The need for an English-language Independent cause in Neath was evident from 1842, when English-speaking Independents met with English-speaking Baptists and Methodists in a shared room. Soon found to be too small, they then used the Town Hall before building Dwryfelin Chapel for shared use (NPRN 506129)
After seperating from Dwryfelin, the Independents worshipped in the old Town Hall under the officiation of the Rev W Jones of Castle Street, Swansea. The chief founders of this cause were Mr W T Morgan, Mr Thomas Simms and Mr David Davies, all members of the Welsh Independent Chapel, Maesyrhaf (NPRN 9443). They built their first chapel on Wind Street, measuring 42ft by 32ft, with the opening services held in October 1849. The building contract was carried out by Edward Powell, mason, and the architect was Mr Egbert Moxham, Neath; the agreement was to complete the building for £350. (The Principality Feb 1849). A tea party for the liquidation of the debt left on the chapel was held in Zoar chapel on Good Friday 1850; some 500 people sat down to tea provided by the ladies, and 'interesting and practical' addresses' were given. (The Principality April 1850).
After a series of ministers, the Rev. J L Phillips arrived to a small congregation in 1871 which he set about building up. At a special meeting on 23rd May 1871 he proposed altering the chapel, including having the gallery removed, the ground floor reseated and the side galleries built. This was agreed to and a building committee was formed: the Rev Thomas Thomas of Llandore was appointed architect and the contract let to Mr Joseph Rees at £198 5s 0d. The chapel reopend in October 1871.
When D Foulkes Roberts became minister in 1875, the membership numbered 47, but the following year 100 members were added to the congregation. When, in 1884, the Rev T Rhondda Williams took over, the chapel became very popular and was soon too small. A plot of land was offered for a new chapel on Bartlett Road (NPRN 11783) to which the congregation moved in 1883.
The Wind Street Chapel was subsequently let to the Salvation Army at £30/year, and later sold to them.
A historic depiction of Wind Street Chapel, included in a Jubilee booklet of 1835, shows a gablefronted chapel of Gothic design. The central entrance was via a crow-stepped porch, flanked by tall pointed-arch windows to either side and a further window above, all with Y-glazing. Thee corners had stepped buttresses and the gable was topped with a crenellated parapet.
By the time of the Revised OS mapping of 1949 the chapel had been demolished to make way for housing and the site is now in use for retail development.
RCAHMW, May 2025
The Principality 2nd February 1849
