Built: 1876
Style: Italianate Classical
Architect: Richard Owen of Liverpool (1876)
Cost: £4,000
History: Originally the congregation met in the Independent chapel on Vulcan Street (Penmaes-glas chapel) as the congregation grew the chapel became too small. Also, the centre of the town had moved from the old medieval borough; north and northwest, and chapel building had become popular with architectural influences included in the designs of a chapel. Therefore, the congregation altered with the changing times and in 1875 purchased a block of four houses on Baker Street, which were due to be demolished for the site of a new chapel.
This was Aberystwyth's fifth nineteenth century independent chapel, and Richard Owen of Liverpool was appointed the architect for the chapel, this was his third commission for a chapel in Aberystwyth.
It was built to seat 740 members of the congregation, and contained a schoolroom located in the basement with its own side entrance.The chapel was opened on 1st May 1876 and the Cambrian News described the interior of the chapel as "the most handsome in the town".
Even though the architecture is in the Italianate style, the window tracery is of a Venetian style (ca.1500).
The Sedd Fawr is almost identical to that of Salem in Caernarfon, which was also designed by Owen, and the organ was installed in 1909 by Norman and Beard. The chapel is still in use today.
Sources: Dyfed Family History Society
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