RHEWL, a serene Welsh community near Llangollen in Denbighshire, is slowly recovering from a shocking incident that unfolded on the evening of Saturday, June 10. Residents were left astounded as a powerful bolt of lightning tore through a 120-year-old chapel in their village, igniting a small fire. Local fire crews swiftly responded to the emergency, providing aid and support to the community.
The Gothic-style Methodist chapel, which underwent reconstruction in 1903, sustained significant damage from the lightning strike. The forceful impact left the chapel with a “gaping hole,” shattered windows, a damaged roof, and missing bricks. Some of the dislodged bricks were scattered up to 40 meters away from the structure, illustrating the immense power unleashed by the lightning. Additionally, the lightning strike dislodged a cross from the chapel’s roof, further amplifying the impact of the natural phenomenon.
The North Wales Fire and Rescue Service received a distress call reporting the fire at 6:51 p.m. and promptly dispatched two crews, one from Wrexham and the other from Llangollen, to the scene. Witness Brad Beazley, a proprietor of a photography studio with a vantage point overlooking the chapel, recounted the startling event. Beazley and his family sought immediate refuge behind a sofa upon witnessing the lightning strike.
Beazley described the sequence of events, stating, “My son, my partner, and myself were sat on our balcony watching and hearing the incoming storm… There was so much rain that the view was just murky grey. All of a sudden there was a big white flash and an almighty bang.” The lightning strike appeared as a concentrated burst of brightness rather than a prolonged bolt, captivating Beazley and his family with its raw power. Despite residing approximately 400 to 500 meters away from the chapel, the strike felt unnervingly close, leaving them in awe.
The thunderous impact reverberated throughout the area, causing power outages and triggering car alarms. Beazley expressed relief, remarking, “Thank goodness we weren’t touching water at the time.” After the electricity was restored, he drove closer to the chapel to offer assistance. Upon arrival, Beazley noticed a fire engine already on-site, and around 15 residents had gathered to witness the lightning storm. Additional emergency vehicles swiftly followed, bolstering the response efforts. Firefighters skillfully forced open the chapel doors while simultaneously dousing the roof to mitigate any remaining flames. By that time, the majority of the fire had been extinguished.
Local residents speculate that the lightning strike may have traversed the chapel’s roof, causing damage to the structure before bursting out through the two windows. Images captured at the scene depict the destruction, with an upper window visibly damaged and brick sections surrounding a lower window shattered. The intense force of the lightning strike also obliterated a stone cross that once adorned the top of the chapel.
Furthermore, the village’s trees were not spared from the wrath of the storm, as several were struck by lightning. Residents reported experiencing power cuts and the unfortunate frying of their telephones, highlighting the electrical havoc unleashed by the storm.
As the community recovers from this awe-inspiring natural event, the local authorities and residents are rallying together to assess the extent of the damage and plan for the chapel’s restoration. The lightning strike served as a potent reminder of nature’s extraordinary power, leaving the villagers of Rhewl in both shock and awe as they witness the aftermath of a force that forever altered their historic chapel.
