Life for brothers Johnny and Benny Cole revolved around their families, their labours in the quarries at West Williamston and – most important of all – their work in the Baptist Chapel at Pisgah, near Cresswell Quay.

Between about 1850 and 1900, Johnny and Benny were staunch supporters of the little chapel, as leader of the singing and superintendent of the Sunday School respectively. Both suffered serious injuries while working in the quarries, but nothing ever kept them away from their work at Pisgah.

In the 1920s, one of Johnny’s sons compiled a handwritten memoir entitled ‘The Story of Johnny and Benny Cole of Pisgah’ which records in affectionate fashion their long service at the chapel, together with the concert parties, open air baptisms, Sunday School outings and revival meetings which were a feature of chapel-going at the time.

This memoir forms the basis for ‘Marching to Zion’ which will be performed at the chapel on Friday, October 28 at 7.30pm. Written by Keith Johnson and performed by The East End Flyover Company and the Quaynotes Choir of Carew, ‘Marching to Zion’ tells the story of the founding of Pisgah Chapel in 1820 and its first 100 years.

“Both brothers were noted for their fine singing voices, whether in the chapel, at village wedding feasts or on Sunday School outings to Saundersfoot beach, so a number of Sankey hymns and popular songs of the period have been woven into the script,” said Keith.

“We are also fortunate that one of the Ministers of Pisgah during this period was Rev’d William Meredith Morris who made a study of the folklore of Cresswell Quay and left us with a wealth of stories about ghosts and corpse candles, some of which we have incorporated into the script.”

The production of ‘Marching to Zion’ is the latest in a series of events to celebrate the bicentenary of the chapel which first opened its doors in 1821 and is still going strong.

Tickets (£7.50) can be booked via email to [email protected].