Constructed to replace the 1960s Wesleyan chapel in St Athan, which in turn replaced the original, 1813, chapel (NPRN 9245) after the former was demolished to make way for housing and the latter for a road widening scheme.

Completed in 2008 to designs by Liddell & Associates the building advances the idea of shared community and worship space to a degree where some users claim oblivion to its function as a ‘chapel’. Although with a Cross to one external end, the architecture is appropriate to any secular civic, leisure, or community building. Within, the impressive array of halls, rooms and supporting facilities are used by play groups, groups supporting adults with learning difficulties, exercise classes, and birthday parties seven days a week. The ‘sanctuary’ is reduced to a single end bay of the main hall that, outside worship hours, is partitioned off by sliding doors ensuring the hall has no signs of religious usage. Run by a secular buildings manager, the community activities allow for the maintenance and running of the building and are often given precedence within the scheduling, with worship supported as an additional activity.

Site visit August 2021

S Fielding, RCAHMW June 2022

Site Record

THE GATHERING PLACE, ST ATHAN