The fire at the historic Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel on the corner of Station Road and Forge Road in Port Talbot saw six fire appliances and firefighters from across the region tackle the blaze which broke out yesterday evening (24 April).
Large crowds turned out to watch and record the fire, which is suspected locally to have been deliberately set, although not yet confirmed as such by the fire service.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 6.49pm on Thursday, April 24th, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Port Talbot, Morriston and Neath Fire Stations were called to an incident at the Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel on Station Road in Port Talbot.
“Supported by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, crews responded to a fire within the disused chapel, measuring approximately 30 metres by 15 metres. Crews utilised six water jets and one turntable ladder appliance as a water tower to extinguish the fire.
“Crews continued to monitor and extinguish remaining hot spots into the early hours of Friday, April 25th.
“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.”
(Image: Michael Jones)
(Image: Richard Davies)
(Image: Gabbie Parry)
The 150-year-old chapel has been empty for over 20 years. Originally founded as a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church in 1879, it later became a library before closing permanently in 2002.
The fire comes just days after a large empty school building near Penlan was “deliberately” set on fire.
Just like the school fire, locals have complained about the empty church in Port Talbot being a magnet for vandalism with recent reports of multiple small fires and break-ins.
(Image: Annaleigh Pugsley)
(Image: Annaleigh Pugsley)
