In the beginning . . .
In 1838 the river Aeron divided the two Parishes known as Henfynyw
and Llanddewi Aberarth,
both of which conducted their worship entirely in Welsh. A sum of £700 was raised by
public subscription to build a 'Chapel of Ease' in Aberaeron to allow for worship by
the influx of English and Anglicised minor gentry and tradesmen who had come into the town
as a result of the building of the new harbour.
This chapel was licensed in 1838 and
a photograph exists which shows the chapel to have been a square building in the Georgian
style of the town. It was an unusual and handsome building for an Anglican Church and
flourished from the beginning.
In 1851 it is recorded as having two services on Sunday.
There were 260 sittings, of which only 60 were free - the others produced an annual
income of £15 in rent.
The fall and rise . . .
By 1870 the Chapel was dilapidated and the Bishop licensed the town hall for the
celebration of divine service. The Chapel was rebuilt in the current fashionable
florid Gothic style and opened on 1st October 1872, although it was not consecrated
until 6th August 1875. The building cost £1,776, the tower alone costing £795 and
being completed in 1880. Once more the money was collected by Public subscription.
The basic structure of the Tower and the Nave has not been changed, but the original
plan was unusual in that the Nave ended in the Apse with three stained glass windows
within which the Altar stood. This interesting structure was replaced by the present
Chancel, erected in the memory of the Reverend W. O. Edwards. The chapel was reconsecrated
after the completion of the chancel on the 3rd May 1900. The windows from the demolished
Apse were reused in the north wall of the new Chancel. The organ was also installed
at this time. The Incorporated Church Building Society gave £40 towards the enlargement
on condition that all seats be for the free use of parishioners. The only major change
to the interior since 1900 is the painting of the Chancel roof, which was part of the
refurbishing of the Church 1966-1967.
The change . . .
Holy Trinity Church retained a more distinctive English element than surrounding
Churches, but gradually the use of Welsh services began to balance English ones.
This was consolidated by the privy council's action in 1910 when they separated "from
the parish of Llanddewi Aberarth all that part that lies within
the limits of the urban district of Aberaeron". This was over half the town and this
action strengthened the Parish of Henfynyw and its Chapel of Ease.
The silver plate of this Chapel consists of a silver salver, hallmark of 1731, a
silver egg-shaped chalice, hallmark of 1805 both presented by Mrs Atwood of Pen-y-Garreg
in 1839, a small silver flagon, hallmark 1876. The Altar Cross, two candlesticks,
Altar desk and Alms dish are of brass. The latter was presented in memory of
Reverend W. O. Edwards, Warden for 40 years, who died 30th May 1901. The brass and
oak Pulpit desk was presented in 1902 in memory of Mr and Mrs Edmund Lloyd. In 1982
a second silver Chalice was donated in memory of Mrs Lily Mortimer-Lloyd.
Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1966-67 which included the colouring
and gilding of the Chancel roof. In 1972 a new Church hall was built alongside the Church.
