Brecon Congregational Memorial College was a Congregational college in Brecon, Powys, Mid Wales. The college graduated ministers and missionaries who went to work in Africa and India. There were classes in biblical literature, chemistry, classical languages, logic, psychology, theism, theology, trigonometry, German language, and Welsh language. After the last principal left in 1959, the college was closed. The building is now serves as sheltered housing.
Contents
History
The Memorial College on Camden Road was opened on the 15th and 16th of September, 1869. This edifice belonged to the Independents, and its erection was designed to perpetuate the memory of the 2000 clergy ejected from the Church of England in 1662. The college, as an institution, is not new, but up to this time it had no building worthy of its past history or position. Its historical source is twofold: the first and earliest, the Academy at Brynllywarch, near Bridgend, Glamorganshire, founded by Samuel Jones, A.M. (once a tutor at Jesus College, Oxford), soon after his ejection from the National Church in 1662, the immortal era which the new edifice commemorates; the next and latest source, the Academy at Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, taught by a distinguished man of the same name as the eminent Nonconformist just mentioned, and who could, according to Fitzgerald, the editor of Hutler's Anitloyy, number among his scholars many names that might confer honour on any University in Christendom. Among these were Jeremiah Jones, a relative of the master's, and an author of an excellent treatise upon the Canon of the New Testament; Maddox, afterwards Bishop of Worcester; Lord Bowes, the Chancellor of Ireland; Samuel Chandler, the acute apologist of Christianity and intrepid defender of toleration; Seeker, afterwards Primate of England; and last, but not least, Bishop Butler, the immortal author of the Anitluyy of HMjion. These two institutions, according to Dr. Rees, of Swansea were amalgamated into one college at Carmarthen. In consequence of the heterodoxy of one of the tutors, the Congregational Fund Board, which was united with the Presbyterian Board in the support of the college, withdrew its patronage, and established a separate institution at Abergavenny, taking some of the Carmarthen students with it, among whom may be mentioned the Rev. J. Griffiths, of Glandwr. This took place in the year 1755. Since then it has undergone several local changes, having been removed successively from Abergavenny to Oswestry, Wrexham, Llanfyllin, Newtown, and Brecknock.
The foundation stone of the new college laid in 1867
During its location in Brecknock and up to the year 1869, the college was situate in St. Mary street, in the large building known as the Oddfellows' Hall. On Wednesday, June 12th, 1867, the foundation stone of the new building was laid by Samuel Morley, M.P., in the presence of the Mayor and Corporation of Brecknock, and of a large gathering from England and Wales. In the outset, plans of the proposed college were prepared by the Rev. Thomas Thomas, of Llandore, who had taken great interest in the affair; but after tenders had been advertised for and received, it was found that the cost for carrying out the plans in their entirety would be considerably more than the committee felt themselves justified in incurring. The design was then reduced, and eventually it was decided to accept the tender of Messrs. Watkins and Jenkins, of Swansea, at £8,250. Towards this amount there was then in hand a sum of about £2,000, the result of the effort made in connection with the Bicentenary movement, after expenditure for various objects. Another noble sum of £1,000 was contributed by Samuel Morley, and a number of smaller sums were given by others interested in the progress of education, and especially in the proper preparation of young men for the work of the ministry. The college altogether cost, inclusive of 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) of freehold land, about £11,000, all of which, with the exception of £900, was raised by the opening days, and the remaining debt was wiped off by the end of the same year. Other expenses were afterwards incurred in connection with the grounds and residences, which brought the entire cost to the sum of £12,000.
Architecture and fittings
The building is of Gothic design, and three stories high. It is built of native stone, with Bath stone dressings. The extreme length in front is 154 feet (47 m), with a depth from front to back of about 100 feet (30 m). There is a centre building, with a wing on either side, and an area between. On the basement floor are all the domestic apartments. On the first floor, there are a dining hall 85 by 20 feet (25.9 m × 6.1 m), and 18.5 feet (5.6 m), with a large bay window; and a handsome library of the same dimensions. These rooms, together with the principal staircase, occupy the principal floor of the main building. The next storey consists of two class-rooms and studies. The third storey contains the dormitories; there are 24 studies and 20 dormitories (some of them with two beds) for the use of the students. There are also convenient residences for the tutors. The tower, which projects 7 feet (2.1 m) from the line of the main building, is 16 square feet (1.5 m2) and about 100 feet (30 m) high. The principal entrance is under the tower, and there is also a very fine principal staircase. In front of the building, there is a broad terrace, also a roadway leading to the back of it.
Grounds
The grounds, too, have been laid out and planted after a very neat design; and the roadway from the entrance gates to the college is broad and substantially laid down.