Hen Gapel Berachah Old Chapel

The 1851  religious census, which was undertaken on the 30th March, gives us some idea of the activity at Berachah Church at that time-

Space free – 101. Other- 133. Standing – 55.
Present morning – 99 + 15 scholars
(Average over 12 months morning 200 + 25 scholars.)
Remarks –  a service was held on the 30th March in the morning, but the most numerous attendances is in the afternoons and the evenings.
– David Meyler, Supplying Minister.

Berachah was refurbished to meet the needs of the expanding population as a result of the railway and harbour development.

Dr Williams of the Drim, was a very respected Deacon of Berachah around 1900. In 1898 during a service to commemorate the 25 years service which the Rev. J D Symmonds had given to Berachah as its Minister, Dr Williams enlightened the congregation as to how the chapel had got its name.

Many years ago, he stated, when celebrations of the futile attempt of the French to land upon that coast were held, a Mr Jones of Llangwm suggested that the place now known as Goodwick be called Berachah (from the Hebrew meaning Valley of Blessings). The Methodists finding the local inhabitants did not coincide with the suggestion, decided to call their newly erected chapel by that name.

In 1994, the members of Bethany Independent Chapel joined forces with the members of Berachah. The attractive corrugated iron chapel building where they had worshiped for almost a century had deteriorated. It’s site, a little way up Stop and Call hill, was cleared and they attended services at Berachah from then on.

Yn 1851 cynhaliwyd cyfrifiad crefyddol ar y 30ain o Fawrth sy’n datgelu llawer am weithgarwch yr aelodau yn y cyfnod –

Lle yn rhydd – 101. Arall – 133. Sefyll – 55  Presennol yn y bore – 99 + 15 disgybl (Cyfartaledd dros 12 mis bore 200 + 25 disgybl.) Sylwadau – cynhaliwyd gwasanaeth yn y bore ar y 30ain o Fawrth, ond yn y prynhawniau a’r hwyr y mae’r presenoldeb mwyaf. – David Meyler, Gweinidog Cyflenwi.

Cafodd Berachah ei adnewyddu i ddiwallu anghenion y boblogaeth, a oedd yn cynhyddu o ganlyniad i ddatblygiad y rheilffordd a’r harbwr newydd.

Yr oedd Dr Williams o’r Drim, yn ddiacon parchus iawn yn Berachah tua’r flwyddyn 1900. Yn 1898 yn ystod gwasanaeth i goffau’r 25 mlynedd o wasanaeth a roddodd y Parch. J D Symmonds i Berachah fel gweinidog, eglurodd Dr Williams i’r gynulleidfa sut y bu i’r capel gael ei enw.

Flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl, dywedodd, pan gynhaliwyd gwasanaethau diolchgarwch am drechu’r  Ffrancod yn 1797, awgrymodd Mr Jones o Langwm y dylid galw’r lle a elwir yn awr “Wdig” yn Berachah (o’r Hebraeg am “Ddyffryn y Bendithion”). Daeth y Methodistiaid i’r casgliad nad oedd y trigolion lleol yn cyd-fynd â’r awgrym, a phenderfynwyd galw eu capel newydd wrth yr enw hwnnw yn lle.

Ym 1994, ymunodd aelodau Capel Annibynnol Bethany ag aelodau Berachah.  Adeilad capel haearn rhychiog deniadol oedd Bethany, lle bu gwasanaethau Saesneg yn cael eu cynnal ers bron i ganrif. Erbyn 1994, roedd yr adeilad wedi dirywio. Cafodd ei safle, ychydig o’r ffordd i fyny rhiw Stop and Call, ei glirio a bu’r aelodau yn mynychu gwasanaethau yn Berachah o hynny ymlaen.