Worship was a large part of life in the valley. Cwmafan alone had 9 chapels and 3 churches of different denominations. It was quite common to attend a place of worship 3 times on Sunday. Most chapel services were conducted in Welsh, as was the singing of hymns. Annually, several chapels came together for a Welsh festival of sacred hymns, known as ‘Cymanfa Ganu’.
The chapels of Cwmafan
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![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mission-1.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Penuel-1.jpg)
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![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Salem-1.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tabernacle-1.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tabor-old-1.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Wesleyan.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Zion.jpg)
The churches of Cwmafan
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![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Apostolic_Church.jpg)
![](http://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SaintMichaels3-1.jpg)
Several sources suggest that the village was once a hamlet known as Michaelstone Super Afan (Llanfihangel Ynys Afan), being in the parish of Saint Michael. Worthy of reading is A brief history of The Parish of Llanfihangel Ynys Afan (9) by Greville James.
Chapel organs, like this one at Capel Penuel ( Penuel Chapel) were fine instruments that filled the sanctuary with music. That’s me next to organist Ozzie Morris. My feet couldn’t reach the pedals.
![](https://afanvalleyangling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Penuel_organ-2.jpg)