbursements 1863-1869 flyleaf: 'Isaac Thomas Hill Farm Lanishen August 4th 1863' [1 small vol; fair condition]

Ararat Baptist Church, Wauntreoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff DBAP5

DBAP5/8 'Journal': receipts and disbursements 1869-1876 [1 small vol; fair condition] DBAP5/9 Receipts and disbursements 1876-1884 [1 small vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/10 Receipts and disbursements 1886-1891 flyleaf: 'Isaac Thomas Elm Grove Whitchurch July 6th 1885' [1 small vol; fair condition]

DBAP5/11 Contributions book for a presentation, and memorandum 13 Aug 1872 of a public meeting held at Ararat, to present Revd J Thomas and Mrs Thomas with a tray and tea service Cover: 'Isaac Thomas Hill Farm Llanishen Glamorgan' [1 booklet; fair condition]

DBAP5/12 Members' contributions book 1914-1930 [1 vol; good condition]

DBAP5/13 Copy letter book, kept by Isaac E Thomas, church 1910-1913 secretary [1 booklet; fair condition]