By the 1840's Efail Isaf was surrounded by new Welsh Independent chapels. On one side there was Capel Groeswen, Eglwysilan, described as "the main spiritual powerhouse of the area". The chapel had a significant influence over a wide area and reached its pinnacle during the ministry of Griffith Hughes. The Groeswen chapel became a mother-chapel to a number of Welsh Independent and Calvanistic Methodist causes in the Llantrisant, Caerphilly and Cardiff area.
To the south of Efail Isaf there was a lively chapel at Rhydlafar, between Pentyrch and Sain Ffagan. The chapel at Taihiron was established about 1760, and although it was a very small chapel, it had a substantial influence on religion in the area. The Bethlehem Chapel, Gwaelod-y-garth had already been established under the wing of Taihirion since 1831.
With the encouragement of missionaries from these two chapels, a group of people started to meet together at the longroom of the Carpenters' Arms in Efail Isaf about the 1840's, and it was decided to ask the chapels of Taihirion and Gwaelod y Garth for permission for Efail Isaf to have its own chapel. According to R. Tudur Jones, the two main protagonists were Philip Williams, who had recently moved to the village, and William Lewis, a deacon at Taihirion, who also lived in Efail Isaf. The request was supported by the young minister of Taihirion, Lemuel Smith, who died at the age of 27 before the new chapel opened.
Land was gifted by Thomas Philips, Ysgubor Fawr, Sain Ffagan, and Tabernacl was officially opened in 1843.
Capel Taihirion is near the M4 in Capel Llanilltern to the west of Rhydlafar on the A4119. The building is in ruins. An article about Taihirion is in Garth Domain Number 24 >> Taihirion
