Community Project Capel Bethlehem

Prosiect Cymunedol Bethlehem Chapel

Important Update!!!

Thank you to all who have supported the campaign to raise funds for our community group to attend the public auction this evening at Llwyngwair Manor to bid for the Bethlehem Chapel building in Newport. We have good news to announce that we secured the highest bid for the building at £145,000. Thank you once again to everyone who has been so supportive in ensuring the funds were raised within 14 days. Onwards now to look at developing the heritage centre for Newport.ᐧ

Local Support

Bethlehem Lives

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Go Fund Me Account for Donations: Please type Canolfan Bethlehem in the search option on this link https://www.gofundme.com/en-gb

A New Heritage and Cultural Centre. With Possible Arts, Cafe and Housing Space for Newport

Following a well-attended meeting in the Newport memorial hall at the beginning of April 2024, Grwp Canolfan Bethlehem have been working very hard trying to acquire the chapel for the community. Our vision is to create a thriving, innovative and inclusive heritage centre, with our Welsh language and culture at its heart to preserve, inspire and involve everyone in telling the story Newport’s rich history. To this end we shall explore and aim to purchase Bethlehem Chapel as the venue for Trefdraeth’s community cultural heritage centre.

Bethlehem Chapel is an important historic building for the town it is to go to auction on the 30th August and having failed to negotiate an agreement to allow the community to purchase the chapel. WE NEED TO RAISE £150,000 PLUS in the next few weeks. We already have some funds from generous private lenders who have agreed to give a short-term loan until a share offer can be launched. WE NEED MORE PRIVATE LENDERS who are willing to do the same. There are great examples of community minded private lenders in Wales who have ensure important community buildings are kept in the hands of local custodians. The old Police Station and Court house in Cardigan was supported with one family who lent £250,000 to allow the local cooperative 4CG Cymru to buy the building for a community project, see www.facebook.com/pwllhai . Another example is Ty’n Llan, a Georgian coach Inn bought by local lenders who raised £460,000 to buy the site as a bridging loan until a community share offer repaid the private lenders. www.tynllan.cymru

Private lenders receive competitive interest on their loans and also larger lenders have a legal charge on the building.

Could you be one of these community lenders, or do you know anyone who could offer the Bethlehem group a lifeline to retain the building for community use?

Please get in touch if you can help or know someone who can help to save Bethlehem for use by the people of Newport then email:capelbethlehem@gmail.com or phone 0780487642 or 07301082304

You can download the presentation given at the recent Public Meeting by clicking here.

View details of sale here:

Find loan agreement form here:

Frequently answered questions:

Thank you for considering supporting the community in retaining the historic and much loved Bethlehem Chapel in Newport as a community asset.

How can I donate to help with the costs of the campaign?
There is a GoFundMe site that will help support the initial costs of the community campaign – please visit. www.gofundme.com  and search Canolfan Bethlehem.

For more information and to get involved, follow us on Facebook: