AN HISTORIC chapel will be celebrating a century and a half of services this weekend.

On Guy Fawkes Day, Sunday, 5 November, Capel Bethel, Borth-y-Gest, will celebrate exactly 150 years since its first service.

Borth-y-Gest residents in 1867, with much support from Capel Salem in Porthmadog and the redoubtable Minister and businessman, the Rev William Ambrose, built first a schoolroom and then a chapel above it.

The school opened on 4 November 1867 and the chapel on the following day with a preaching festival.

As Borth-y-Gest grew, so did the chapel and it was extended in 1889. It has remained at the heart of the village ever since.

Two of its ministers, the Rev William Ambrose and the Rev Trebor E Roberts, were famous composers with hymns in Caneuon Ffydd. It is planned to include some of these in service in Welsh at 2pm on 5 November.

Services in English have been conducted in Bethel since 1883 and the first Bible in English was purchased in 1884 for 13 shillings.

The commemoration service in English will be 10.30am. Both services will be conducted by the Rev Dr Geraint Tudur, the general secretary of the Congregational Union in Wales.

Over the years, Bethel has served the community well, being host to the village school, to the Women’s Institute, to Ysgol Feithrin, to Cyfeillion Borth-y-Gest and other village groups.

Bethel has featured in several film and TV series such as Cei Bach and Priodas Pum Mil. Described in Y Tyst when it was opened as “a Pretty Chapel” it has retained its photographic appeal.

All are invited to join the services on Sunday to celebrate Bethel’s contribution to the community.