This cause started as a Sunday School in a house in Munday Place in 1883. As the cause grew, meetings were held in a school in May Street until the moether cahpel of Pembroke Terrace funded the building of a small chapel. Horeb, or the May Street Chapel, was built in 1884. (1) The architect was J P Jones, the builder was John Willams, the cost was £500, and the chapel seated 450 persons. Opened on 23rd November 1884, Newspaper report from November of that year stated:
"CHAPEL OPENING AT CARDIFF. A Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel opened on Tuesday in May Street, Cathays. For some time, the congregation at Pembroke-terrace have been suffering the inconveniences of a larger number of worshippers than the building can suitably accommodate. The fact that a considerable body of these are drawn from Cathays, taken in conjunction with another fact, that population in the latter district is rapidly extending, decided the responsible committee to select an existing site. Building was begun in June this year, the contract having been let to Mr John Williams, Crwys-road, at £500. The structure is of stone, plain, and has given much satisfaction to the committee. The seats have been put in by Mr Daniel Jones, and room is given for 450 persons. For some three years previously a Sunday-school has been in operation in a room hired for the purpose, and there are at present about 80 names on the with an average attendance of 65. A removal will now be made to the chapel. The Church membership will commence with about 50… The opening service took place on Tuesday evening, the sermon being preached by Dr. Saunders, of Swansea. Services will be continued, and it is expected that as a result of the collections and subscriptions about £200 of the debt will be cleared off. " (2)
The chapel thrived, and a vestry was built behind the chapel, the seats made into benches, and other work carrie dout at a cost of £100. More space was soon need however and a decision was made to build a larger chapel. (1) The chapel closed on the building of the larger Crwys Road Chapel (NPRN 14257) in 1899-1900.
In March 1900 a newspaper reported that at a meeting of the Free Library Building Committee, it was proposed to purchase the May Street Chapel, meeting the demand for increadsed accommodation in Cathys. The price was £700, and that possession could be taken in June. It was detirmined to take steps to secure the permission of the Local Government Board to complete the purchase. (3)
In 1902 however, the chapel was recorded as being the 'City Mission', seating 300 people and valued at £300. (4) In 1983 the chapel was occupled by the Salvation Army, but closed in 2019. IN 20204 planning permission was granted to convert the building into 5 HMO flats.
The chapel was a simple building in the Vernacualr style. The gable fronted façade onto May Street had a central doorway, flanked by a tall, flat-headed window to either side, and with three windows above - the central one taller. The side elevation to Fanny Street was stone built with yellow brick dressings to the segmentally arched doors and windows, and a yellow brick string course level with the base of the windows. Red brick string course ro base of elevation and red brick corbelling to eaves line. Slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles.
RCAHMW, July 2025
(1) Tarian Y Gweithiwr 7th June 1900
(2) The Cardiff Times 22nd November 1884
(3) South Wales Daily News 28th March 1900 (Third Edition)
(4) Royal Commission on the Church of England and Other Religious Bodies in Wales and Monmouthshire p. 264
(5) GRO Cardiff Borough Records: Plans for new Methodist Chapel May Street, 1884 (ref: BC/S/1/4307)