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sentiment they were at any rate very hospitable and kind
to strangers, and especially to preachers of the gospel.
He visited the parish monthly preaching principally at
Melin yr Home and in the year 1784, when he was 72 years
of age, he had the satisfaction of seeing his labours bearing
fruit in the conversion of six persons who became candidates
for Baptism. The ordinance of Baptism was performed
in the river Rhondda, near Melin yr Home, by the Rev. Maurice
James the minister of Croesypark church. This being the
first time that baptism by immersion had been carried
out in the district a large concourse of people had come
together to witness the novel ceremony. This caused
some anxiety to the minister that some disturbance
might occur., but everything passed off peacefully and
quietly.
In the year 1785 a church was established here consist-
ing of 15 members and in the following year it was re-
ceived into the Baptist Union at a meeting of the As-
sociation held at Pentre. In the same year (1786) a piece
of land was secured at a place called Ynysfach close to
the Rhondda river to build a chapel on. A sum of £10
was paid for it to Mrs Gwenllian Morris of Bodringallt
and a lease of 999 years was granted at an annual pay-
ment of five shillings ground rent. By June 1786 a
new chapel had been erected on the spot at an expense
of £60 and this was the first chapel in the parish of
Ystradyfodwg. It was named Nebo.
Until the year 1877, when the present edifice was built,
the original building was in existence, although it had
been converted into dwelling house for many years,
owing to the erection of a larger chapel when the accommo-
dation became too limited for the increasing church. On
the side facing the river there as a sundial on which
was cut “H.L. 1786”.