A newly refurbished Salvation Army church in Merthyr Tydfil is opening its doors to offer expanded services for the local community, marking a new chapter for one of the organisation’s most historic sites in Wales.
Located on Glebeland Place, the building dates back to 1935, but The Salvation Army’s presence in Merthyr stretches back even further. The town is home to the charity’s oldest active church in Wales, first established in 1878 by two young evangelists, Kate Watts (pictured above) and Harriet Parkin.
Now, following extensive refurbishment of the building’s lower level—previously leased to the local council—the full space has been returned to the church and updated with new facilities including a café and community kitchen.
At the official reopening ceremony, Wales Divisional Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Roberts celebrated the moment:
“The Salvation Army has been serving the people of Merthyr Tydfil for just under 150 years, almost as long as we have been established in Wales. By making full use of the building once again we look forward to welcoming local people into this refurbished community space. I encourage residents of Merthyr Tydfil to drop in and say hello, join us in worship or find out about the activities on offer.”
As well as hosting drop-in sessions and workshops, the building will now house The Salvation Army’s Housing First project team. The initiative supports people experiencing homelessness, helping them into secure housing and providing wraparound support to maintain their tenancies.
Major Granville Myers, who leads the Merthyr church, said the move signals a step forward for the mission:
“Our refurbished two-story building means our mission with worship and community expressions can work in tandem with specialist work for people experiencing homelessness. We believe that the work of transforming lives will be greatly strengthened as we serve together.”
Housing First Project Manager Cara Forsey added:
“We are really excited to be moving into the church after being based in the town centre since 2018. It will bring together the strength of our community church and the Homelessness Service to support local people.”
Currently, the Housing First service in Merthyr supports 14 individuals. The new space includes two offices, a meeting room, utility facilities, and a dedicated entrance and reception for those accessing support.
For more on The Salvation Army’s heritage in Wales, visit The Salvationist and listen to The All Terrain Podcast: Wales 150 Special with Steven Spencer, Director of the International Heritage Centre.