Old chapel near Carmarthen, South Wales. The 18th, 19th and early 20th Centuries saw great religious fervour throughout Wales particularly in Welsh speaking areas. (Speaking Welsh was frowned upon and at times actively repressed in public, the work place and schools but not in the chapel due to freedom of religion laws). A variety of Methodist, Calvinist and Baptist sects mushroomed; unfortunately religious bigotry had many negative effects on both Welsh and English speaking communities. Today, the few active chapels remaining are more often than not empty.