minister in 1864 but he remained for only a year or so before moving to Abercarn. He was followed by T.T. Jones who remained for eighteen months, but within that time conducted 159 baptisms. During Jones's brief ministry, Bethel became the focus of educational activity with the minister delivering a series of lectures on Geology. Historian Ifor Parry cites this as an example of the chapels' pivotal role in working class education before the introduction of elementary education for all and the expansion of intermediate education. In 1867, Bethel became one of the first churches in the Aberdare Valley to install a baptismal well inside the chapel. This presumably brought the era of baptisms in the river Cynon to an end. John Fuller-Davies was minister from 1869 until 1872. He died from smallpox an around 10,000 people attended his funeral at Aberdare cemetery. The debt of £800 incurred in the building of the chapel was cleared by 1873. John Mills became minister at Bethel in 1876. He was previously a minister at Treuddyn and Leeswood in Flintshire and was inaugurated at services at Bethel on 23 January. Mills remained until his death in 1909. By 1880, Bethel had 240 members. A further structural modification occurred in 1895 at a cost of £2000, with seating available for 750 people. Twentieth century In December 1862, Bethel held a week-long series of services to celebrate half a century since the opening of the chapel building. Rev B. Williams was inaugurated as minister of Bethel in January 1914. In 1914, 47 young men from Bethel joined the armed forces. In 1916 membership stood at 395 and remained steady at 398 in 1925. Williams remained minister until 1932. Williams was succeeded by Alun J. Davies (1938–45), Emlyn Jones (1950–56), Glyn E. Williams (1957–59) and Idwal Wynne Owen from 1961. Membership fell to 154 in 1955 and 137 in 1963. By 2004 only eight members attended services. Notes References Bibliography External links Coflein Chapels in Rhondda Cynon Taf Churches completed in 1895 Baptist churches in Wales