Volume Eleven - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - some more aspects - The Growth of Wesleyan Methodism at Penarth . . .

1905 - Fire at Penarth - Arcot-street Chapel in Flames. - 'About 1.30 this afternoon it was discovered that the Wesleyan Chapel in Arcot-street, Penarth, was on fire. The police and the fire brigade at once came on the spot and endeavoured to cope with the outbreak. Telephoning half an hour later, our correspondent says that there was no hope of the building being saved, as smoke was issuing from every part of it.

A number of sailors from the docks assisted the brigade. The fire, however, had such a hold on the building that it burned with great fury. It is now a foregone conclusion that the building will be demolished. It is said that the fire originated in the organ chamber. Within 30 minutes of the outbreak the whole building was one mass of flames. There a good supply of water, and the brigade was doing splendid work to save the building.

Cardiff Brigade Summoned - At 2.30 o'clock the fire was raging furiously, but up to that time it was confined to the chapel itself, and had not spread to the adjoining buildings, but the tenants of the houses in the midst of which the chapel is situated began to remove their goods, fearing their homes might be affected. A fire escape, which had been placed against the building to assist the brigade, was burnt, and it snapped in two. Efforts are now being made to stop the spread of the conflagration, and the Cardiff Fire Brigade has been summoned to assist.

A Singular Coincidence - It is a singular coincidence that only this week a very strong effort was made to raise funds for the extension of the Arcot-street Chapel premises. For years the lack of accommodation for social meetings has been keenly felt, and this has bean accentuated since the Revival broke out, for a large number of new members has been added to the Arcot-street society.

For some months the members of the chapel have been preparing for a bazaar with the object of raising £500, with which to make some structural alterations and extensions, and also to install the electric light. The bazaar was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a good sum raised.

Arcot-street Chapel is the head of the Penarth Circuit, which, consisting of the town named and the societies in all the places along the line down to Barry Island, was separated from Canton Circuit, Cardiff, about twelve years ago.