The first Aberystwyth Branch of the YMCA

Many readers will have enjoyed a previous blog about establishing the YMCA in Aberystwyth in 1917.  Many branches of the YMCA were established at about this time, but there were also earlier efforts at the end of the previous century, as in Aberystwyth.

Formed in London in 1844, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) aimed to improve the ‘spiritual condition’ of young men engaged in trade or business. Branches developed in cities and towns and provided young men with intellectual and recreational activities in a non-denominational Christian environment.  When the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth appointed a new Professor of Chemistry in 1888, they acquired an enthusiastic participant in College’s activities, a Methodist lay preacher for the town who was a campaigner for peace and temperance, a driving force for many charities and general benefactor.  This was Dr Henry Lloyd Snape who, even at the age of 26, had already contributed to student welfare at the university colleges at Liverpool and Manchester and at the universities of Berlin and Göttingen.

Lloyd Snape was very conscious of the stark difference between the local young men and the College students in terms of opportunities. He felt that Aberystwyth was lacking in the environment and facilities the YMCA was providing for young men in other towns.  In 1889 he joined others in seeking suitable premises for a local branch, finally settling on the Old Savings Bank (now La Taberna) in New Street, which they were able to rent, furnish and equip at a total cost of £60 a year.  At the inaugural meeting of the first YMCA In Aberystwyth on 24th February 1890, Snape was elected Treasurer, with Captain GW Cosens of Bronpadarn as President.

Snape had another important role in this YMCA, namely President of its Literary and Debating Society, whose meetings were similar to those of the College’s Literary and Debating Society, where Snape was President between1888 and1890.  Over 100 members were able to discuss matters of religious and social interest and keep up with current affairs.  He also participated in soirées and ‘conversazioni’, and gave evening lectures on scientific topics and on his visits to continental Europe, including his impressions of the Oberammergau Passion Play.

In August 1891 Lloyd Snape attended the International Conference of YMCAs in Amsterdam, where he was elected a voting delegate on behalf of the British YMCAs. He described the conference fully in the Aberystwyth Young Men’s Magazine, the bimonthly publication of the local YMCA, which he managed as Chairman of its Editorial Board.  Snape’s services to the Aberystwyth YMCA were much admired in the local press.

This first establishment of the YMCA at Aberystywth in 1890 survived only six years.  There were difficulties as early as the second year in maintaining meetings and forming classes and they increased. In March 1896 Snape distributed cheques from the proceeds of the stock and furniture of ‘the late Young Men’s Christian Association’ to Aberystwyth’s Infirmary, to be spent on books for patients, and to the Public Library.  Many YMCA branches were in difficulty as few new associations appeared after 1895 and many smaller associations ceased to function.

Yet, this was not the end of the YMCA in Aberystwyth, because there was a proposal to form a branch in 1909.  It was re-established during the WW1 in premises adjacent to Siloh Chapel, at the junction of North Parade and Northgate Street.  At its opening in October 1917 by the Countess of Lisburne, Principal Owen Prys (Theological College) recalled that ‘The idea of a YMCA for the town was not a new one’, but the promoters of an earlier effort had been ‘daunted by difficulties which, though perhaps imaginary to some extent, then appeared to be insurmountable’.  

The success of the later effort has already been recounted in a previous blog.

Blog by Dr Brian H Davies (former member of staff at AU)