Ystradgynlais & District

Elim Free Mission, or Elim Hall, Ystradgynlais was located on Brecon Road, near to the Co-Operative store. This building was recently named GoldenSave, and is currently branded as FamilyShopper. Whether the hall stood right alongside it, where the carpark for the shop's employees now is, or was behind it towards Brynawel Villas, is uncertain. As this article from the Labour Voice newspaper of 16th January 1926 explains, Elim Hall was formerly the I.L.P Hall (which probably stood for Independent Labour Party hall, and would have been a sort of community hall).

The announcement of a Missionary Meeting in November 1950 includes the additional information: "Behind Co-operative Stores" which means it mightly possibly have been the old hall taken down in early 2019, adjacent to Brynawel Villas.

Elim Hall was certainly up and running by 1926 when the following article appeared in the Labour Voice newspaper of 3rd April 1926:-

The annual Easter convention in connection with the Apostolic Church will be held at Elim Hall, and Calfaria Chapel, kindly lent, from April 3rd over the 7th. The following will officiate: Pastors J J Williams, Pontypridd; Thomas Williams, Llanelly; D Caleb Morgan, Penygroes; and George Sanders, Pontygwaith. A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend these services.

From the Llais

In the South Wales Voice newspaper, Elim Hall or Elim Free Mission tends not to be mentioned in the round-up of events in Ystradgynlais, which included notes on recent happenings at local churches and chapels, and mission halls such as Tro'gleien Mission Hall.

Instead, Elim features on the event advertising page, where boxed adverts advertise forthcoming events. We present a selection of these below, taken from the later 1940s.

From the South Wales Voice 11th May 1946:-

A MISSIONARY MEETING
will be held at
Elim Hall, Ystradgynlais
On Monday May 13 at 5:30pm
Speakers
Mr and Mrs Milliken
(Belgian Congo)

From the South Wales Voice 11th September 1948:-

Elim Free Mission
Ystradgynlais
FULL GOSPEL MESSAGE
and
DIVINE HEALING
MEETINGS
will be held at the above Hall on
Saturday Evening and
Sunday, 11th and 12th
September 1948
when
Pastor William LL. Bell
the Welsh Evangelist
and his wife (formerly Miss Tyrrel of the Indian Mission Field) will conduct the Services. Mr and Mrs Bell have seen hundreds converted and many miracles take place
All aere welcome. Come and see the Lord's doings.

From the South Wales Voice 25th September 1948:-

Elim Free Mission
(Near Co-operative Stores)
Ystradgynlais
A FULL GOSPEL MISSION
will be held at the above hall for
9 days commencing on the evening of Saturday, the 25th September, over Sunday the 3rd of October 1948. D.V.
The Ministering Servant will be
MISS CATHERINE EVANS
of Peniel Chapel, London
Order of Services: Week Days at 7:30pm; Sundays 10:30am; 2:30pm, and 6pm. A hearty invitation is extended to all
"I am the Lord that healeth thee"

From the South Wales Voice 30th October 1948:-

Elim Free Mission
(Near Co-operative Stores)
Ystradgynlais
SPECIAL MEETINGS
will be held at the above Hall commencing
Saturday October 30th over Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday 31st, 1st, and 2nd
when the
REV IDRIS VAUGHAN, B.D.
of Nigeria
will pay a special visitv Pastor Vaughan has returned home from the Nigerian Mission Field after spending practically the whole of his Christian Life in the hard pioneer work of that country
All are cordially invited to hear the ringing testimony of Pastor Vaughan of how the natives of Nigeria are being swept into the Kingdom of God
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN
Order of Services: Week nights at 7pm, Sunday 10:30am, 2:30pm and 6pm

From the South Wales Voice 18th December 1948:-

Elim Free Mission
Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais
SPECIAL MISSIONARY MEETINGS
Sarturday and Sunday Next,
December 18 and 19
Speakers
MISS A MERRITT AND
Mr Dd DAVIES
Belgian Congo
Order of Services: Saturday night at 7, Sunday 10:30am, 2:30 and 6pm. A hearty welome is extended to all.

From the South Wales Voice 18th November 1950 comes this announcement of a Missionary Meeting:-

Elim Free Mission
Ystradgynlais
(Behind Co-operative Stores)

SPECIAL
MISSIONARY MEETING
on Wednesday November 22
at 7pm

Speakers:
Mr and Mrs Brierley
Portuguese Guinea, West Africa

A hearty welcome to all