I began attending this church in January 2020, but was only able to physically attend 5 times before Lockdown. The church re-opened for services in September 2020, so be aware if you visit on a Sunday morning. There has a been a place of worship on this site for over 200 years (for further history- look below).
Permission for the cache has been given by church minister Rev. Gethin Jones.
THE CACHE
The cache is micro-sized. A clue for the container itself can be found in the Bible passage Psalms 119:105.
The cache is inside the church borders, but can be accessed from outside. Wheelchair users will be able to reach GZ, but may require assistance to retrieve the cache.
CHURCH CACHES
The cache has joined the Church Cache series, with thanks to user Sadexploration.
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
CHURCH HISTORY
The name Ararat, allegedly, derives from the church being built atop a mound, and someone said “Let’s build our meeting-house here on Mount Ararat, for our ark will rest here”.
With land leased from The Tredegar Estate, the first Ararat building was erected in 1824. No images exist of this original build, but it is hypothesised to have been more of a meeting-room or barn, than a traditional church building.
From its inception until the 1870s, the church services were exclusively in the Welsh language. The evening services changed from Welsh to the English medium in 1878, with the morning service moving over in 1886. Following this, Welsh services became a rarity.
In 1851, the original “meeting house” Ararat was rebuilt to twice its original size, and at a cost of £600 (over £80,000 today). It would be 23 years until the expenditure of this new chapel would be fully repaid. The new chapel included a stable large enough for 2 horses, and a series of rings on the chapel walls, for the ponies used to bring worshippers. Ararat became known as Capel Y Waun (Chapel On The Common).
From the church’s inception until 1879, baptisms were performed in Whitchurch Brook, on the corner of Merthyr Road and College Road. A baptistery was built in the chapel, which was filled with collected rainwater.
In 1902, church members began raising funds for a new, larger building. The church commissioned architect Beddoe Rees, and work began in 1914, after over a decade of fundraising. The new church, fashioned by builders E. Turner and Sons, against the backdrop and shortages of World Ware 1, was formally opened on Easter Monday 5th April 1915.
In 1941, the roof and windows of the church were damaged during an air raid. Also in 1941, the church secretary appealed to the government for an exemption to their programme of confiscating metal gates for the war effort. The justification was that they were essential for keeping out cattle and horses that strayed from the Common.
In early 1944, the Common was used as a base for American Forces. Before they left to take part in the Normandy landings, the departing soldiers planted an avenue of trees along the main road of the common as a way of giving thanks for the hospitality and friendship offered to them by the people of Whitchurch.
An additional hall, primarily for the use of Sunday Schools groups, was built in the 1950s. This work was carried out as a memorial to the late Rev. Luther Jones, who was minister from 1919-1943.
Finally, March 2018 saw the official opening of The Ark, which is utilised as a café and community space.