**Two Teenagers Arrested in Connection with Major Chapel Fire in Port Talbot**
Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a major fire tore through the historic Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Port Talbot on Thursday night, leaving the 19th-century structure with significant damage. Authorities responded rapidly to the incident, which has left the local community in shock and raised urgent questions about the future of the Grade II listed landmark.
South Wales Police confirmed that a 14-year-old boy from the Sandfields area and a 15-year-old from Bryn, both of Neath Port Talbot, were taken into custody following the fire. The police investigation is ongoing, reflecting the seriousness of the incident and the considerable harm caused to a building of notable architectural and historic value.
Emergency services were first alerted at 6.49pm on Thursday, 24 April. Firefighters from Port Talbot, Morriston and Neath fire stations were dispatched to the scene, supported by teams from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The blaze, which quickly engulfed the disused chapel on Station Road, soon became visible from across the town as flames shot through the roof and thick smoke billowed into the evening sky.
According to a spokesperson for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the building — measuring approximately 30 metres by 15 metres — was well alight when crews arrived. In response, teams deployed six water jets and used a turntable ladder as a water tower to quell the flames. Despite strenuous efforts, the fire caused severe damage, particularly to the roof, which appears to have suffered the brunt of the destruction.
Throughout the night and into the early hours of Friday, firefighters worked to dampen remaining hotspots, ensuring the blaze was fully extinguished and that the site presented no further risk to public safety. The swift and coordinated action of emergency services has been widely praised, even as concern lingers over the fate of the chapel itself.
Built in 1880 in a sub-classical style, the Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel holds significant cultural and historic value for the people of Port Talbot. The building’s Grade II listing reflects its importance not only as a place of worship but also as a piece of local heritage. Images from the aftermath display the devastating impact, with parts of the structure left charred and collapsed.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, the arrests of the two teenagers have prompted a broader discussion about issues facing vacant and derelict historic buildings. Without adequate security or an ongoing maintenance plan, such sites can become vulnerable to vandalism and, in the worst cases, deliberate destruction.
South Wales Police have appealed for any witnesses or individuals with information regarding the incident to come forward. The ongoing nature of the inquiry means further updates are expected in the coming days, especially as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the fire.
For now, the community in Port Talbot is left to assess the impact of the loss, not only in terms of architectural heritage but also the symbolic resonance of seeing a once-proud chapel severely damaged. As local authorities, historians, and concerned residents await more information, attention has turned to both the restoration of the site and broader measures to protect such landmarks in the future.
This incident is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by historic buildings in towns across the UK. As the police and fire services carry on their investigations, the people of Port Talbot remain united in their concern and hope for answers — and, perhaps, for a future restoration of their much-loved chapel.