---
title: "Yr Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen"
description: "Located in Llwynrhydowen, Ceredigion. Built Founded 1726; present chapel dated 1834 (third on the site). Grade II*. Late Georgian Unitarian chapel (long-wall entry) style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Unitarian Church","Ceredigion","Llwynrhydowen","Grade II*","Georgian","Chapel"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/yr-hen-gapel-llwynrhydowen"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:10:31.568Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T18:58:22.087Z"
location: "Llwynrhydowen, Ceredigion"
country: "Wales"
county: "Ceredigion"
town: "Llwynrhydowen"
address: "Llwynrhydowen, Ceredigion, SA44 4QB"
postcode: "SA44 4QB"
built: "Founded 1726; present chapel dated 1834 (third on the site)"
denomination: "Unitarian Church"
grade: "II*"
style: "Late Georgian Unitarian chapel (long-wall entry)"
materials: "Rubble stone with paler ashlar dressings and quoins; half-hipped slate roof"
website: "http://www.welshchapels.org/yr-hen-gapel/"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Llwynrhydowen (Addoldai Cymru)"
listEntryUrl: "https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=10655"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# Yr Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen

Yr Hen Gapel (the Old Chapel) at Rhydowen, Ceredigion, is a Grade II* Unitarian chapel facing the crossroads, now in the care of Addoldai Cymru, the Welsh Religious Buildings Trust. Unitarianism in Wales is closely associated with this congregation.

## Overview

Cadw records a cause founded in 1726. Coflein traces the first chapel of 1733, an extension of 1745, a rebuild of 1791, and the present third chapel of 1834 on the same site, renewed in 1862. The building is a long-wall-entry chapel of coursed rubble with paler ashlar dressings, a half-hipped slate roof and a scalloped timber eaves cornice. The tall front has arched openings with cut-stone voussoirs and keystones: two long central sash windows and two shorter outer windows over three-panel doors with intersecting-tracery fanlights. An oval slate plaque reads “Llwynrhydowen 1834”.

Under the Revd William Thomas (Gwilym Marles) the chapel was the focus of the struggle over evictions of Liberal-voting tenants on the Alltyrodyn estate after 1868. In 1876 minister and congregation were themselves evicted (the Troed Allan); a crowd of some three thousand heard Marles preach from the burial-ground steps. A new chapel opened in 1878–79; after the landlord’s death the old building was returned and later used as a Sunday school. Cadw lists it II* for its importance in Unitarian history and as an unrestored chapel of late Georgian character.

## Further Information

- [Cadw listed building 10655](https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=10655)
- [British Listed Buildings: Capel Llwynrhydowen (Old Chapel)](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300010655-capel-llwynrhydowen-old-chapel-llandysul)
- [Coflein: Capel Llwynrhydowen](https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/11594)
- [RCAHMW: restoration and reopening](https://rcahmw.gov.uk/huw-edwards-reopens-historic-ceredigion-chapel-2/)