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Notable Churches in and around Llanelli
The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees
Park Church
Upper Park Street

Park Street Church, Upper Park Street, was established for the English-speaking members of Capel Als.
In 1829 David Rees came to Llanelli and took his first pastorate as an Independent Minister at Capel Als Church. He is said to have become concerned about the spiritual needs of the English speaking members of the congregation who had come to Llanelli to work in the emerging new industries. To accommodate his small English speaking congregation he held services for them after the morning Welsh service at Capel Als. Because of the response he had from this he decided to establish an English Congregational Church donating £10 himself.
The completed building cost about £650 which included furnishings and on 7 July 1839, it was formally constituted as a Church, with 27 members, 24 of whom were members of Capel Als.
Later, a Mechanics Institute was founded in the schoolroom at the back of the Church which also became the home of the first public library.
In 1865, because of a financial dispute over the renewal of the lease, the Church transferred to Murray Street where the new Park Church was opened in September.
The building that once held services for the English speaking members of Park Independent Church now [2002] houses the frozen food firm of Iceland.
Park Church, at the junction of Murray Street and Inkerman Street, was the successor to Park Street Church, Upper Park Street. The foundation stone was laid 26th July 1864 and the church was opened with special services on 20th and 22nd October 1865.
Park Church through the Years . . .
1839 Park Street Church founded. Constituted 7th July.
1846 Church enlarged to accommodate 500. Mechanics Institute formed. (Later to become known as the Public Library.) Here the Revd Thomas Jones, later to become known as the Poet-preacher, was trained. Also Revd Thomas Toxe Lynch who became the author of many well-known hymns.
1864 Building of Park Church began. Secretary of Building Committee was Henry John Howell and the architects were Messrs Landor & Bibbel of London. The foundation stone was laid on 26 July.
1865 Church opened on 20th and 22nd October.with special services.
1870 Building and opening of English Congregational Church, Burry Port.
1884 First Memorial Window erected to the memory of Hopkin Bevan.
1888 Lecture Hall built at a cost of £2,000.
1891 Literary and Debating Society inaugurated. New Hymnal introduced in the Church.
1908 Individual Communion Cups used for the first time in February.
1909 New pulpit and screen erected to the memory of H. J. Howell and given by Mr & Mrs H. D. Evans. A Memorial Window was also erected to the memory of Bernard Rees and given by his family.
1917 Freehold of the church and house purchased by the Church, and arranged J. H. Williams.
1919 Memorial Window and Brass Tablet erected to the fallen of the 1914-1918 War.
1920 Decided to increase the number of Deacons from 12 to 18. New Congregational Hymnary brought into use.
1923 Gift of suspended lights in the Chancel and gold-embroidered cloth hanging from pulpit by Mr & Mrs J. Pascoe Williams.
1928 Decided to acquire new organ. Sub-committee: J. H. Williams, Ben Bennett, and Walter John.
1933 New organ purchased at a cost of £3,244 3s. 0d. (this price included alterations to the Chancel, etc.)
1939 Centenary meetings of the Church.
1947 The “Good Companions Youth Club” started.
1949 Memorial Window to commemorate the Centenary of the Church unveiled.
1952 Brass Tablet erected to the fallen of the 1939-1945 War. Adoption of the New Hymnary.
1954 “Young Wives Group” formed. Presentation of the Boys’ Brigade Colour by members of the Old Boys’ Brigade.
© W & B Rees & ARTdesigns 2004/2006
Page updated Friday August 03, 2007