Casgliadau Arlein

Preaching chair believed to have been used by John Wesley at Bedwas. According to his journal, he preached there on 3 April 1749, on his way to the wedding of his brother Charles: 'Wet and weary as I was, and we rejoiced in all our labours'. John Wesley visited Wales 53 times between 1739 - 90.

The preaching chair was central to the Nonconformist movement as the spoken word, y Gair, was one of their core beliefs. Before chapels were built, these enigmatic preachers would travel around, preaching in the open-air. They could be easily transported on the back of a cart and used as a pulpit wherever the sermon would take place.