St. John’s Uniting Church, Conway Road
Described as an architectural ornament to the town and regarded as the cathedral of English Methodism on the North Wales coast.
Churches
Following the sale of the Pwllycrochan Estate in 1865 and the establishment of the Colwyn Bay and Pwllycrochan Estate Company in 1875, land was sold as building plots and the town grew rapidly, with the population reaching 4,754 in 1891 and around 12,000 in 1907, with an estimated 15,000 visitors.
Alongside the rapid house building there was a need for community facilities for the growing number of both residents and visitors. Churches and chapels were at the heart of every community during this time and many religious congregations became established in the town and a substantial number of churches and chapels were built.
The Heritage Group, with assistance from Cytûn and members of the congregations in the town, has completed a heritage walk and booklet based around the history of these many churches and chapels.
Former St. Andrew’s Church, Lansdowne Road
The church’s foundation stone was laid on November 2nd 1908. The site had been purchased for £750.
Princes Drive Baptist Church
This Church was formally known as the Colwyn Bay English Baptist Church and was founded in 1884.
Friends Meeting House, Erskine Road
There are no records of the first Quaker meetings in Colwyn Bay but it is safe to assume they began in peoples’ homes in the 1890s.
Churches and Chapels
The history and architecture of the Churches and Chapels of Colwyn Bay
Saint David’s Church, Rhiw Road
"We have got a site and £1035 has been raised…" so began the building of Saint David's Church at Rhiw Road.
Capel y Rhos, formerly Hermon Chapel
The original chapel, built in 1903, was called Hermon. It was replaced in 2007 by a new chapel of contemporary design called Capel y Rhos.
Former Engedi Welsh Methodist Chapel, Woodland Road West (now Trinity apartments)
Engedi was opened in Woodland Road West in 1879 by the Presbyterians, who had worshipped in a building on Conway Road.
Salem Chapel (Antioch), Abergele Road
The Welsh congregation funded the building of Capel Salem, which was opened on the September 28th 1885.
Horeb Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Rhiw Road
This chapel, named Horeb, was opened on November 2nd 1902, built on 1,374 square yards of land in Rhiw Road purchased for £550.
Bethlehem Welsh Methodist Chapel, Lawson Road
This Methodist chapel began life in 1897 as a branch of Engedi, but later in the same year it was established as a separate chapel.
St. John’s Uniting Church to close for worship
Today's Pioneer newspaper contain an article by Iwan Berry reporting that worship will end at St. John's Uniting Church on May 24th.
English Presbyterian Church
The church was built in 1891 at a cost of £3,700 in the red brick, terracotta and tile which can also be seen in other local churches.
Saint Paul’s Church, Abergele Road
The first church on this site was a mission chapel, built in 1872. In 1880 this was replaced by an iron church which burnt down in 1886.