£134,000 grant boosts restoration of Llanelli’s historic Siloah Chapel

Chapel with a troubled past

Siloah Chapel, built in 1841, once stood as a centre of worship in Llanelli’s Seaside area. But in recent decades it has fallen into disrepair, suffering break‑ins, an arson attack and wilful damage. Conservation advisers have long warned that urgent work was needed to safeguard the listed building’s distinctive interior and frontage.

Vision for a new community hub

The £134,000 award from Benefact Trust will support Century Church’s £2 million restoration plan, which aims to reopen Siloah as both a place of worship and a civic resource.

Plans include:

• A café to provide a welcoming space for residents.
• A “social justice wing” offering support for vulnerable children, in partnership with police, social services and statutory agencies.
• Children’s and youth activities, alongside ad‑hoc community events.

Inside Siloah Chapel, wooden pews curve towards the ornate organ, whose pipe design echoes the tiled pew fronts. While the organ and seating remain intact, black mould on the walls reveals the building’s poor state.

Backing from national funders

Benefact Trust, which distributes profits from the wider Benefact Group to support churches and charities across the UK and Ireland, said it was proud to back a project that combines heritage preservation with social impact.

A spokesperson said: “With churches present in nearly every village, town and city, we are committed to supporting those playing a vital role in rebuilding and enriching their local communities.”

Local leadership

Pastor‑elect Heulwen Davies, who will be ordained at Century Church this month, said the restoration was about more than bricks and mortar: “It’s not just about saving a building — it’s about restoring hope in a community that has carried so much pain. We believe Siloah can once again be a place of life and renewal.”

Dyfed‑Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewellyn, two police officers and Heulwen Davies stand before the chapel organ during a visit to highlight community partnership plans for Siloah’s restoration.

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Llanelli pastor’s daughter to lead new chapter in town’s spiritual story

Ordination service set for Sunday

Heulwen Davies, daughter of Century Church founder Geraint Jones, will be ordained as pastor on Sunday 12 October at the Furnace‑based church. The service begins at 11am, with doors open and coffee served from 10:40am.

She said her passion for the town’s renewal is deeply personal: “Llanelli is a town of two halves — wealthy and broken in seemingly equal measure. Both halves are in desperate need of the Gospel.”

From crisis of faith to community leadership

Although she grew up in church, Heulwen described walking away from her faith while studying in Cardiff. “The songs of the club became my liturgy, the pursuit of pleasure my prayer,” she said. But a hymn from her childhood — Gwahoddiad — prompted her to return, eventually leading her to Bible College in Bradford.

Now married to Dr Joshua Davies of Prince Philip Hospital and mother of three, she says her journey has shaped her commitment to Llanelli’s future.

Restoring Siloah Chapel in Seaside

Alongside her ministry, Heulwen is leading the restoration of Siloah Chapel, a derelict building in Seaside earmarked for a £2 million redevelopment as both a church and community hub.

“We’ve raised close to £1 million to restore a chapel in an area rife with suffering,” she said. “We look at Siloah and say: yes, these bones can live.”

Tackling poverty and supporting children in care

Heulwen also founded Heirs, a charity supporting children entering care across Carmarthenshire and the Dyfed‑Powys Police area, recently expanding into Swansea.

“Drug use is rampant; people are bound by addiction and broken by neglect and hurt,” she said. “Our care system is over‑stretched, food banks are growing — people are hurting.”

Signs of revival

Despite the challenges, she believes there are signs of renewed faith. “Though we see many tired, closed, or crumbling chapels, the reality is that post‑COVID, people are searching. We’re seeing people from all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life coming to church for the first time — or returning after many years.”

The ordination service will include prayers and encouragement from Ed Kaneen, Rosa Hunt (Cardiff Baptist College), Patrick Mansel‑Lewis, Rich Martin, Geraint Jones, and Gerwyn Thomas.

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