St Matthew's Church, Abernant

St Matthew’s Church stands in the small village of Abernant, within the parish of Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is one of the few surviving tin tabernacles in Wales, a type of prefabricated iron chapel once widely used for missions. The building began as a Christian mission linked to St Elvan’s Church in Aberdare, with the congregation first meeting in a tent. In 1888 or 1889 the congregation decided to erect a permanent structure, funded entirely by James Lewis of Plas Draw. The iron sheets and wooden fittings were ordered by post and assembled on site, a common method for such buildings. The church was expected to last only about ten years, yet it has remained in use ever since. The church’s plain corrugated-metal exterior gives little hint of its richly decorated interior. Inside, the metal walls are lined with varnished wood and the floor is covered with deep carpets. Small stained-glass windows add colour to the simple space. Despite having only a nave, the church can seat one hundred and fifty worshippers and supports an active Sunday school. The font, dating from 1827, originally belonged to a church in Port Talbot before being moved to St Matthew’s. Visitors find a quiet place of worship set among the hills of the Rhondda Valley. The building’s modest scale and unadorned exterior contrast with the warmth of its interior. The stained glass catches the light, and the varnished wood gives the space a gentle glow. The font, older than the church itself, stands as a reminder of earlier congregations. The Sunday school continues to meet, and occasional services draw local families back to this small iron chapel.