Save Capel Rhondda / Achub Cartref 'Cwm Rhondda'

Aim

To buy Capel Rhondda, home of the hymn tune 'Bread of Heaven' / Prynu'r capel lle canwyd yr emyn-dôn, Cwm Rhondda, am y tro cyntaf 1/11/1907

• UPDATE 13.08.25: If you've found this page, you have probably already read, watched or listened to a report about our 'campaign' to #savecapelrhondda

My name's Rhian Hopkins and I grew up in Hopkinstown, a former mining village nestled between Pontypridd and the Rhondda Valleys. Recently, I have found myself being referred to as 'the campaign leader' (which is rather surreal!). 

Late on Tuesday 15/07, I shared a post on my personal Facebook account (where I had around 350 friends!) expressing my sadness that Capel Rhondda, the historic chapel in Hopkinstown and the birthplace of Cwm Rhondda / Bread of Heaven, was up for sale.

The following day, I received a phone call from BBC Cymru asking if I'd speak to them about the situation.  I found myself doing something that is very much 'out of my comfort zone' and agreeing to meet them outside Capel Rhondda where I was filmed answering a few questions first in Welsh, then in English.

That evening, there was a report on Newyddion S4C (a Welsh language news programme) and for the next two and a half weeks there was almost constant media interest and coverage.  The gamechanger was the interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday 19.07.25. Listen from 1:52:20 which led to thousands of pounds pouring in within a matter of minutes.

You might have gathered from media reports that the last service was held at Capel Rhondda in late December last year due to a dwindling congregation of only older members of the community.  In May, the chapel was put up for sale by The Baptist Union of Wales.  I immediately felt compelled to do something and went to view the chapel with an architect friend and a few 'local experts' . I reached out to various people in the local community hoping that somebody with more time and experience than me would intervene to save the chapel for the community. Nobody came forward!

So here I am, spurred on by Jessica Morgan, who has so far transformed two chapels in our area and Richard Huw Morgan, a local artist and friend who knows what's important. 

Typical of the valleys community spirit, fairly soon, a support team formed around me (as well as Jess and Richard, there was Hayley Richards, Ken Moon, Richard Clarke, Cath Woolridge, 'Bagsy' and Kirsty Thomas). We were in regular communication via Facebook Messenger, coming up with ideas as to how we could continue to raise awareness and keep up momentum to raise as much money as possible.  We submitted our bid (the full asking price) by the extended deadline of 12pm, Monday 28.07.25. 

A sub-committee of The Baptist Union of Wales met on Friday 01/08/25 to discuss the offers they had received and by the end of the day, we received the great news that our bid had been successful.  

Media interest has now subsided, the Crowdfunder is still live but donations are few and far between.  

We are overwhelmed by the support received, from the local community, those in other parts of Cymru, our neighbours over the border, many of whom have shared connections with the South Wales Valleys as well as those who have sent donations from Germany, Norway, Russia, Hong Kong, The USA and Patagonia.

We have sufficient funds to cover solicitors' fees, a full survey, insurance and running costs in the short term. 

However, we know that the grade 2 listed chapel, built in 1885, will require huge investment to fund repairs and restoration then maintenance and running costs. We are already aware that the floor in the vestry is rotten, there is knotweed in the graveyard and a detailed survey will, no doubt, reveal further issues. 

So, please continue to donate if you can but remember to choose 'Custom amount' and write 0 so that you don't end up having to give a 10% tip to Crowdfunder on top of your donation.

If you aren't in a position to donate, please support us by sharing the link to our Crowdfunder, following and sharing our newly-created Instagram account @capelrhondda and Facebook page Capel Rhondda .  Send us a message to tell us about your connection to Wales and / or your memories of Cwm Rhondda / Bread of Heaven.

We have lots of ideas about how the building can be used going forward but really want to engage with those living in the village to find out what they want and need.  Diolch o galon!

Mae nifer o erthyglau cyfrwng Cymraeg arbennig o dda wedi ymddangos ers yr wythnos ddiwethaf ac rwyf mor ddiolchgar i Owain Evans a BBC Cymru am roi sylw i'r sefyllfa yn y lle cyntaf, yn ogystal ag Efan Owen a Cadi Dafydd o golwg360.

Dyma ddolennau i'r erthyglau dw i'n ymwybodol ohonyn nhw:

17.07.25 Erthygl ar BBC Cymru Fyw 

17.07.25 Erthygl 1 ar golwg360

23.07.25 Erthygl 2 ar golwg360

28.07.25 Erthygl 2 ar BBC Cymru Fyw

Roedd adroddiadau ar Newyddion S4C nos Fercher 16.07.25, Post Prynhawn ar Radio Cymru 17.07.25 a chyfweliad ar Bwrw Golwg gyda John Roberts ar Radio Cymru Ddydd Sul 27.07.25.

Dyma'r wybodaeth a rannwyd yn Gymraeg pan sefydlais y Crowdfunder 17.07.25

Rhian ydw i.  Ces i fy magu mewn pentref bach o'r enw Trehopcyn, rhwng Bontypridd a chymoedd y Rhondda. Dyma le mae Capel Rhondda, capel llawn hanes, capel sy'n bwysig i hanes Cymru. Yng Nghapel Rhondda, canwyd 'Cwm Rhondda' am y tro cyntaf ym mis Tachwedd 1907. 

Yn drist iawn, mae'r capel ar gau ers mis Rhagfyr y llynedd. Erbyn hyn, mae'r capel ar werth.  Ymwelais â'r capel gyda ffrind ysgol sy'n Bensaer a 2 'arbenigwr' lleol.  Dw i wedi estyn allan i nifer o bobl yn y gymuned leol, gan obeithio y byddai rhywun gyda mwy o amser a phrofiad 'na fi yn gwneud rhywbeth i achub yr adeilad ar gyfer y gymuned. Ddigwyddodd e ddim. 

Felly dyma fi (gyda chefnogaeth llawer o bobl eraill yn y gymuned erbyn hyn) yn camu mewn ar y funud olaf yn ceisio sicrhau bod yr adeilad ar gael i'r gymuned yn lle cael ei golli i rywun cyfoethog sy' am greu llety. 

Mae gennym ni lawer o syniadau ar gyfer defnydd yr adeilad wrth symud ymlaen a hoffem ni ymgysylltu â'r gymuned yn Nhrehopcyn i ddeall beth mae nhw eisiau.

Plis cyfrannwch (ond cofiwch ddewis 'Custom amount' ac ysgrifennu 0 yn lle a rhannwch! rhoi 'tip' o 10%)!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made