In May 1844 the land on which Gilead stood was leased by John Bennett, Laleston House, Laleston, to the Reverend William Jones of Coity ( the Independent Minister of Gilead ) and others, being trustees of the Chapel- Rev. Thomas Lloyd, the Independent Minister, of Maesteg, Rev. John Evans – Independent minister of Maindy, Rev. William Griffith, Independent minister of Llanharan, and Rev. Morgan Morgan, Independent minister of Llan Maes. The yearly ground rent was £1.00.

In 1900 the Rev. Gwilym Rees was the minister of Gilead but there is no record of when he came to Gilead but he left in 1901. From 1901 to 1903 the Chapel was without a minister until in 1903 the Rev. Griffith Richard Griffith came from Bethesda, North Wales, and remained as minister of Gilead until his death in 1949. There has not been a resident minister since at Gilead. We depend on the services of local ministers and lay preachers, until we are more financially and congregationally strong, which we are now progressing towards at a steady pace.

The Chapel was well established and thriving and in 1862 it was rebuilt and extended, to what extent it is not clear and it is not known who the minister was at that time. It is known that the Rev. William Jones was minister of Gilead in 1844.

In November 1889 the Chapel ground and an adjoining piece of land were sold by David Phillips, Croesty Farm, Coity, who had inherited the land from John Bennett, to the Rev. William Gilbert Evans, Minister of Gilead and other trustees of the chapel for the fee of £20; to be used for public Christian worship of God and other Christian purposes in accordance with the principles and usage of Congregationalism. It is not clear when Rev. William Gilbert Evans came to Gilead but it seems that he left towards the end of the 1890’s.

In 1890 Gilead Chapel was rebuilt for the third time and still stands as was in that year. It is believed that the pulpit and pews were renewed at that time and the gallery in its present form was added. The chapel was thriving and being the only one of its kind in the parish, it became a landmark along with the castle and the church.

In June 1907 a piece of ground adjoining the Chapel, was sold by a Mrs. B. Lewis of Croesty Villa, Coity, who had inherited the land, to the Rev. Griffith Richard Griffith, and other trustees of the Chapel for £50.00. The ground was, as previously mentioned, to be used as a burial ground.

In 1928 plans were drawn up for a Hall to be built, on the latter piece of ground. The Hall did not materialise for a number of years In May 1933 the ground on which the hall was subsequently built was sold to the Rev. Griffith Richard Griffith minister of Gilead and the trustees of the same, by Reginald Nigel Lewis of Coed y Mystwr Newydd, Coychurch, who had inherited that land and all of which at one time was known as Cae Pwll Evan Ddu, for the sum of £50.00. The Hall was therefore built in 1938 and opened for various functions within the community and surrounding area. The cost of this is not known.

In March 1960 a piece of land was sold to the chapel and trustees by Brian Stanley Smith, and Geoffrey Smith of Cardiff. The fee for this was 1 shilling! This then completed Gilead Chapel’s acquisition of land, which was becoming enclosed by a housing development; the present Pwll Evan Ddu.

Up to 1955 the membership of Gilead was fluctuating around 80 – 100 with a steady attendance at Sunday school. Unfortunately as with all Christian Chapels there was a decline in attendances from the early 1960’s until 2002 when a ‘’Mini revival’’ took place. We have recently increased our membership and our congregation now fluctuates between 20-30 people who regularly help and support the ongoing work at the chapel and in the community.