Saron, Aberaman

Saron, Aberaman was a Welsh Independent (Congregationalist) chapel in Davies Street, Aberaman, formed as an initiative of the David Price of Siloa, Aberdare, soon after the development of Aberaman as an industrial settlement as a result of the activities of Crawshay Bailey and David Davis, Blaengwawr. Saron was claimed to be the largest chapel in the Cynon Valley although Calvaria, Abercynon, Ebenezer, Trecynon and Siloa, Aberdare all had a similar capacity.

The history of the cause at Saron can be traced to meetings held from November 1846 at a house in Cardiff Road, Aberaman, where Thomas Jones, minister of Adulam, Merthyr Tydfil had come to live and keep a school. At this time, the village of Aberaman was at a very early stage in its development as an industrial centre and, as workers frequently migrated in and out of the area the membership of the nascent church fluctuated. Soon, however the house became too small and the congregation moved to the nearby Lamb and Flag. The premises were owned by one Thomas Howells, but the holding of meetings in a public house, although far from unusual in those days, led to a split among the members and the meetings reverted to the house of Thomas Jones. When he died in January 1848 the future of the church was uncertain.

However, at this stage, the intervention of David Price, minister of Siloa, Aberdare was crucial in the formation of a permanent Independent church at Aberaman, which was inaugurated later in 1848. In 1849, Joshua Thomas of Bethlehem, Llangadog, accepted a call to minister the church and in that year, in the wake of a religious revival which coincicded with a cholera outbreak in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire valleys, around 120 new members were accepted at Saron. A new building was urgently required and, shortly afterwards land was leased at Abergwawr Farm from Dr James Lewis Roberts and Jennett Roberts and a chapel built which was consecrated in 1850. The building costs in 1849–50 were £719. At this time there were 218 members at Saron.

Once the cholera outbreak was over the membership at Saron declined as many of those who had sought religious solace when in fear of the disease now withdrew. In this atmosphere remaining members fell out amongst themselves, a number left for other churches and, ultimately, in August 1852, Joshua Thomas terminated his ministry at Saron. William Edwards, minister of Ebenezer, Trecynon, temporarily took on responsibility for Saron until a call was extended to the Rev John Davies of Llanelli, Breconshire, in June 1854. After some months' hesitation, Davies accepted and commenced his ministry in November of that year.

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