A project that will attempt to capture the importance of local chapel culture was launched at Cardigan’s Bethania Chapel on Sunday by GWRANDO.

Capeli Dyffryn Teifi - a project recording oral histories - will go on over the summer.

There are Te Prynhawn events in: Capel Bethel, Drefach-Felindre, 24th July and Coracle Hall, Llechryd, 25th July.

There are also plan to host Te Prynhawn events in Llandudoch and in Llandysul.

Each event is a chance to share memories about all of the chapels in that area. So the event in Bethel, for instance, will also celebrate Clos-Y-Graig, Saron and Tabernacl (Pentrecagal). Everyone in the village is welcome to attend. Musician and organiser Lou Laurens will be running singing workshops before the tea, so a temporary choir made up of workshop attendees may perform, and there will be presentations and a chance to share memories and record them with interviewers in Welsh or English. All events will be free.

“Much research has been done already on chapels in this area, and many chapels have collated histories in the form of book/booklets, especially as part of 100 years celebrations, or to mark other significant dates,” said Lou, who is working on the project with local video artist Jake Whittaker.

“ We hope to provide a platform to share and preserve personal memories and stories as well, in recognition of the importance of the histories of daily life and worship.”

All materials gathered during the project will be archived online on a dedicated website (www.capeli.info) and a selection will also be included in an exhibition at Ceredigion Museum, in 2011.

The website will go live, and be launched, at the final event in Bethania September 12th.

As a start the project is looking for the top hymn of Dyffryn Teifi, and memories of hymn singing. This sub-project is called 'Songs of the Heart/Caneuon y Galon'.

These are the questions: Q. What hymn is most special to you? Pa emyn yw'r un mwyaf arbennig i chi?

Q. Where have you sung it and when? Ble wnaethoch chi ei ganu a pha bryd?

Q. Or maybe you have a treasured memory of hearing someone else sing it?Neu efallai fod gennych gof annwyl o glywed rhywun arall yn ei ganu?

If you want to take part in the project you can contact Lou on 07866 371481 or email info@gwrando.org.

GWRANDO would like to thank Aberteifi 2010, Minister Irfon Roberts, David Peregrine, Cor Gymuned Llangrannog and soloist Maeve Wells.