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Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

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(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By Thomas Rees & John Thomas; 4 volumes (published 1871+)
From the CD published by Archive CD Books

Caernarfonshire section (Vol 3) - Pages  223 - 236

See main project page

Proof read by Eleri Rowlands (May 2008), and translations (June 2009)

Chapels below;

 


Pages  223 - 236

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MORFA BYCHAN

(Ynys Cynhaiarn parish)

Dechreuwyd pregethu yn y gymydogaeth hon gan Mr. Richard Jones, yn awr o Lanidloes, yn y flwyddyn 1828, pan y bu am dymor yn aros yn Mhorthmadog. Cafwyd hen felin eithin ar ystad Madog, ac adgyweiriwyd hi yn lle cyfleus i bregethu. Costiodd tua 40p., a theithiodd Mr. Jones trwy Eifionydd a Lleyn i gasglu, a thalwyd yr holl ddyled. Yr oedd y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd cyn hyny yn arfer cynal ysgol Sabbothol mewn amaethdy a elwid y Garegwen, ond wedi agor y capel symudwyd yr ysgol iddo, a chytunai y ddau enwad i'w chynal. Cynhelid yr ysgol y boreu, a phregethid yn y prydnhawn a'r hwyr gan yr Annibynwyr. Nid oedd un enw ar y capel pan agorwyd ef, ond ar ryw ganol dydd gwaith daeth Mr. Azariah Shadrach heibio i bregethu, ac yr oedd yn gwerthu llyfr newydd o'i eiddo, sef Dyfroedd Siloam. Gan fod y capel gerllaw Llyn y Garegwen, enwodd y pregethwr y capel, heb ymgynghori a neb, yn Siloam, ac o hyny allan daeth y llyn yn adnabyddus fel Llyn Siloam.

Yn mhen amser symudwyd yr oedfa hwyrol o Siloam i Borthmadog, ac ni byddai yma ar ol hyny ond ysgol y boreu ac oedfa y prydnhawn, ond yn achlysurol pregethid yn yr hwyr mewn tai anedd ar y Morfa. Adeiladodd y Methodistiaid gapel iddynt eu hunain yn nes i ganolbwynt y boblogaeth, a gadawsant yr ysgol a'r holl foddion yn Siloam yn gwbl i'r Annibynwyr. Yn y flwyddyn 1856, gan fod yr hen Siloam wedi myned yn adfeiliedig, barnwyd mai gwell oedd codi capel newydd ar y Morfa. Costiodd y Siloam newydd 300p. Agorwyd ef yn Hydref y flwyddyn hono. Hyd hyny nid oedd eglwys wedi ei chorphori yn y lle, ond deuai yr aelodau i gymundeb i Borthmadog, ond yn fuan wedi adeiladu y capel newydd, unodd dau-ar-hugain o aelodau mewn cyfamod i fod yn eglwys yn y lle. Bu y lle mewn cysylltiad gweinidogaethol a Phorthmadog o'r dechreuad hyd nes y codwyd capel yn y Borth, yna ymunodd y ddau le a'u gilydd yn un weinidogaeth; ond buont dan arolygiaeth Mr. Ambrose hyd wanwyn y flwyddyn 1871, pryd y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Lloyd B. Roberts, myfyriwr o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Mai 12fed, y flwyddyn hono, ac y mae yn parhau i weinidogaethu yma. Coffeir am amryw frodyr ffyddlon a fu gyda'r achos yn y lle, a gwasanaethodd Robert Williams, Shop, swydd diacon yn dda dros ei dymor byr, Bu farw Mawrth 26ain, 1862, yn 33 oed. Nis gellir disgwyl yma gynnulleidfa fawr gan nad yw y boblogaeth yn lluosog; ond y mae yma eglwys fechan heddychol a thangnefeddus.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (June 2009)

Mr. Richard Jones, now from Llanidloes, was the first to start preaching in this district, in 1828, when he was staying a while in Porthmadog.  An old gorse mill, on the Madog estate, was obtained, and it was repaired as a convenient place in which to preach.  It cost about £40, and Mr. Jones travelled throughout Eifionydd and Lleyn collecting, and the whole debt was paid.  The Calvinist Methodists, before that, used to hold a Sunday school in a farm house called 'y Garegwen', but having opened the chapel the Sunday school moved there, and the two denominations agreed to the upkeep.  The school was held in the morning, and the Independents preached in the afternoon and evening.  The chapel did not have a name when it was opened, but at noon one workday Mr. Azariah Shadrach called by to preach. He was selling his new book, which was called 'Dyfroedd Siloam' (The Waters of Siloam).  Since the chapel was near Llyn y Garegwen (Garegwen Lake), the preacher named the chapel, without consulting anyone, as Siloam, and from then on the lake became known as the Lake of Siloam.

After a while the evening service moved from Siloam to Porthmadog, and from then on just the morning school and the afternoon service remained here, but occasionally preaching was held in dwelling houses on the Morfa.  The Methodists built a chapel for themselves closer to the middle of the community, and they left the school and all the services in Siloam completely to the Independents.  In 1856, since the old Siloam was now in ruins, it was decided that it would be better to build a new chapel on the  Morfa.  The new Siloam cost £300.  It was opened that year.  Up until then no church had been embodied in the place, but the members went to communion in Porthmadog, but soon after opening the new chapel, twenty two members joined together in a covenant to be a church there.  The place was connected ministerially to Porthmadog from the start until a chapel was raised in Borth, then the two places joined together under the same ministry; but they were under the supervision of Mr. Ambrose until the spring of 1871, when a call was given to Mr. Lloyd B. Roberts, a student from Bala college, and he was ordained on  May 12th, that year, and he continues to minister here. We remember several faithful brothers who were prominent with the cause in the place.  Robert Williams, Shop, served the post of deacon well during his short time there.  He died on March 26th, 1862, at 33 years old.  A large congregation will never be expected here since the population is not great; but there is a small peaceful church here.

  

BORTH

(Ynys Cynhaiarn parish)

Pentref newydd ydyw hwn wedi ei godi ar dyddyn o'r enw, yn perthyn i ystad Clenanau. Yn y tai a godwyd gyntaf yn y lle hwn yr oedd amryw o aelodau yr eglwys yn Mhorthmadog yn byw. Yr oedd bwriad i godi capel yma flynyddau lawer cyn gwneyd hyny; ond oblegid dau anhawsder oedwyd y gwaith. Yr oedd yr eglwys yn Salem wedi myned i draul fawr i adeiladu capel newydd fel na theimlai yn ddigon calonog ar y pryd i ymgymeryd hefyd a chodi capel newydd yn y Borth. Ac heblaw hyny, nid oedd modd cael tir i adeiladu arno oblegid rhagfarn teulu ucheleglwysig Porkington, perchenogion ystad Clenanau; ond wedi gweled awydd pobl am adeiladu tai yma gwelwyd hefyd fod yn rhaid caniatau lle iddynt

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i dderbyn addysg grefyddol. Adeiladwyd y capel yn y flwyddyn 1867, ac agorwyd ef Tachwedd 5ed, y flwyddyn hono. Costiodd tua 550p., a chyfrif pob peth y tuallan iddo; ond yr oedd 500p. wedi eu casglu cyn diwedd dydd yr agoriad. Rhoddodd eglwys Porthmadog 300p. Casglodd Mr. Ambrose 100p., a chasglodd y cyfeillion yn y Borth 100p. Ymadawodd nifer o gyfeillion ffyddlon yn y modd mwyaf heddychol o'r fam eglwys i ymffurfio yn eglwys yma, a theimlid chwithdod mawr ar eu hol. Rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Lloyd B. Roberts, myfyriwr o athrofa y Bala, i fod yn weinidog i'r Borth a'r Morfa Bychan, ac urddwyd ef Mai 12fed, 1871. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. E. T. Davies, Abergele; gofynwyd yr holiadau arferol i'r gweinidog gan Mr. W. Ambrose; gweddiwyd am fendith ar yr undeb gan Mr. E. Morris, Penrhyn; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. J. Peter, Bala; ac i'r eglwysi gan Mr. T. Jones, Tabor. Mae Mr. Roberts yn parhau i lafurio yn y lle gyda derbyniad a pharch.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (June 2009)

This is a new village which has been built on a small farm of that name, which belongs to the Clenanau estate. Several members from the church in Porthmadog lived in the houses which were first built in this place.  It was intended to raise a chapel here many years before it was done; but because of two difficulties the work was delayed.  The church in Salem had borne a great burden to build a new chapel so that they did not have the heart, at the time, to undertake the raising of a new chapel in Borth as well. And despite this, it wasn't possible to obtain building land because of the prejudice of the  high church Porkington family, the owners of the Clenanau estate; but once the enthusiasm of the people towards building houses here was recognized they also realized that they had to allow a place for them to

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receive a religious education. The chapel was built in 1867, and it was opened on November 5th, that year.  It cost about £550, including all external buildings; but £500 had been collected before the end of the opening.  Porthmadog church gave £300.  Mr. Ambrose collected £100, and the friends in Borth collected £100. Several faithful friends left the mother church in the most peaceful way in order to form themselves into a church here, and they were sorely missed.  A call was sent out to Mr. Lloyd B. Roberts,  a student from Bala college, to be a minister in Borth and Morfa Bychan, and he was ordained on May 12th, 1871. On the occasion Mr. E. T. Davies, Abergele, preached on the nature of the church; the usual questions were asked of the minister by Mr. W. Ambrose; Mr. E. Morris, Penrhyn prayed for a blessing on the union; Mr. J. Peter, Bala preached to the minister; and Mr. T. Jones, Tabor preached to the churches.  Mr. Roberts continues to labour in the place with great respect.

  

PENMORFA

Mae y pentref hwn o fewn dwy filldir i Borthmadog. Bu y Wesleyaid yn pregethu yma am dymor dan nawdd teulu o'r enw Lloyd, a drigai yn y Wern. Wedi ymadawiad y teulu hwnw ni pharhaodd y Wesleyaid yn hir i ymweled a'r lle. Yr oedd yr hybarch John Evans, Amlwch (gynt), yn meddu craffder neillduol i weled lle manteisiol i gychwyn achos newydd, a sefydlodd ei lygaid ar Benmorfa. Cymerwyd ystafell eang yn y Tymawr o dan ardreth. Defnyddid yr ystafell drwy yr wythnos i wneyd dodrefn, ac yr oedd golwg ryfedd ar y parwydydd ar y Sabboth yn llawn arfau. Cynhelid yma ysgol Sabbothol yn y boreu, a phregethid yn y prydnhawn, ac weithiau yn yr hwyr. Wedi sefydliad Mr. Ambrose yn Mhorthmadog cymerodd ef ddyddordeb mawr yn yr achos hwn, ac yn mhen amser llwyddodd i gael tir gan Syr Joseph Huddart, o'r Brynkir, i godi capel arno, am goron y flwyddyn, ar les o bedwar-ugain mlynedd. Agorwyd y capel yn ngwanwyn y flwyddyn 1840. Galwyd ef Mynydd Seion. Yr oedd diwygiad grymus yn yr holl wlad o gylch yma yn adeg ei agoriad, ac yr oedd y dylanwadau mawrion yn cael eu teimlo trwy yr holl gyfarfod. Ffurfiwyd yma eglwys yn ddioed wedi agor y capel, ao ychwanegwyd amryw at eu rhifedi. Bu ei gofal ar Mr. Ambrose am rai blynyddoedd hyd nes y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. William Jones, Dolyddelen, gan yr eglwys hon, a'r eglwysi yn Nazareth, Pantglas, a'r Penrhyn. Yr. oedd Mr. W. Jones o ddoniau poblogaidd, ond yr oedd pellder yr eglwysi oddiwrth eu gilydd yn gosod anfantais dirfawr ar ffordd y gweinidog; ond daliodd yr achos yma ei dir heb un arwydd gwanychiad. Wedi bod yma am yspaid blwyddyn, ymfudodd i America, lle yr ymlygrodd yn ei arferion, ac y daeth i ddiwedd truenus. Ni bu yma neb yn sefydlog ar ol hyn hyd nes y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Robert Parry, ac urddwyd ef Mai 8fed, 1850. Pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. M. Lewis, Bangor; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. Ambrose; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. W. Griffith, Caergybi, ac eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Bu Mr. Parry yma am yn agos i bum' mlynedd, hyd nes y symudodd i Abercarne, sir Fynwy. Yn fun ar ol ymadawiad Mr. Parry rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Samuel Jones, yr hwn oedd yn weinidog yn Penygroes a Pisgah. Yn ystod ei weinidogaeth ef helaethwyd y capel a lleihawyd cryn lawer ar y ddyled. Bu achos

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ei.ymadawiad yn brofedigaeth fawr i'r eglwys ffyddlon yn y Ile, ond trwy y cyfan parhaodd yr Arglwydd i wenu mewn modd neillduol ar yr achos. Yn ngwanwyn y flwyddyn 1865, rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. John D. Jones (Deiniol Wyn), gwr ieuangc o athrylith uwchlaw y cyffredin. Cyfrifid y dewisiad yn un hapus iawn; ond yr oedd siomedigaeth yn llechu o dan yr holl ddisgwyliadau. Yr oedd y darfodedigaeth wedi gosod ei nod arno, a bu farw Mai 19eg, 1865. Y flwyddyn ganlynol, rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. Thomas Jones, Tabor, a chymerodd yntau ei gofal; ac efe yw y gweinidog yma etto, ac y mae wedi bod o ddefnydd mawr yn y lle. Yn y flwyddyn 1868, penderfynwyd adeiladu yma gapel newydd hardd. Nid oedd dyled yr hen gapel wedi ei llwyr dalu, ond erbyn codi y newydd yr oedd 800p. o ddyled yn aros, ond y mae erbyn hyn wedi ei thynu i lawr i lai na haner hyny. Agorwyd y capel Mawrth 21ain, 22ain, a'r 23ain, 1869. Yn ystod yr adeg y bu y capel ar lawr, yr oedd rhan o'r gynnulleidfa yn addoli yn y Town-hall, Tremadog. Cedwid ysgol bob boreu Sabboth, a phregethu y prydnhawn a'r hwyr, a chafwyd y fath flas ar y moddion fel y mae yr ysgol y boreu a'r oedfa y prydnhawn yn cael eu parhau; ac yn yr hwyr y mae pawb yn myned i'w fan. Codwyd ysgoldy Brytanaidd perthynol i Benrnorfa, heb fod yn mhell o Dremadog, ac yno y pregethir ac y cynhelir yr ysgol Sabbothol yn awr; ac y mae yno dros bedwar ugain o plant yn cael eu haddysgu. Mae awydd mawr yma am gapel, er nad oes dim etto wedi ei benderfynu. Cafwyd yma ymweliad grymus oddiwrth yr Arglwydd yn niwedd y flwyddyn ddiweddaf, pryd yr ychwanegwyd llawer at rifedi yr eglwys. Codwyd yma un pregethwr, sef John Lloyd, yr hwn a symudodd i Fangor, a chyn hir ymfudodd i America, lle y mae yn weinidog.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (June 2009)

This village is within two miles of  Porthmadog.  The Wesleyans were preaching here for a while under the patronage of a family called Lloyd, who lived in the Wern.  After that family had left, the Wesleyans did not stay long in the place.  The Hon. John Evans, Amlwch (formerly), possessed particular observational qualities to spot an advantageous place to start a new cause, and he settled his eye on Penmorfa.  A large room was rented in Tymawr. The room was used throughout the week to make furniture, and there was a strange look to the walls on the Sunday with all the tools. A Sunday school was held in the morning, and preaching held in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening. Once Mr. Ambrose had been established in Porthmadog he showed a great interest in this cause, and after a while he succeeded in getting land from Syr Joseph Huddart, from Brynkir, to build a chapel, for a crown a year, on a lease of eighty years. The chapel was opened in the spring of 1840.  It was called Mynydd Seion. There was a powerful revival in the whole country around the time of the opening, and its great influence was felt throughout all the meetings.  A church was formed here immediately after opening the chapel, and several were added to their number. The care of the church was on Mr. Ambrose' shoulders for some years until a call was sent out to Mr. William Jones, Dolyddelen, from this church and the churches at Nazareth, Pantglas, and Penrhyn. Mr. W. Jones had popular talents, but the distance between the churches place him at a great disadvantage ministerially; but this cause held its own with no sign of weakening. After being here for just a year, he emigrated to America, where he was corrupted by its customs, and he had a sad ending.  There was no settled minister here after this until a call was sent out to Mr. Robert Parry, and he was ordained on May 8th, 1850. Mr. M. Lewis, Bangor preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer; Mr. Ambrose prayed the ordination prayer; Mr. W. Griffith, Holyhead, preached to the minister, and Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel to the church. Mr. Parry was here for almost five years, until he moved to Abercarn, in Monmouthshire.  Soon after  Mr. Parry left  a call was given to  Mr. Samuel Jones, who was a minister in Penygroes and Pisgah. During his ministry he extended the chapel and reduced the debt substantially.  The reason for

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his leaving became a great loss to the faithful church in the place, but throughout everything the Lord continued to smile in a special way on the cause.  In the spring of 1865, the church gave a call to Mr. John D. Jones (Deiniol Wyn), a young man of genius far above the ordinary.  The choice was counted as a happy one; but disappointment hid under all the expectations.  Consumption had set its sights on him, and he died on May 19th, 1865.  The following year, the church gave a call to Mr. Thomas Jones, Tabor, and he took over the care; he is still the minister here, and he has been very useful in the place.  In 1868, a decision was made to build a fine new chapel.  The debt on the old church had not been fully paid, but by the time the new chapel was built there was £800 of debt remaining, but by now it has been reduced to less than half of that. The chapel opened on March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 1869. During the time the chapel was down, part of the congregation worshipped in Tremadog town-hall. A Sunday school was held every Sunday morning, and preaching every afternoon and evening, and there was such enthusiasm for the services that the morning Sunday school and afternoon preaching continues; and in the evening everyone goes his own way. A Brytanic schoolroom belonging to Penmorfa was built near to Tremadog, and preaching and a Sunday school are still held now; and more than eighty children are educated. There is a great need for a chapel, even though nothing has yet been decided.  At the end of last year the Lord powerfully visited the place, when many were added to the numbers of the church.  One preacher was raised here, John Lloyd, who moved to Bangor, and before long emigrated to America, where he is a minister.

  

PENRHYNDEUDRAETH

(Llandecwyn parish, MER)

Mae y lle hwn yn ddaearyddol yn sir Feirionydd, ond y mae ei gysylltiad o'r dechreuad a Phorthmadog, a'i barhad yn nghyfundeb gorllewinol sir Gaernarfon yn ddigon o esgusawd dros ei osod i mewn yma. Yn y flwyddyn 1840, cymerodd Mr. Ambrose ystafell i addoli yma yn y Bont. Lle digon anghyfleus ydoedd, ond yr oedd y lle goreu a allesid gael ar y pryd. Cafwyd cynorthwy effeithiol gan Mr. Samuel Jones, Maentwrog, yn nghychwyniad yr achos yma, ond gostyngwyd ei nerth ef ar y ffordd, a chymerwyd ef ymaith yn nghanol ei obeithion a'i ddisgwyliadau. Adeiladwyd yma gapel yn y flwyddyn 1844. Nid oedd ond un bychan a diaddurn; ond yr oedd agos a bod yn ddiddyled pan agorwyd ef. Bu gwedd addawol iawn ar yr achos unwaith, ond trwy symudiadau mynych ysigwyd yr achos yn fawr. Cafwyd yma adfywiad grymus iawn ar yr achos yn 1859 a'r flwyddyn ganlynol, fel y barnwyd yn angenrheidiol cael capel newydd, ac agorwyd ef Hydref 22ain a'r 23ain, 1860. Yr oedd y lle o'r dechreuad mewn cysylltiad gweinidogaethol a Phenmorfa, ac felly parhaodd hyd derfyn gweinidogaeth Mr. Samuel Jones yn y ddau le yn 1861. Yn 1863, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John T. Lewis, o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Hydref 8fed, y flwyddyn hono. Nid arhosodd yma yn hir, symudodd i Rhesycae, ac oddiyno i America. Bu Mr. David Thomas, Beddgelert, yma dros vchydig, ond symudodd i Walkern, yn swydd Henffordd. Yn mis Tachwedd, 1865, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Edward Morris,

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Abererch, ac y mae blynyddoedd wedi profi fod y dewisiad yn un doeth. Mae Mr. Morris yn parhau yma yn ddefnyddiol. Cyfodwyd yma ddau bregethwr-

  • William Hughes. Brodor o Langwm ydoedd. Yr oedd yn fardd da, a gwelir darnau o'i waith yn yr hen gyhoeddiadau misol. Ymfudodd i America, ond ni bu byw ond ychydig wedi croesi y Werydd. Yr oedd yn wr ieuangc duwiolfrydig, ac yn meddu galluoedd uwchlaw y cyffredin, ond yn undonol yn ei ymadrodd.
  • William G. Williams. Bu yn athrofa Aberhonddu. Urddwyd ef yn Nhrawsfynydd, ac y mae yn awr yn Seion, Rhymni.

Geographically this place is in Merionethshire, but its connections from the start were with Porthmadog, and its continuation in the western union of Caernarfonshire is enough of an excuse to place it here.  In 1840,  Mr. Ambrose took a room in order to worship here in the Bont.  It was quite an inconvenient place, but it was the best place to be had at the time.  Mr. Samuel Jones, Maentwrog was very helpful to them, in the inception of the cause here, but his energy decreased on the way, and he was taken away amidst his hopes and expectations.  A chapel was built here in 1844.  It was only a small unadorned one;  but it was almost debt free when it opened.  At one time the cause was quite promising, but through many movements the cause was badly bruised.  In 1859 and the following year the cause experienced a powerful revival, so that it was felt necessary to have a new chapel, and it was opened on October 22nd and 23rd, 1860.  The place was from the start connected through its minister with Penmorfa, and so it continued in both places until the end of  Mr. Samuel Jones' ministry in 1861.  In 1863, a call was sent out to Mr. John T. Lewis, from Bala college, and he was ordained on October 8th, that year.  He did not stay here long, he moved to Rhesycae, and from there to America.   Mr. David Thomas, Beddgelert,  was here for a while,  but he moved to Walkern, in Herefordshire.   In November, 1865, a call was given to Mr. Edward Morris,

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Abererch, and the years have proved that this choice was a wise one. Mr. Morris continues here very usefully.

Two preachers were raised here-

  • William Hughes. Born in Llangwm, he was a good bard. He emigrated to America, but only lived a short time after crossing the Atlantic.
  • William G. Williams.  He was educated in Brecon college. He was ordained in Trawsfynydd, and is now in Seion, Rhymni.

 

  

BEDDGELERT

Bu pregethu yn achlysurol yn y pentref hwn yn gynar yn y ganrif bresenol, gan Meistri J. Griffith, Caernarfon; W. Hughes, Saron; D. Griffith, Bethel, ac eraill, ond nid aethant cyn belled yn mlaen a ffurfio eglwys. Wedi hyny, tua'r flwyddyn 1838, byddai Meistri O. Thomas, Talysarn, a W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, yn pregethu yn aml yma. Aethant hwy mor bell ag ardrethu ty yn y lle, a chynaliwyd pregethu rheolaidd yma am dymor, ond ni welsant hwythau eu ffordd yn glir ar y pryd i ffurfio eglwys. Yr oedd fod y lle gymaint o'r neilldu yn gwneyd yn anmhosibl ei gysylltu ag unrhyw eglwys arall, ac y mae yr anfantais hwnw yn parhau. Yr oedd yma amryw Annibynwyr yn y gymydogaeth, ond o ddiffyg moddion crefyddol wedi ymuno a'r Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, ond nid oedd pawb o honynt yn gallu gwneyd eu cartref yn dda iawn gyda hwy. Yn y flwyddyn 1850, gwnaed cynyg drachefn, a sicrhawyd darn o dir yn nghanol y pentref i godi capel arno. Gosodwyd y gareg sylfaen i lawr Gorphenaf 27ain, 1852, ac agorwyd y capel Ebrill 27ain a'r 28ain, 1853. Bu Mr. Ambrose a'r eglwys yn Mhorthmadog yn gefn mawr i'r achos yma. Casglwyd yn dda gan y gymydogaeth a'r wlad oddiamgylch at dalu y ddyled; ac aeth Mr. Ambrose am ychydig ddyddiau trwy sir Aberteifi, a chasglodd y 40p. oedd yn ngweddill fel y cafwyd y capel yn fuan yn rhydd o ddyled. Rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas L. Jones, o athrofa y Bala, i fod yn weinidog, ac urddwyd ef Mai 22ain, 1856. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. M. D. Jones, Bala; dyrchafwyd yr urddweddi gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. W. Ambrose, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. W. Rees, Liverpool. Ni bu tymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Jones yma yn hir. Symudodd i Machen, sir Fynwy, lle y mae yn aros mewn cymeradwyaeth a llwyddiant. Yn fuan wedi ei ymadawiad rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. Henry Lewis, Cwmbach, Aberdar. Byr fu ei arosiad yntau, symudodd i Blaenycoed, sir Gaerfyrddin. Ar ol bod am dymor yn amddifad, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Thomas, o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Ionawr 18fed, 1863. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffith, Portdinorwig; holwyd y gweinidog a dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. W. Ambrose; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. J. Peter, Bala, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon. Ni bu Mr. Thomas yma yn hir. Symudodd i'r Penrhyn, ac oddiyno i Walkern, ac y mae yn awr yn America. Nid oes yma ond eglwys a chynnulleidfa fechan, ond y mae yn nodedig o haelionus. Mae llawer o ddyeithriaid yn dyfod yma bob haf, yr hyn sydd yn gwneyd

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yn angenrheidiol fod yma bregethu yn Saesonaeg bob Sabboth dros y tymor hwnw; er mai nid bob amser y gellir cael hyny. Cyfodwyd yma un pregethwr, sef Edward Hughes, yr hwn sydd yn aros etto yn y lle.

Wrth adael Porthmadog a'r eglwysi a hanodd yn uniongyrchol o honi, nis gallwn lai na chyfeirio at y ffaith sydd mor eglur, fod Mr. Ambrose wedi gweithio yn egniol i eangu terfynau yr achos er y sefydlodd yn y lle; ac y mae wedi bod yn nodedig o lwyddianus i gael pobl ei ofal i gydweithio ag ef yn hyny. Pan yn 1847 y penodwyd ef yn un o'r Special Ministers for North Wales, yn ol ewyllys Dr. Daniel Williams, yn lle cadw yr arian iddo ei hun, y mae wedi eu rhoddi oll i gynorthwyo y weinidogaeth mewn lleoedd gweiniaid oddiamgylch, heblaw y symiau y mae yr eglwys dan ei ofal yn eu cyfranu yn flynyddol i'r un perwyl. Er nad yw ei iechyd a'i nerth y peth y bu unwaith, etto yr ydym yn gobeithio fod blynyddoedd lawer o ddefnyddioldeb yn ol iddo; a bod yr adeg yn mhell pan y gelwir ar neb i ysgrifenu ei fywgraphiad; ond pa bryd bynag y daw, hyny nis gellir ei ysgrifenu yn gyflawn heb iddo gynwys engreifftiau o'i " ofal dros yr holl eglwysi" yn y rhanbarth o'r wlad lle y trefnodd rhagluniaeth " derfynau ei breswylfod," dros gynifer o flynyddoedd.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (June 2009)

Messrs J. Griffith, Caernarfon; W. Hughes, Saron; D. Griffith, Bethel and others preached occasionally in this village early in this century, but they did not go as far as forming a church.  After that, about 1838, Messrs O. Thomas, Talysarn, and W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, preached here often.  They went as far as renting a house in the place, and regular preaching was held here for a while, but they did not form a church at that time.  It was probably because the place was so far off the beaten track which made it impossible to connect it with any other church, and it still has that  disadvantage. There were several Independents in the district, but because there was a lack of religious means they had joined the Calfinist Methodists, but not everyone was able to feel at home with them.  In 1850, an attempt was made again, and a piece of land was secured in the middle of the village in order to build a chapel.  The foundation stone was placed on July 27th, 1852, and the chapel was opened on April 27th and 28th, 1853.  Mr. Ambrose and the church in Porthmadog were a great support to this cause. The community collected well around the country to pay the debt; and Mr. Ambrose went through Ceredigion for a few days and collected the £40 that was remaining so that the chapel was soon free of debt.  A call went out to Mr. Thomas L. Jones, from Bala college, to be a minister, and he was ordained on May 22nd, 1856.  On the occasion Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon, preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by  Mr. M. D. Jones, Bala; Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel gave the ordination prayer; Mr. W. Ambrose preached to the minister, and Mr. W. Rees, Liverpool to the church. Mr. Jones wasn't here long. He moved to Machen, Monmouthshire, where he is successful and well praised. Soon after he left the church gave a call to Mr. Henry Lewis, Cwmbach, Aberdare.  His stay was also short when he noved to Blaenycoed, Carmarthenshire.  After being without a minister for a while, a call was sent out to Mr. David Thomas, from Bala college, and he was ordained in January 18th, 1863.  On the occasion Mr. D. Griffith, Portdinorwig, preached on the nature of the church; Mr. W. Ambrose asked the minister the questions and gave the ordination prayer; Mr. J. Peter, Bala preached to the minister, and Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon preached to the church.  Mr. Thomas wasn't here long.  He moved to Penrhyn, and from there to Walkern, and he is now in America.  There is just a small congregation, but it is notably generous.  Many strangers come here every summer, which makes

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it essential that there is preaching in English every Sunday over that period; even though that is not always possible.  One preacher was raised here, he was Edward Hughes, who is still in the place.

As we leave Porthmadog and the churches that issued directly from it, we cannot fail to refer to this clear fact, that Mr. Ambrose has worked energetically to widen the horizons of the cause he established in the place; and he has been notably successful to persuade the people under his care to work with him.  When, in 1847 he was appointed as one of the Special Ministers for North Wales, according to the will of Dr. Daniel Williams, rather than keeping the money for himself, he has given it all to support the ministry in places that serve the area, besides sums of money that the church under his care has donated annually for that reason. Even though his health and energy is not as it used to be, yet we hope that there are many years of usefulness left to him; and that there will be a long time before anyone is called upon to write his biography; but whenever it comes,  it will not be completely written without including examples of his "care over all the churches" in the district of the country where his providence has been arranged "the boundaries of his dwelling place," over so many years.

  

TALYSARN

(Llanllyfni parish)

Ymddengys mai un Michael Owens, aelod o eglwys Penlan, Pwllheli, oedd y cyntaf i broffesu egwyddorion Annibyniaeth yn y gymydogaeth hon. Arferai ddyfod yma i weithio ar hyd yr wythnos a myned adref dros y Sabboth. Bernir fod hyn mor foreu a'r flwyddyn 1790. Yr oedd trigolion yr ardal yma y pryd hwnw, fel y rhan fwyaf o ardaloedd Cymru, yn isel mewn gwybodaeth ac yn llygredig eu moesau, a theimlai Michael Owens yn ddwfn dros eu sefyllfa resynol. Arferai bob canol dydd fyned gyda'i gydweithwyr i Hen Chwimsi perthynol i Gloddfa'r Coed, lle y gweithiai, i giniaw; ac ar ol bwyta ei damaid cymerai ei Feibl a darllenai bennod o hono, ac yna plygai ar ei liniau i weddio. Dirmygid a gwawdid ef gan y rhan fwyaf o'r gweithwyr ar y dechreu; ond o'r diwedd cafodd hyny o wasanaeth, a'i grefyddolder yntau, y fath ddylanwad ar ei gydweithwyr fel na fynent fyned at eu gwaith ar ol ciniaw heb yr addoliad crefyddol. Ymgasglai eraill heblaw y gweithwyr yno ar yr awr fel. y daeth yn gynnulleidfa llawer o bobl i glywed yr hen Ddisenters, fel ei gelwid, yn gweddio. Ni bu y cynnulliadau hyn heb eu heffeithiau daionus ac nid y lleiaf o honynt oedd ddarfod iddynt fod yn arweiniad i mewn i wasanaeth mwy sefydlog a chyhoeddus. Gwahoddwyd Meistri George Lewis, Caernarfon, a B. Jones, Pwllheli, yma i bregethu, y rhai a ymwelasant a'r lle amryw weithiau. Ar ol dyfodiad Mr. J. Griffith i Caernarfon cafwyd yma bregethu yn fwy rheolaidd, a chynorthwyid Mr. Griffith gan Mr. W. Hughes, Brynbeddau, yr hwn a fu yn efengylwr teithiol yn y sir am flynyddoedd lawer. Pregethodd y ddau lawer yma, fynychaf yn yr awyr agored. Yn yr Evangelical Magazine am 1815, tudalen 78, ceir y crybwylliad a ganlyn: -  "Wrth weled y bobl yn gyffredinol yn anghrefyddol, ac yn amddifad o foddion gras, tueddid Mr. Griffith i bregethu iddynt yn yr awyr agored, hyd nes o'r diwedd y trefnodd Rhagluniaeth iddynt le o addoliad. Yr oedd gweithfa wlan (woollen factory) wedi ei hadeiladu yn y gymydogaeth, ond oherwydd rhyw resymau gwelodd y cwmni yn briodol i symud, a thueddodd yr Arglwydd eu calonau i roddi

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yr adeilad i fyny at bregethu ynddi, a hyny ar les hir, ac ar delerau rhesymol. Llafuriodd Mr. Griffith a'i gynorthwywyr yma ar ol hyn am ddeng mlynedd mor aml ag y caniatai amgylchiadau, hyd nes o'r diwedd y gwelodd Mr. Griffith yn angenrheidiol i gael gweinidog sefydlog yn y lle i gadw ysgol ac i bregethu yn rheolaidd bob Sabboth."

Gallem feddwl mai yn y flwyddyn 1802 y dechreuwyd addoli yn yr hen factory; oblegid bu Mr. Griffith, Caernarfon, a'i gynorthwywyr yn cyrchu yma am ddeng mlynedd; ac yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1812, gwahoddwyd Mr. David Griffiths, mab y Blowty, yn Lleyn, ac aelod yn y Capelnewydd, i ddyfod yma i bregethu a chadw ysgol. Llafuriodd yn ddiwyd am yn agos i dair blynedd, ac yna rhoddwyd galwad iddo gan yr ychydig aelodau yn y lle. Nid oeddynt ond deuddeg mewn nifer, chwech o ddynion a chwech o fenywod, a'r rhan fwyaf o'r rhai hyny wedi eu dychwelyd at grefydd yn ystod y tair blynedd y bu yn llafurio yn y lle. Urddwyd Mr. Griffiths Hydref 14eg, 1814, ac ar yr achlysur gweinyddwyd gan Meistri B. Jones, Pwllheli; J. Griffith, Caernarfon; 0. Thomas, Carog, a W. Jones, Salem. * Daliodd Mr. Griffiths i lafurio yma yn ddyfal, ac er fod ei gyflog yn fechan a'i deulu yn lluosog, er hyny nid ymollyngodd. Rhoddodd yr ysgol ddyddiol i fyny er ymroddi yn llwyrach i bregethu, ond profodd hyny yn brofedigaeth iddo yn ei amgylchiadau. Pregethai yn Glynymeibion, ar ochr mynydd y Cilgwyn, ac yn Llwynbedw, ar ochr mynydd Llanllyfni; a phregethodd lawer mewn gwahanol dai yn nghymdogaeth Drwsycoed. Yn y flwyddyn 1822, penderfynwyd helaethu yr hen gapel, a'i wneyd yn llawer mwy cyfleus. Agorwyd ef Hydref 16eg a'r 17eg, y flwyddyn hono. +  Yr oedd Pisgah wedi ei adeiladu y flwyddyn cyn hyny, a chodwyd Nazareth y flwyddyn ar ol hyny, yr hyn a ddengys nad oedd Mr. Griffiths na segur na diffrwyth yn ei weinidogaeth. Bu yma hyd y flwyddyn 1830, pryd y symudodd i Bethesda, ac yr ymgymerodd a siop fechan; ond pregethai bob Sabboth er nad oedd gofal eglwysig arno yn y tymor hwnw. Cyn hir wedi ymadawiad Mr. Griffiths, daeth Mr. Isaac Harries yma o athrofa Neuaddlwyd, ac urddwyd ef yn weinidog yn Talysarn a Pisgah. Yr oedd Isaac Harries yn ddyn ffraeth a doniol, ac yn llawn o ryw fath o weithgarwch. Yn ei dymor ef y codwyd capeli yn Drwsycoed a Phenygroes, ac yr oedd ei hylithrwydd fel traddodwr yn tynu cynnulleidfaoedd lluosog i'w wrando. Pe buasai ei fuchedd yn cyfateb i'w dalentau gallasai fod yn ddyn defnyddiol iawn; ond yr oedd yn gymeriad llygredig ac annuwiol. Ymgymerai ag anturiaethau masnachol, a llwyddai trwy ei gyfrwystra i fyned dros ben pobl ddiniwed am eu harian, ac nid oedd ynddo onestrwydd a geirwiredd i gwblhau ei ymrwymiadau. Yr oedd yn un o'r cymeriadau gwaethaf yn mhob ystyr a fu erioed yn ymlusgo wrth y weinidogaeth. Bu yma o gylch pedair blynedd, ond symudodd yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1836 i'r Mynyddbach, gerllaw Abertawy; lle fel y gwelsom y gwnaeth hafog ar un o'r hen eglwysi parchusaf a fedd ein henwad. Treuliodd yr ugain mlynedd olaf o'i oes gyda gwehilion cymdeithas yn y brifddinas, ac y mae ei ddiwedd yn engraifft alarus o ddiwedd truenus pregethwr annuwiol! Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Isaac Harries rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Owen Thomas, o Rydlydan, sir Ddinbych, ac. urddwyd ef Rhagfyr 7fed, 1836. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. W. Jones, Pwllheli. Holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; dyrchafwyd yr urddweddi gan Mr.

* Evengelical Magazine, 1815, Tudal, 78.  + Dysgedydd, 1823, Tudal. 25.

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W. Hughes, Saron; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. E. Davies, Trawsfynydd, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. W. Williams, Caernarfon.* Llafuriodd Mr. Thomas yn ddiwyd yn Talysarn, Pisgah, a Phenygroes, a bu am yspaid yn myned yn fisol i Drwsycoed, hyd nes yr urddwyd Mr. George, Rhydero, yno. Yn ei amser ef hefyd y codwyd capel y Foel. Cafwyd yma ddiwygiad grymus yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1839 a'r flwyddyn ganlynol. Symudodd Mr. Thomas oddiyma i Dalybont, sir Aberteifi, yn Mawrth 1846. Aeth pedair blynedd ar ol hyny heibio heb i'r eglwysi unedig yma sefydlu ar weinidog, er iddynt yn y cyfamser siarad am lawer; a theimlodd yr achos yn fawr oddiwrth yr amddifadrwydd. Rhoddodd Talysarn a Drwsycoed alwyd i Mr. David Jones, myfyriwr o athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef Gorphenaf 25ain, 1850. Ar yr achlysur gweinyddwyd gan Meistri D. Griffith, Bethel; D. Roberts, Caernarfon; E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi; W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; D. Davies, Pantteg, ac eraill. Nid oedd nifer yr aelodau yma ar sefydliad Mr. Jones ond deg-ar-hugain, ond cynyddasant i driugain cyn ei ymadawiad. Derbyniodd alwad o'r Drewen, sir Aberteifi, a symudodd yno yn niwedd Ebrill, 1853, ac y mae er's blynyddau bellach wedi ymfudo i America.  Wedi bod dair blynedd drachefn heb weinidog rhoddodd y ddwy eglwys alwad i Mr. Edward W. Jones, o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Mai 21ain, 1856.  Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffith (ieu.), Bethel. Holwyd y gofyniadau gan  Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi. Dyrchafwyd yr urddweddi gan Mr. D. Griffith, (hynaf,) Bethel.  Pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon. Bu Mr. Jones yma yn ddefnyddiol am bymtheng mlynedd. Nid oedd rhif yr aelodau uwchlaw deg-ar-hugain ar ei sefydliad, ond yr oeddynt yn gant-a-deg-ar-hugain ar ei ymadawiad. Bu llawer o son am gael capel newydd, oblegid fod yr hen yn adfeiliedig iawn, heblaw fod mewn lle hollol anghyfleus, ond cyfodai rhyw rwystrau beunydd. Ond yn y flwyddyn 1861, cafwyd addewid am le cyfleus yn Llechillyfnion, ar ystad Coed Madog, a chodwyd capel hardd gwerth 750p. Agorwyd ef Awst 20fed,.1862, a thrwy ddiwydrwydd a dyfalbarhad yr ysgol Sabbothol yn benaf y mae y ddyled yn toddi yn gyflym. Ymfudodd Mr. Jones i America, yn haf 1871. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1872, rhoddwyd galwad Mr. Evan G. Jones, yr hwn a fu yn weinidog yn Treorci, sir Forganwg, ac efe yw y gweinidog presenol.

Codwyd yma un pregethwr, sef Caleb Williams, brodor o Lanengan, Lleyn, ac y mae yn awr yn fyfyriwr yn athrofa Nottingham. +

It appears that one Michael Owens, a member from Penlan church, Pwllheli, was the first to profess the principles of the  Independents in this area.  He used to come here to work during the week and went home over the Sabbath.  It is considered that this could have been as early on as 1790.  The inhabitants of this district at that time, as in most of the areas of Wales, were of low intelligence and their morals were polluted, and Michael Owens felt deeply for their wretched condition. At midday he used to go with his co-workers to Hen Chwimsi which belonged to Gloddfa'r Coed, where he worked, to have his lunch; and after eating he would take his Bible and read a chapter from it, and then he would go on his knees to pray. At the beginning he was despised and scorned by most of the workers; but in the end this little service, and his piety, had such an influence on his co-workers that they would not go back to work after lunching without their usual religious worship.  Others, apart from the workers, collected there on the hour so that they became a congregation to listen to the old Descentors, as they were called, praying.  These get togethers always had a good effect and one of the most important was for them to lead to a more established and public service.  Messrs George Lewis, Caernarfon, and B. Jones, Pwllheli, were invited here to preach, and they visited many times.  After Mr. J. Griffith came to Caernarfon preaching occurred here more regularly, and Mr. Griffith was assisted by Mr. W. Hughes, Brynbeddau, who had been a travelling evangelist in the county for many years. They preached here a lot, usually in the open air. In the Evangelical Magazine for 1815, page 78, there is this mention: -  "Seeing that the people were generally unreligious, and deprived  of the means of grace, Mr. Griffith tended to preach to them in the open air, until in the end Providence arranged a place of worship for them.  A woollen factory had been built in the community, but for some reason the company decided to move, and the Lord persuaded their hearts to give

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the building for preaching, on a long lease, and on reasonable terms.  Mr. Griffith and his supporters laboured here after this for ten years as often as occasion allowed, until in the end Mr. Griffith found it essential to have a settled minister in the place to hold a school and to preach regularly every Sunday."

We believe that it was in 1802 that worship started in the old factory; because Mr. Griffith, Caernarfon, and his assistants came here for ten years; and at the beginning of 1812, Mr. David Griffiths, the son of 'y Blowty', in Lleyn, and a member in Capelnewydd, was invited to come here to preach and hold a school.  He laboured busily for close on three years, and then was given the call by the few members in the place.  They were only twelve in number, six men and six women, and most of those had returned to their religion during the three years he laboured in the place.  Mr. Griffiths was ordained on October 14th, 1814, and on that occasion Messrs B. Jones, Pwllheli; J. Griffith, Caernarfon; 0. Thomas, Carog, and W. Jones, Salem officiated. * Mr. Griffiths continued to labour here diligently, and even though his pay was little and his family was large he did not give in.  He gave up the day school in order to concentrate on preaching, but it gave him great trouble in his condition. He preached in Glynymeibion, on the side of Cilgwyn mountain, and in Llwynbedw, on the side of Llanllyfni mountain; and he preached many times in different houses in the Drwsycoed community.  In the year 1822, it was decided to extend the old chapel, and make it far more convenient. It was opened on October 16th and 17th, that year. +  Pisgah had been built the year before that, and Nazareth the year after that, which shows that Mr. Griffiths wasn't idle nor unfruitful in his ministry. He was here until 1830, when he moved to Bethesda, and he undertook the care of a small shop; but he preached every Sunday even though he didn't have the care of a church during that time.  Soon after Mr. Griffiths left,  Mr. Isaac Harries came here from Neuaddlwyd college, and he was ordained as minister in Talysarn and Pisgah.  Isaac Harries was a witty and funny man, and full of some kind of activity.  During his time here the chapels in Drwsycoed and Penygroes were built, and his eloquence as a speaker attracted congregations in their multitudes to listen to him. Had his life corresponded with his talents he could have been a very useful man; but he was a corrupt and ungodly character. He undertook some trading adventures, and he succeeded in a  cunning way to go over the heads of harmless people for their money, and he did not have in him an honesty or truthfulness to complete his engagements.  He was one of the worst characters in every meaning of the word that ever crawled through his ministery. He was here for about four years, but he moved at the beginning of 1836 to Mynyddbach, near Swansea; where, as we saw he played havoc with one of the most respected churches that our denomination has.  He spent the last twenty years of his life with the dregs of society in the capital city, and his end is a miserable example of the sad end of an ungodly minister! After  Mr. Isaac Harries left a call was sent out to Mr. Owen Thomas, from Rhydlydan, Denbighshire, and he was ordained on December 7th, 1836.  On that occasion Mr. W. Jones, Pwllheli preached on the nature of the church. The questions were asked by Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; Mr. W. Hughes, Saron gave the ordination prayer;

* Evengelical Magazine, 1815, page, 78.  + Dysgedydd, 1823, page. 25.

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Mr. E. Davies, Trawsfynydd, preached on the duty of the minister, and Mr. W. Williams, Caernarfon on the duty of the churches.*  Mr. Thomas laboured diligently in Talysarn, Pisgah, and Penygroes, and he spent a while going to Drwsycoed monthly, until Mr. George, Rhydero, was ordained there.  During his time there the Foel chapel was built.  A powerful revival occurred here at the end of 1839 and the following year.  Mr. Thomas moved from here to Talybont, Ceredigion, in March 1846.  Four years went by after that without the joint churches here settling on a minister, even though they spoke about many in the meantime; and the cause felt deeply about the deprivation.  Talysarn and Drwsycoed gave a call to Mr. David Jones, a student from  Carmarthen college, and he was ordained on July 25th, 1850. On this occasion Messrs D. Griffith, Bethel; D. Roberts, Caernarfon; E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi; W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; D. Davies, Pantteg, and others officiated.  There were just thirty members here on the occasion of Mr Jones' ordination, but they had increased to sixty by the time he left.  He accepted a call from  Drewen, Ceredigion, and moved there at the end of April, 1853, and years ago he emigrated to America.  Having been without a minister for three years again the two churches gave a call to Mr. Edward W. Jones, from Bala college, and he was ordained on  May 21st, 1856.  On this occasion Mr. D. Griffith (the younger), Bethel, preached on the nature of the church. The questions were asked by Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi.  The ordination prayer was given by Mr. D. Griffith, (the elder,) Bethel.  Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, preached on the duty of the minister, and Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon, on the duty of the churches.  Mr. Jones was here usefully for fifteen years.  The number of members did not exceed thirty on his ordination, but there were one hundred and thirty when he left.  There was much talk about a new chapel, since the old one was in bad repair,  despite being in a very inconvenient place, but some hindrance was raised all the time. But in 1861, a promise was made for a convenient place in  Llechillyfnion, on the Coed Madog estate, and a fine chapel was raised worth £750.  It was opened on August 20th,1862, and through the diligence and perseverance the Sunday school mainly the debt is dissolving quickly.  Mr. Jones emigrated to America, in the summer of 1871. Before the end of the year 1872, a call was given to Mr. Evan G. Jones, who was a minister in Treorci,  Glamorganshire, and he is the present minister.

One preacher was raised here; Caleb Williams, from Lanengan, Lleyn, and he is now a student in Nottingham college. +

*Dysgedydd 1837. Tudal 65.        + Ysgrif Mr. E. W. Jones, Dysgedydd, 1871. Tudal. 48.

 

PISGAH

(Llandwrog parish )

Dechreuwyd yr achos yma gan Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn, o gylch y flwyddyn 1820. Deuai Mr. Griffith, Bethel, hefyd yma yn aml. Pregethid mewn amaethdy o'r enw Glynymeibion, ac hefyd yn Penbrynhafoty, ac weithiau yn yr awyr agored. Ar un prydnhawn Sabboth ar ddiwrnod poeth, pregethai Mr. Griffith, Bethel, yn yr awyr agored, ac ar ddiwedd yr oedfa ymddangosai, er cryfed ydoedd, fel wedi diffygio, a dywedodd John Rowlands, Penbrynhafoty, un o'r gwrandawyr wrtho, na chai ladd

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ei hun felly trwy orfod pregethu allan, y mynai ef adeiladu capel iddynt; a rhoddodd iddynt dir i'r perwyl yn rhad. Adeiladwyd y capel y flwyddyn ganlynol, ac agorwyd ef Hydref 22ain, 1821. Yr oedd William Hughes, Buarth, a John Jones, Bwlchyllyn, yn aelodau yn Nhalysarn, ond ymunasant a'r achos yma ar ei gychwyniad a buont yn ffyddlawn iddo. Bu y lle mewn cysylltiad a Thalysarn hyd derfyn tymor gweinidogaeth Mr. O. Thomas yn 1846. Am bedair blynedd ar ol hyny bu yn dibynu ar weinidogion eglwysi eraill, a phregethwyr cynorthwyol. Rhoddwyd galwad gan yr eglwys hon a'r eglwysi yn Mhenygroes a'r Foel i Mr. Samuel Jones, ac urddwyd ef Medi 10fed, 1850. Bu graddau o lwyddiant ar ei lafur, lluosogodd yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa; ac ailadeiladwyd y capel yn dy harddach a helaethach. Ymadawodd oddiyma i Benmorfa yn y flwyddyn 1854. Yn mhen dwy flynedd rhoddwyd galwad gan Pisgah a Phenygroes i Mr. Evan J. Evans, myfyriwr o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Mai 12fed, (Sulgwyn,) 1856. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon. Holwyd y gofyniadau a dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. J. Roberts, Llanerchymedd. Pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. W. Jones, Amlwch, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. W. Ambrose. Llafuriodd Mr. Evans yma yn ddiwyd am un-mlynedd-ar-bymtheg, hyd nes y derbyniodd alwad o Berea a Phenmynydd, Mon, ac y symudodd yno yn Mawrth, 1872. Adeiladwyd y capel drachefn yn y flwyddyn 1861 trwy draul o 400p. Mae yr achos yma ar y cyfan wedi bod yn siriol bob amser, a'r eglwys yn unol a heddychol, a llawer o gynesrwydd teimlad o'i mewn. Cafwyd yma adfywiadau grymus yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Thomas, yn y blynyddoedd 1839-40, ac yn mhen ugain mlynedd wedi hyny yn adeg gweinidogaeth Mr. Evans. Coffeir am gyfarfodydd gweddi nodedig a geid yma yn nechreuad yr achos, ac wedi hyny yn y ddau dymor o ddiwygiad a gafwyd. Yn nechreuad yr achos nid oedd yma ddim ond tri i gael i weddio, dau frawd ac un chwaer. Byddai William Hughes yn dechreu, a dilynid ef gan Beti Pritchard, Plas Trallwm, a dybenid gan John Jones; ac y mae yr argraff a gafodd gweddiau Beti Pritchard yn aros ar rai yn yr ardal hyd y dydd hwn.* Yn y diwygiad yn ngauaf 1839, byddai cyfarfod gweddi yn cael ei gynal yn y capel yn y boreu cyn myned i'r gloddfa, ac nid anghofir y teimladau a fwynheid ynddynt.

Codwyd yma i bregethu-

  • David Griffith. Mae ef yn awr mewn cysylltiad a'r achos yn y Foel.
  • William W. Jones. Mae ef yn aros yn bregethwr cynorthwyol yn yr eglwys.

Bu Ellis Thomas, Pisgah, yn bregethwr cynorthwyol am lawer o flynyddoedd, ond nid ydym wedi cael gwybodaeth pa le y dechreuodd bregethu, nac unrhyw fanylion am hanes ei fywyd.

This cause was started by Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn, around 1820.  Mr. Griffith, Bethel, also came here often.  Preaching took place in a farmhouse called Glynymeibion, and also in Penbrynhafoty, and sometimes in the open air.  On one Sunday afternoon on a hot day,  Mr. Griffith, Bethel, preached in the open air, and at the end of the service he appeared, despite his strength, as if he was failing, and John Rowlands, Penbrynhafoty, one of the listeners told him, that he shouldn't kill himself

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having to preach outside, he was determined to build a chapel for them; and he gave them land for the purpose for very little money. The chapel was built the following year, and it opened on October 22nd, 1821.  William Hughes, Buarth, and John Jones, Bwlchyllyn,  were members in Talysarn, but they joined the cause here when it started and were faithful to it. The place was connected with Talysarn until the end of Mr. O. Thomas' term here in1846. For four years after this they depended on the ministers of other chapels, and lay preachers.  A call was given by this church and the churches in Penygroes and the Foel to Mr. Samuel Jones, and he was ordained on September 10th, 1850. His labour enjoyed degrees of success, the church and the congregation multiplied; and the chapel was rebuilt into a bigger more beautiful chapel.  He left from here for Penmorfa in the year 1854.  Within two years a call was sent out by Pisgah and Penygroes to Mr. Evan J. Evans, a student from the college at  Bala, and he was ordained on May 12th, (Whitsun,) 1856. On that occasion Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon preached on the nature of the church.  The questions were asked and the ordination prayer given by Mr. J. Roberts, Llanerchymedd. Mr. W. Jones, Amlwch preached about the duty of the minister, and Mr. W. Ambrose preached about the duty of churches.  Mr. Evans laboured here diligently for sixteen years, until he accepted a call from Berea and Penmynydd, Anglesey, and he moved there in March, 1872. The chapel was rebuilt again in 1861 at a cost of £400. The cause here has, on the whole, always been pleasant, and the church united and peaceful, and lots of warm feelings abide inside.  There was a powerful revival in the term of Mr Thomas' ministry, in the years 1839-40, and within twenty years after that during the time of Mr. Evans' ministry.  Some notable prayer meetings that were held here at the beginning of the cause are well remembered, and after that during the two occasions of the revival.  When the cause started there were only three available to pray, two brothers and one sister. William Hughes would start,  followed by Beti Pritchard, Plas Trallwm, and John Jones would end; and the impression that Beti Pritchard's prayers had has stayed in the minds of the people of the area till this day.*  During the revival of the winter of  1839, the prayer meetings would be held in the chapel in the morning before going to the quarry, and the feelings that they experienced during them were not forgotten.

Raised to preach here-

David Griffith.  He is now connected with the cause in the Foel.

William W. Jones. He is still an assistant preacher in the church.

Ellis Thomas, Pisgah, was an assistant preacher for many years, but we have not received information as to where he started preaching, nor any details about his history.

* Mr. W. W. Jones' letter.

 

NAZARETH

(Llanllyfni parish)

Mae y lle hwn ar ochr mynydd Llanllyfni. Dechreuwyd pregethu yma mewn lle o'r enw Llwynbedw, gan Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn. Adeiladwyd y capel cyntaf yma yn y flwyddyn 1823, ac agorwyd ef Gorphenaf 4ydd, y flwyddyn hono. Yr oedd baich o ddyled arno pan agorwyd ef, a pharhaodd yn faich mor drwm nes y bu yn mron a llethu yr achos.

* Llythyr Mr. W. W. Jones.

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Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Griffiths darfu y cysylltiad rhwng y lle a Thalysarn, ac ni bu yma yr un gweinidog sefydlog am dymor hir, er i lawer fod yma yn aros dros ychydig. Yr oedd rhyw elfenau yn y lle oedd yn milwrio yn fawr yn erbyn llwyddiant yr achos. Yn y flwyddyn 1844, unodd yr eglwys hon a'r eglwysi yn Pantglas a Sardis i roddi galwad i Mr. Richard W. Roberts, ac urddwyd ef yma, ond ni bu ei arosiad ond byr. Derbyniodd alwad o Clarach a Salem, sir Aberteifi, a symudodd yno. Yn y fiwyddyn 1857, daeth Mr. John Morgan yma i gadw ysgol ac i ofalu am yr achos oedd wedi myned erbyn hyn yn isel iawn. Nid oedd ond tri dyn yn y lle. Yr oedd y capel yn adfaeliedig, a dyled drom arno, a'r llôg yn rhedeg heb ei dalu. Ymaflodd Mr. Morgan yn y gwaith o ddifrif - adgyweiriwyd y capel, mynwyd gweithred ac ymddiriedolwyr newyddion, talwyd y llôgau oedd wedi rhedeg, a thalwyd l00p. o'r ddyled, am y rhai yr oedd Mr. Griffith, Bethel, yn gyfrifol. Cafwyd adfywiad grymus pan yr ychwanegwyd rhai ugeiniau at yr eglwys. Ymadawodd Mr. Morgan oddiyma i sir Aberteifi, yn 1866. Wedi dyfod yn rhydd o ddyled adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd yr hwn a gostiodd fwy na 700p. Yr oedd yn rhy gostfawr i amgylchiadau yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa; ond y mae cydymdrech yn cael ei wneyd yn awr i ysgafnhau y baich. Agorwyd y capel Gorphenaf 2i1 a'r 3ydd, 1867. Mae yma boblogaeth fawr, ac y mae yr hyn a wnaed mewn rhai adegau yma yn profi y gellid cael yma achos da, ond cael gweinidog cymwys i'r lle. Yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1867, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Davies, aelod o Coedpoeth, gerllaw Wrexham, ac urddwyd ef Ionawr 10fed, 1868. Nid arosodd yma ond ychydig, gwaelodd ei iechyd, ac y mae yn awr yn byw yn Nhrefriw, ac yn pregethu lle y gelwir am ei wasanaeth. Codwyd yma un pregethwr, sef Daniel Roberts, yr hwn sydd yn awr yn Llanberis.

This place is on the side of Llanllyfni mountain. Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn started preaching here in a place called Llwynbedw.  The first chapel was built here in 1823, and it was opened on July 4th, that year.  There was a burden of debt when it was opened, and it continued to be such a heavy burden that it nearly overpowered the cause.

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After Mr. Griffiths left, the connection between this place and Talysarn came to an end, and there wasn't a settled minister here for a long time, even though many stayed here for a while. There were some elements in the place which mitigated greatly against the success of the cause.  In 1844, this church united with the churches in Pantglas and Sardis to call Mr. Richard W. Roberts, and he was ordained here, but his stay was short.  He accepted a call from  Clarach and Salem, Ceredigion, and moved there. In 1857, Mr. John Morgan came here to run the school and to care for the cause that had decreased a lot.  There were only three men in the place. The chapel was in ruins, with a heavy debt, and the interest was still running and not being paid.  Mr. Morgan wrestled seriously with the work - the chapel was repaired, he insisted on new trustees and workers, paid the interest that was running, and paid £l00 of the debt, for the ones Mr. Griffith, Bethel, was responsible for. A powerful revival occurred which added some scores to the church.  Mr. Morgan left here for Ceredigion, in 1866.  Once they were free of debt a new chapel was built here which cost more than £700.  It was too costly for the church's circumstances and those of the congregation; but there is a joint effort being made now to lighten the burden. The chapel was opened on July 2nd and 3rd, 1867.  There is a large population here, and what is being done here at some times proves that a good cause is possible, if a minister who is suitable for the place can be obtained.  At the end of 1867, a call was sent to Mr. John Davies, a member from Coedpoeth, near to Wrexham, and he was ordained on January 10th, 1868.  He stayed here for a short while only, his health failed, and he now lives in Trefriw, and preaches when his service is called for.  One preacher was raised here: Daniel Roberts, who is now in Llanberis

 

PANTGLAS

Translation on /big/wal/CAE/ClynnogVawr/Hanes

Mae y lle hwn yn mhlwyf Clynogfawr, ar ochr y ffordd o Gaernarfon i Borthmadog. Agorwyd yma gapel bychan y Mawrth a'r Mercher cyntaf yn 1837. Nid yw ond achos bychan, fel llin yn mygu o'r dechreuad, ac y mae wedi cael colledion mawrion trwy fynych symudiadau. Mae y lle wedi bod bob amser mewn cysylltiad a Nazareth, ac yn mwynhau yr un weinidogaeth. Bu ei ddyled yn faich trwm am dymor hir, ac ymdrech fawr a fu raid wneyd i ddyfod yn rhydd o honi. Yr oedd Mr. Jones, Abermaw, a Mr. Ellis, Brithdir, yn gyfrifol am y ddyled, a bu raid iddynt fyned oddiamgylch i gasglu i'w thalu; a bu Mr. John Morgan yn yr adeg y bu yma, yn llawer o help tuag at hyny. Yn ei amser ef hefyd yr adgyweiriwyd pen y capel, a thrwy ffyddlondeb y chwarelwyr yn gweithio yn rhad ar hyd y nos y gwnaed llawr newydd iddo. Yma y dechreuodd Thoma Jones bregethu, yr hwn er's blynyddau bellach sydd wedi ymfudo i America.

  

DRWSYCOED

(Llanllyfni parish)

Er fod pregethu yn achlysurol yn y gymydogaeth yma er dyddiau gweinidogaeth Mr. D. Griffiths, etto yn y flwyddyn 1836, pan oedd Mr. Isaac Harries yn weinidog yn Nhalysarn, yr adeiladwyd yma gapel. Yr oedd gweithiau mwn yn cael eu hagor yma y pryd hwnw, a bernid y deuai yma boblogaeth fawr. Agorwyd y cape]. Awst 30ain a'r 31am, 1836.

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Nid oedd yr achos yma ond gwan y pryd hwnw, ac felly y parhaodd yn hir. Siomwyd disgwyliadau llawer gyda golwg ar weithiau mwn yr ardal, er iddynt droi yn fwy llwyddianus ar ol hyny. Yr oedd Mr. O. Thomas, Talysarn, yn dyfod yma yn fisol, ond yr oedd amledd yr eglwysi dan ei ofal yn ei atal i roddi mwy o'i lafur i'r achos bychan hwn. Bu yma un o'r enw David Davies a ddaethai i'r lle o sir Ddinbych, ac yr oedd yn bregethwr cynorthwyol, yn ffyddlon yn ol ei amgylchiadau. Yn y flwyddyn 1839, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. George, Rhydero, ac urddwyd ef Rhagfyr l9eg, y flwyddyn hono. Bu ef yma yn gwneyd ei oreu hyd nes yr ymgymerodd yn 1845 a chario yr achos yn mlaen yn Rhosnenan. Er y flwyddyn 1850, a sefydliad Mr. D. Jones yn Talysarn, y mae y ddwy eglwys wedi bod mewn cysylltiad a'u gilydd, a than yr un weinidogaeth. Yn 1856 codwyd yma gapel newydd, ac y mae yma gynnulleidfa gref ac eglwys heddychol a gweithgar. Buasai yn dda genym roddi hanes manylach, ond gan nad anfonwyd i ni ddefnyddiau nid oes genym ond dyweyd yr hyn a wyddom oddiar ein hadnabyddiaeth bersonol o'r ardal. Nid ydym yn gwybod am ond un pregethwr a godwyd yma, sef Howell R. Jones, yr hwn a urddwyd yn Hebron, Lleyn, ac sydd yn awr wedi ymfudo i America.

Even though occasional preaching occurred in this community since the days of Mr. D. Griffiths' ministry, yet it was in the year 1836, when Mr. Isaac Harries was the minister in Talysarn, that a chapel was built here.  There were mineral works being opened here at that time, and a great population was expected to come here.  The chapel was opened on August 30th and 31st, 1836.

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The cause was quite weak at that time, and that is how it continued for a long time.  Many people's expectations were disappointed considering the mineral works in the area, even though they did become more successful after that.  Mr. O. Thomas, Talysarn, came here monthly, but the great number of churches under his care prevented him from giving more of his labour to this little cause.  There was one David Davies who had come here from Denbighshire, who was a lay preacher, and he was very faithful.  In 1839, a call was sent out to Mr. George, Rhydero, and he was ordained on December l9th, that year. He stayed here doing his best until in 1845 he undertook to carry on the cause in Rhosnenan. Since 1850, and the establishment of Mr. D. Jones in Talysarn, the two churches have been connected, and under the same ministry. In 1856 a new chapel was built here, and there is a strong congregation and a peaceful and hard working church. We would very much like to give a more detailed history, but as we were not sent any material we can only say what we know from our personal knowledge of the area. We know of only one who was raised here, Howell R. Jones, who was ordained in Hebron, Lleyn, and who has now emigrated to America.

  

PENYGROES

(Llanllyfni parish)

Adeiladwyd yma gapel yn y flwyddyn 1834, gan Mr. Isaac Harries, yr hwn a alwyd yn SOAR. Cododd Isaac Harries y capel yn ei enw ei hun a'i feddiant ef ydoedd, a thrwy drafferth fawr y llwyddwyd i'w gyflwyno i ymddiriedolwyr i fod yn feddiant i'r eglwys. Gwerthwyd ef yn gyntaf i Mr. William Williams, Mount Pleasant. Yn yr ail werthiant arno daeth i feddiant Mr. J. J. Davies, meddyg, Penygroes; a throsglwyddwyd ef ganddo i'r eglwys am 140p. Bu raid i'r gynnulleidfa dalu 15p. o ardreth am dano ar ol y gwerthiant cyntaf fu arno. Yn nechreu 1839 y daeth yn feddiant i'r eglwys. * Gwan a fu yr achos yma am dymor lled hir, ac nid oedd poblogaeth y lle ond ychydig mewn cydmariaeth i'r hyn ydyw yn awr. Mae yr achos yma wedi cynyddu yn fawr yn nghorff y blynyddoedd diweddaf. Yn 1860, adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd eang a hardd, mewn man cyfleus, yr ochr arall i'r heol i'r hen gapel. Costiodd 550p. Yn 1872, rhoddwyd oriel yn y capel yr hyn sydd wedi ei harddu yn fawr, ac wedi ei wneyd yn llawer mwy cysurus i lefaru a gwrando. Bu y lle hwn mewn cysylltiad a Thalysarn hyd derfyn gweinidogaeth Mr. O. Thomas; ond er dyfodiad Mr. Samuel Jones yma yn 1850, y mae yr eglwys hon wedi bod yn nglyn a Pisgah hyd ymadawiad Mr. Evans yn nechreu 1872. Nis gwyddom ddim am amgylchiadau yr achos yma yn awr gan na anfonwyd hanes i ni gan neb sydd mewn cysylltiad ag ef. Codwyd i bregethu yma-

  • Grey Evans. Urddwyd ef yn Pennal, lle y gwelir byr gofnodiad am dano.
  • William Griffiths. Mae yn weinidog yn New Market, sir Flint.

A chapel was built here in the year 1834, by Mr. Isaac Harries, who called it SOAR.  Isaac Harries raised this chapel in his own name and it was his possession, and with great difficulty he succeeded in handing it on to trustees to be in the church's possession.  It was first sold to Mr. William Williams, Mount Pleasant.  During its second sale it became the possession of  Mr. J. J. Davies, a doctor, of Penygroes; and he handed it over to the church for £140. The congregation had to pay £15 in revenue on it after the first sale.  At the beginning of 1839 it came into the church's possession. * The cause here was weak for long while, and the population of the place was not great compared with the number that is here now.  The cause has increased greatly during the last years. In 1860, a fine, extensive new chapel was built here, in a convenient place, the other side of the road to the old chapel. It cost £550. In 1872, a gallery was placed in the chapel which has made the chapel even finer, and it is far more comfortable to give an oration and to listen. This place was connected to Talysarn until the end of Mr. O. Thomas' ministry; but since Mr. Samuel Jones came here in 1850, the church has been connected to Pisgah until Mr. Evans left at the beginning of  1872.  We do not know anything about the circumstances of this cause now as nobody with any connection with the cause sent us the history. The following were raised to preach here -

Grey Evans. He was ordained in Pennal, where a short note about him can be seen.

William Griffiths. He is a minister in New Market,  Flintshire.

*Dysgedydd, 1839. page. 125.

LLANLLYFNI

Nid yw hwn ond achos ieuangc wedi ei gychwyn yn y flwyddyn 1870. Cafwyd benthyg capel i'r Sande-maniad yr hwn oedd wedi myned yn ddi-

*Dysgedydd, 1839. Tudal. 125.

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wasanaeth, ac yno y dechreuwyd. Ychydig o aelodau Penygroes a ddechreuasant yma, ac y mae y lle o'i gychwyniad wedi bod mewn cysylltiad a'r eglwys yno, ac felly y mae yn parhau. Yn y flwyddyn 1871, adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd mewn lle cyfleus, ac er hyny y mae yr achos wedi myned rhagddo yn gysurus. Gyda gofal a diwydrwydd, a gweinidogaeth gyson gellir gwneyd cynydd graddol, er nas gellir disgwyl yma gynnulleidfa gref yn fuan gan fod enwadau eraill wedi hir wreiddio yn yr ardal.

This is a young cause which was started in 1870. A chapel was borrowed from the Sandemans who had no services

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and that is where it started.  A few members from Penygroes started here, and the place, from its beginnings has been connected with the church there, and that continues to be the case. In 1871, a new chapel was built in a convenient place, and since then the cause has increased comfortably.  With care and diligence, and a regular ministry a gradual increase can be made, even though a strong congregation cannot be expected soon since other denominations have been rooted in the area for a long time.

 

MOEL TRYFAN

(Llandwrog parish)

Adeiladwyd y capel cyntaf yma yn y flwyddyn 1840; a chan nad oedd wedi ei drosglwyddo yn gyfreithiol i ymddiriedolwyr, daeth trwy ryw amgylchiadau yn feddiant i Mr. David Griffith, yr hwn sydd hyd heddyw yn bregethwr cynorthwyol yn y lle. Bu y lle dan ardreth gan yr eglwys am un-mlynedd-ar-hugain. Crybwyllir enwau William Jones, y Pantia; John Williams, Foel, a Robert Jones, Hafodyrhos, fel y tri chyntaf a gynlluniodd am godi capel yma. Ymfudodd y ddau flaenaf i America, and y mae yr olaf yn aelod etto yn Pisgah. Daeth David Griffith yn fuan i gymeryd rhan yn y gwaith, ac ar ei ysgwyddau ef am flynyddau y gorphwysai pen trymaf y baich. Deuai Mr. Owen Thomas, Talysarn, yma yn fisol i weinyddu y cymundeb hyd ei ymadawiad i Dalybont; ac ar Sabbothau eraill pregethid gan David Griffith a Richard Jones, Drwsycoed. Denai rhai o aelodau Talysarn a Phenygroes yma yn achlysurol i roddi help mewn cyfarfodydd gweddio; ac yn mysg y ffyddloniaid hyny coffeir enwau David Williams, John Williams, a William Jones, Penmynwenttwrog. Bu John Rhydero, mab Mr. George Rhydero, yn ffyddlawn ar un adeg i ddyfod yma i gynorthwyo gyda'r ysgol Sabbothol. Wedi sefydliad Mr. Samuel Jones yn Pisgah, cymerodd ef ofal yr eglwys yma. Ar ol yr adfywiad grymus a gafwyd yn y flwyddyn 1860, meddyliwyd am gael capel newydd; a chafwyd darn o dir yn rhad i'w adeiladu arno gan Mr. Hugh Williams, Bryncoch. Codwyd y capel yn 1861. Daeth yr achos rhagddo yn llwyddianus, fel cyn pen deng mlynedd y gwelwyd fod angen capel llawer helaethach, yr hwn a agorwyd Sulgwyn 1872. Cafwyd y flwyddyn yma dri chwarter erw o dir yn nglyn a'r capel at wneyd mynwent. Bu y gweinidogion cymydogaethol, yn enwedig y Meistri D. Roberts, Caernarfon (Wrexham yn awr), a T. Jones, Tabor, yn llawer o gefn i'r achos yma; a chymerodd y diweddar Mr. John Hughes, Watchmaker, Caernarfon, a Mr. Hugh Hughes, Coedybrain, ran o'r baich yn llawen trwy fyned yn feichnion am ddyled y capel; ac yn mysg aelodau yr eglwys hon yn nesaf at David Griffith, ni chostiodd yr achos fwy o lafur a phryder i neb nag i Hugh Griffith, Tanyfoel; John Williams, Nantbach; William Lloyd, a William Thomas, Gors.*   Mae yma gynnulleidfa gref, ac eglwys yn rhifo tua chant ac ugain o aelodau, heblaw rhyw bump-ar-hugain eraill sydd yma yn ymgeisio am aelodaeth.

The first chapel was built here in 1840; and because it had not been handed over legally to trustees, through circumstances it became the property of  Mr. David Griffith, who is an assistant preacher in the place.  It was under rent by the church for twenty one years.  The names of  William Jones,  Pantia; John Williams, Foel, and Robert Jones, Hafodyrhos, were mentioned as the first three who planned the building of a chapel here.  The first two emigrated to America, and the last is again a member in Pisgah.  David Griffith soon took part in the work, and it was on his shoulders that the main burden of the work lay. Mr. Owen Thomas, Talysarn, came here monthly to serve communion until he left for Talybont;  and on other Sundays David Griffith and Richard Jones, Drwsycoed preached.  Some members from Talysarn and Penygroes were attracted here also to help with the   prayer meetings; and amongst those faithful ones we remember the names of David Williams, John Williams, and William Jones, Penmynwenttwrog.  John Rhydero, the son of  Mr. George Rhydero, was faithful at one time, coming here to assist with the Sunday school.  After the induction of Mr. Samuel Jones in Pisgah, he took over the care of this church.  After the powerful revival in 1860, it was decided to build a new chapel; and a piece of land was obtained cheaply by Mr. Hugh Williams, Bryncoch in order to build on it. The chapel was raised in 1861.  The cause was so successful, that before ten years was past a new more extensive chapel was needed, which was opened at Whitsun 1872. During this year three-quarters of an acre of land was obtained to build the chapel and a cemetery.  The district ministers, especially  Messrs D. Roberts, Caernarfon (Wrexham now), and T. Jones, Tabor, were very supportive to the cause here; and the late Mr. John Hughes, Watchmaker, Caernarfon, and Mr. Hugh Hughes, Coedybrain, bore part of the burden happily by becoming  guarantors for the chapel debt; and amidst the members of this church apart from David Griffith, the cause did not cost more labour and worry to anyone more than to Hugh Griffith, Tanyfoel; John Williams, Nantbach; William Lloyd, and William Thomas, Gors.*   There is a large congregation here, and a church numbering a hundred and twenty members, without counting the other twenty five who are applying for membership.

*Mr. Owen Hughes, Moeltryfan's letter.  

RHOSNENAN

(Llandwrog parish)

 

Dechreuwyd yr achos yma yn y flwyddyn 1843, gan Mr. David Griffith,

*Llythyr Mr. Owen Hughes, Moeltryfan.  

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Foel. Ardrethodd dy anedd yma a thalodd am dano hyd ei fynediad i America yn y flwyddyn 1845. Cymerodd Mr. George Rhydero at y lle, a phenderfynwyd cael capel yma. Rhoddodd Catherine Hughes dir, a chodwyd y capel yn 1849. Galwyd ef Gosen. Yr oedd yr adeiladwyr yn gweithio arno, a Mr. Rhydero yn teithio i gasglu ato; a thrwy ddiwydrwydd llwyddodd i gasglu digon i dalu am yr adeilad, ond nid oedd wedi ei drefnu oddifewn. Rhoddwyd eisteddleoedd ynddo drachefn, a chasglodd ran fawr o draul y rhai hyny. Ni bu yr achos yma erioed yn gryf, a dyoddefodd lawer o golledion trwy symudiadau a marwolaethau. Goddefodd lawer o anfantais o ddiffyg gweinidogaeth reolaidd, ond y mae yn awr mewn cysylltiad a Phisgah fel y ceir yma rhagllaw bregethu yn gyson.

This cause was started in 1843, by Mr. David Griffith, Foel.

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He rented a dwelling house here and he paid for it until he went to America in 1845.  Mr. George Rhydero took over the place, and it was decided that a chapel should be built here. Catherine Hughes gave land, and the chapel was built in 1849. It was called Gosen.  The builders worked on it and Mr. Rhydero travelled to collect for it; and through diligence he succeeded in collecting enough to pay for the building, but it had not been arranged inside.  Seats were added later on, and he collected most of the expense of that.  The cause was never a strong one, and many losses were experienced through moving on and deaths. It was at a disadvantage from the lack of a regular ministry, but it is now connected to Pisgah so that now it is able to have regular preaching.  

 

RHOSTRYFAN

(Llanwnda parish)

Mae yn ymddangos mai Mr. Roberts, Caernarfon, oedd y cyntaf o'r Annibynwyr a bregethodd yn yr ardal yma gyda'r bwriad o gychwyn achos yn y lle. Bu yn pregethu yn Bryn Horeb, ac yn Nghoedybrain. Yn y flwyddyn 1864, dechreuwyd pregethu yn rheolaidd, a chynal ysgol Sabbothol yn nhy Humphrey Jones; ac ar yr 21ain o Ragfyr, y flwyddyn hono, daeth Mr. Roberts yma i ffurfio eglwys ac i weinyddu cymundeb. Pedwar-ar-ddeg oedd rhif yr eglwys ar ei ffurfiad, naw o frodyr a phump o chwiorydd; ac aelodau gan mwyaf o'r Foel a rhai o'r Bontnewydd a Gosen. Prynwyd tir at adeiladu capel, a chostiodd y tir a'r capel dros 276p. Agorwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1862, a gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri D. Roberts ac E. Evans, Caernarfon; W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, ac R. Thomas, Bangor. Mae yma yn awr o gylch deugain o aelodau, ac y mae y lle mewn cysylltiad a'r Foel.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Jan 2010)

It appears that Mr. Roberts, Caernarfon, was the first of the Independents to preach in this area with the intention of starting a cause in the place.  He had been preaching in Bryn Horeb, and in Coedybrain.  In 1864, regular preaching commenced, with a Sunday school in Humphrey Jones' house; and on December 21st of that year, Mr. Roberts came here to form a church and to administer communion.  The number in the church at its formation was fourteen, nine men and five women; and mainly members of the Foel and those from Bontnewydd and Gosen. Land was bought for building a chapel, and the land and chapel cost over £276.  It was opened in 1862, and on that occasion Messrs D. Roberts and E. Evans, Caernarfon; W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, and R. Thomas, Bangor officiated.  By now there are about forty members, and the place is connected to the Foel.

 

CAERNARFON

Mae yn ymddangos i Mr. Daniel Phillips, Pwllheli, yn fuan ar ol pasio Deddf Goddefiad, gofrestru ty yma i bregethu. Nid oes genym sicrwydd pa le yr oedd y ty, na phwy oedd y personau cyntaf a ymunodd a'r achos yn y lle. Bu Mr. Phillips yma yn pregethu mor gyson ag y gallai hyd derfyn ei oes yn 1722. Ychydig o wybodaeth sydd genym am helynt yr achos yma ar ol hyny, er fod yn debyg iddo gael ei barhau yn mlaen dros yspaid, ond fel llin yn mygu. Nid oedd Mr. John Thomas, olynydd Mr. Phillips yn Mhwllheli, er ei fod yn wr da, yn meddu ar ei wroldeb a'i benderfyniad ef, ac oblegid hyny gadawodd yr achos yma yn ddiymgeledd.  Bu yma un William Edwards yn cadw ysgol Dr. Daniel Williams, ac o bosibl hefyd yn pregethu yn y lle. Nid ydym yn gwybod pa bryd y daeth yma, ac nid oes genym sicrwydd a'i yma y bu farw, er fod hyny yn debygol. Dyoddefodd erledigaethau mawrion oddiwrth Mr. William  Williams, Vicar Llanbeblig ar y pryd, ac oddiwrth y werin afreolus o dan ei ddylanwad. Ysgrifenodd lythyr at Ysgrifenydd Ymddiriedolwyr ysgol Dr. Daniel Williams, ac y mae y llythyr gwreiddiol ar gael yn awr yn llyfrgell Dr. Williams, yn Redcross Street, Llundain; a chan fod yn ddangosiad mor nodedig o nodwedd yr amseroedd hyny, rhoddwn ef yma yn llawn.

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Dengys y llythyr uchod yr ysbryd dialgar oedd yn ngweinidogion cyflogedig y llywodraeth yn y dyddiau hyny, yn gystal ar erledigaethau a ddyoddefodd llawer o bobl druain dlodion yn mysg ein cenedl er mwyn enw yr Arglwydd Iesu. Nis gwyddom pa cyhyd y parhawyd i bregethu yr efengyl yma yn y cyfnod hwnw; ond y mae yn sicr ei fod wedi ei roddi i fyny yn hollol yn mhell cyn sefydliad Mr. Rees Harries yn Mhwllheli; ac mai yn mhen rhai blynyddoedd wedi hyny yr ail gychwynwyd ef. Yn y cyfwng wedi rhoddi yr achos i fyny, a chyn ei ail gychwyn cafodd yr ysbryd erledigaethus gyfleustra i enynu allan lawer tro yn erbyn y saint yn y dref; a chan ynfydu yn fwy yn eu herbyn nid arbedent ddyeithriaid a elent heibio. Y mae dyddordeb ychwanegol wedi ei osod ar yr hen Gastell enwog, o leiaf i Ymneillduwyr, ddarfod iddo fod am noswaith yn lletty i Mr. Richard Tibbot a'i geffyl pan yn myned i Fon i efengylu. Buasai yn dda gan yr erlidwyr ymddwyn tuag ato ef fel yr ymddygwyd tuag at Paul yn Jerusalem; " wedi ei ddwyn ef i'r Castell, a'i holi ef trwy fflangellau;" ond ni bu yno rwymau na fflangellau na charchar, ond dros noswaith. Ceisiodd rhai ddyweyd mai ei roddi yn y castell i'w ddiogelu rhag yr erlidwyr a wnaed, ond nid yw hyny yn ymddangos yn debyg, canys nid pobl am amddiffyn Ymneillduwyr oeddynt y pryd hwnw yn meddu awdurdod ar y castell.

Nid ydym yn gwybod pa dy a drwyddedwyd gan Mr. R. Harries i bregethu ynddo; na pha bryd y gwnaed hyny. Y ty cyntaf y mae genym sicrwydd am dano, oedd yn Mhen'rallt, yr hwn a drwyddedwyd gan Mr. Abraham Tibbot, Chwefror 28ain, 1780. Bernir mai ty yn ngwaelod Pen'rallt ydoedd, gyferbyn a'r gwesty " Sign y Delyn." Dywedir fod Mr. A. Tibbot yn pregethu ar risiau ty yn ngodreu Pen'rallt, neu yn ol fel y dywed rhai, ar ben y gareg farch berthynol i'r gwesty uchod, a thra yr oedd yn pregethu fod un o'r erlidwyr yn myned drwy y  dorf yn wawdus gyda thrensiwr yn ei law, gan gymeryd arno gasglu arian i'r pregethwr; a phan welodd nad oedd neb yn rhoddi dim iddo, cynhyrfwyd ef i'r fath raddau fel y taflodd y trensiwr at ben y pregethwr; ond aeth heibio i'w ben ef a tharawodd y mur gyda'r fath nerth fel y dychwelodd ac y syrthiodd ar wyneb un o'r gwrandawyr, gan ei archolli nes yr oedd ei waed yn ffrydio. A phan ddeallodd y terfysgwr fod Mr. Tibbot am godi gwarant arno, ffodd, ac aeth i ymguddio, fel Jonah, i ystlysau llong oedd yn hwylio allan o'r porthladd am yr Iwerddon. Drylliwyd y llong y noson hono ar y Bar, a bu yntau foddi. Ni bu yr erlid byth mor boeth yn Nghaernarfon ar ol hyny - canys edrychid ar hyn fel barn wedi

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (March 2010)

It appears that Mr. Daniel Phillips, Pwllheli, soon after the the Act of Tolerance was passed, registered this house for preaching. We are not certain just where this house was situated, nor who were the first persons to join the cause in the place.  Mr. Phillips preached here as often as he could until the end of his life in 1722.  We have very little information about the cause here after that, even though it is apparent that it continued for a while, but only as a smoking line.  Mr. John Thomas, Mr. Phillips' successor in Pwllheli, even though he was a good man, did not possess his bravery and determination, and as a result of this he left this cause.  One William Edwards ran Dr. Daniel Williams' school, and possibly also preached in the place. We do not know when he arrived here, and we are not sure whether he died here, even though that is likely.  He suffered great persecution from  Mr. William  Williams, the Vicar of Llanbeblig at the time, and from the unruly peasants under his influence.  He wrote a letter to the trustees of Dr. Daniel Williams' school, and the original letter still exists now in Dr. Williams' library, in Redcross Street, London; and since it illuminates characteristics of those times we place it here in full.

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The above letter highlights the vengeful spirit that possessed the ministers employed by the government of those days, along with the persecution that many poor people of our nation suffered in the name of our Lord Jesus.  We do not know how long he continued to preach the gospel here in that period; but it is certain that he had completely given up long before Mr. Rees Harries settled in Pwllheli; and that it was some years after that he re-started.  During the time he had given up, and before the re-starting the persecuting spirit had the opportunity to inflame many times against the saints of the town; and in becoming more angry against them they did not spare the strangers who passed by.  An added interest, at least to non-conformists,  mentions the famous old Castle, that it became a lodging for one night for Mr. Richard Tibbot and his horse when he was travelling to Anglesey to evangelize.  The persecuters would have liked to treat him as Paul was treated in Jerusalem; " taking him to the Castle, and interrogating him through flogging;" but there were no bindings nor whips nor a prison, overnight.  Some tried to say that he was placed in the castle for his own safety against the persecuters, but that is not likely, since those with authority over the castle at that time were not ones to defend non-conformists.

We do not know which house was licensed by Mr. R. Harries in which to preach; nor when that was done. The first house we are sure about, was Pen'rallt, which was licensed by Mr. Abraham Tibbot, February 28th, 1780.  It is accepted that it was a house at the bottom of Pen'rallt, opposite the " Sign y Delyn." (the Harp Sign). It is said that Mr. A. Tibbot preached on the steps of a house at the bottom of  Pen'rallt hill, or some say, on top of the horse steps at the above public house, and while he preached, one of the persecuters walked through the crowd scornfully with a platter in his hand, pretending to collect money for the preacher; and when he saw that no one gave him any, he was so agitated that he threw the platter at the head of the preacher; but it flew past the preacher's head and hit the wall with such force that it bounced back and hit the face of one of the listeners, wounding him until blood was flowing.  And when the rioter realised that Mr. Tibbot intended arresting him, he fled, and ran to hide, like Jonah, to a ship that was sailing out of the port to Ireland.  That night the ship shattered on the Bar, and he drowned.  The persecution was never as fiery in Caernarfon after that - since it was considered a judgement which overtook the rioters;  without this no-one knows how bold and insolent the persecuters would have become.

We do not have the resources to give a detailed picture of the condition of the cause at the beginning, nor a full list of the members. John Morris, y Siop (the shop), as he was known, who lived close to Perth Mawr, within the walls, was mentioned; Owen Roberts, y Cwndid (the conduit), and Nancy, his wife; Dafydd Dafis, the joiner, Pendist, and Elizabeth, his wife; John Roberts, y melinydd (the miller), Pen'rallt; Thomas Harris, Glanymor, and Jenny his wife; Ellen Thomas, Pen'rallt; Ellen Williams, Y Fro (the vale); the wife of Morris Griffith, y crydd (the cobbler); and the first wife of Hugh Hughes, the Watchmaker; had they not been in the first group of members, they were very close to being so; it is likely that some of them were members of the cause from the beginning. We have before us now the original letter that the church sent to the Congregational Board Treasurer, and it is likely that it contains as much information as it can about the condition of the cause at that time.  It was written in 1783, soon after Mr. John Griffith, Llanfyllin, settled in the place. It is signed by John Prichard,  Owen Owens, deacon, Owen Maurice, and John Roberts; and the names of Messrs John Griffith, Glandwr; Daniel Lloyd, Denbigh; Benjamin Jones, Anglesey; A. Tibbot, Llanuwchllyn, and R. Harries, Pwllheli, support their claim.  From the document, we feel that Mr. Benjamin Jones wrote the appeal.  In their claim they recognize that they were ashamed, because they took so long to accept the privileges of the gospel, which were often offered to them.  But after listening to the gospel for just a year, a church was formed here, and the Lord's Supper was served.  For a while after this they depended on the occasional support of the ministers of  Pwllheli, Denbigh, Rhosymeirch, and Llanuwchllyn, until they gave a call to Mr. J. Griffith, Llanfyllin.  When Mr. Griffith settled the number of members was just fifteen; but they soon increased to fifty one; and the listeners numbered hundreds, and the prejudice of the town against the gospel weakened gradually.  The church had taken an upper room in a corner of the town called Treffynon, on the Llanberis road before Mr. Griffith moved here. Mr. Griffith laboured here successfully for a just two years, serving the Lord in humility and with many tears.  In 1784, he moved to  Abergavenny.  In the following year Mr. George Lewis (Dr. Lewis after that), on a visit to Caernarfon, accepted a call here, and he was ordained in 1785.  He was ordained in that upper room.  His old pulpit still stands there till this day; and religious services are still held there in the old room by a party of Baptists called  Sandemans. It was completely providential that Dr. Lewis stayed in Caernarfon. He was on his journey through the North at that time,  a young man of about 22 years of age, who had just left Carmarthen college. It appears that a church in Pencader, Carmarthenshire, had let it be known that they wanted him to care for their church, but had not given him a call.  While in Caernarfon on that journey, the church liked his preaching, and asked him to stay with them; but he had been eagerly expecting the call from Pencader, and since that did not arrive when promised, Mr. Lewis gave a positive answer to the call from Caernarfon church, and there was great joy when he accepted

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their request, which according to signs was in accordance with the will of Heaven. But we should mention here that it wasn't apathy nor carelessness on the part of Pencader church that prompted the delay, because after Mr Lewis accepted the call from the friends in Caernarfon,  Pencader's call came through. It had been wandering around Ireland for about six months! And this is the error that gave the North this great man. Mr. Lewis put a great deal of effort into his work while he stayed in Caernarfon; he not only kept a daily school, as almost all the old ministers did, and that undoubtedly as much for necessity rather than as a matter of choice, but he also went around to preach wherever he would be accepted; and he had a hand in the inception of several causes in Arfon as we will have cause to note later.  It is worth remembering, that it was during Mr. Lewis' stay in Caernarfon that the Calvinistic Methodists started a religious cause in the town.  They had established churches in the country, but until now did not have one in the town.  There were excellent relations between the Methodists and the Independents at that time, as they are now.  It was in front of the room, which was the meeting place for Mr Lewis and the church under his care, that the first service was held, when Mr. Robert Roberts, Llanllyfni (Clynog), and Mr. Evan Richardson, Brynengan (Caernarfon after that) preached, and Mr. Lewis started the service for them.

During the time of Mr. Lewis, and through his efforts the first house of worship was built by the Independents, in Pendref, in 1791. Even though the might of persecution from the peasantry had broken down, yet, the prejudice against Non-conformity was still very strong, so that the chapel was built in a difficult time.  In fact it was not easy to find a place on which to build a non-conformist house of worship in the town at all,  as the lands were in the possession of the opponents of non-conformity. But the cause of the Lord could not stand for want of instruments.  The One who raised Esther for such a time in the courts of  Persia, and who called a suitable man to go to speak to Pilat about the body of the Lord Jesus; he had a suitable instrument ready for such a time in the religious cause in Caernarfon. A generous, religious lady lived in Cefnmein, in Lleyn, by the name of  Mrs. Edwards, the grandmother of the present R. Lloyd Edwards, Esq., of Nanhoron, who used to visit Caernarfon, along with other places on the occasion of preaching meetings.  This lady found a place to build a chapel in Caernarfon.  Since the land, as mentioned, was in the hands of those who had no sympathy for the non-conformists,  it was necessary to use a little cunning in order to buy the land. Mrs. Edwards bought it as a place to build a house or two, and the seller thought she wanted to build a house for herself and one for her servant on it.  But when he realized that he had sold the land to be used to build a chapel, he was fuming.  It is said that he went to see Mrs. Edwards to tell her that he thought that she had wanted to build a house for herself and one for her servant in Bangor Street.  You judged correctly, was her answer, it is a place to build a House for the Lord and a house for His servant.

When they started building the house of worship in Caernarfon, the enemies threatened to destroy it.  Such was the enmity against non-conformists,  that the children of the opposers carried the persecution to the children of the chapel people; they were not allowed to play together, and were kept apart from them as if they suffered from leprosy.  Often

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the children would threaten that Pendref chapel would be destroyed  "next week."  The enemies were of the same spirit as Sanbalat mocking the Jews in their adventure of repairing the walls of Jerusalem. "What do these miserable  people think they are doing? Have they been allowed ? Will they finish in one day? Can they make building stones out of heaps of burnt rubble ?" And since every one of the opposers' efforts to stop them building the house of worship had failed, they had no choice but to turn to mocking.  There was a group who were like Tobiah the servant, who were very loud in their protestations. What kind of wall could they ever build, even a fox could knock it down." There wasn't a shortage of foxes, but they failed to destroy the wall, they and all their foxes.  The children of the religious people often returned home distressed to repeat the enemies' threats to their parents.  Some of them got up early, in their fear, and before eating a crumb of food,  they ran to look at the chapel, expecting to see the stones of the chapel at the top of each street; and their joy was great when they returned home to give the news to their parents that the chapel had not been destroyed yet! Many times the old pilgrim Dafydd Harris (who died in 1863, at the age of 85 years old) referred to that time.  He remembered the time and the circumstances in which the chapel was built.  He often recited chapters of the bible to Dr. Lewis when he was a boy.  He was fond of  talking about that time,  mentioning the concern he had felt  about the chapel being destroyed: and almost every time as he finished telling the tale he said with a smile, "That 'next week' has not come yet."  The field that was behind the chapel was owned by an enemy of non-conformity and non-conformists; and to get revenge on them they raised a hayrick against the back wall of the chapel, which darkened the windows,  but because the eaves on the roof of the chapel leaked water onto the hay it was damaged so badly that they abandoned that strategy.  They realized that it was a lost cause, and with no purpose, since they could not stop them from worshipping.

In 1794, Mr. Lewis left to take the care of the church in Llanuwchllyn, and this church had no minister until the beginning of  1796, when a call was sent to Mr. J. Griffith, Abergavenny, their former minister, who settled among them in February of that year. We have in front of us two letters that were sent from the church to the Managers of the Congregational Board during the time they were without a minister, signed by Owen Owens and David Davies, Deacons. The first is dated January 22nd, 1795, and the second dated January 21st, 1796.  In a letter sent from Mr. Griffith to the Board, at the beginning of 1797, it stated that the listeners were many, and the members numbered seventy to eighty.  Mr. Griffith was one who was greatly respected by all classes.  His religious spirit, and his untiring efforts, along with his sweet, structured sermons were such that he became very dear to the religious people, and his noble behaviour secured a great respect outside the church.  He laboured to extend the boundaries of the cause to Roslan, Llanaelhaiarn, Saron, and Bethel.  Since Mr. Griffith's health wasn't strong, and his field of ministry was extensive, a call was sent to Mr. David Davies, a student from Carmarthen college, to be an assistant to him, and he was ordained on September 28th, 1813.  On the occasion Mr. J. Roberts, Llanbrynmair, preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked and the ordination prayer was given by Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli; and

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Mr. T. Phillips, Neuaddlwyd* preached to the minister and the church.  About twenty other ministers were present.  Mr. Davies' stay here was short, but the few old scholars who are still alive remember him with respect, but they are very few now.  He moved to Pantteg, near Carmarthen, where he spent the rest of his life.  The care was then entirely on the shoulders of Mr. Griffith, until death put an end to his useful life on February 13th, 1818, at the age of 65 years old.  On the first Sunday after his burial, his two sons, Messrs J. Griffith, Buckley, and W. Griffith, Holyhead, who were at that time students in the college at Neuaddlwyd, preached in Pendref to a great, grieving congregation,

The year following the death of  Mr. Griffith a call was sent to Mr. William Jones, a student in Llanfyllin college, and he was ordained on September 15th, 1819.  On the occasion Mr. R. Everett, Denbigh preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by  Mr. J. Powell, Rhosymeirch; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. O. Thomas, Llanfechell; Mr. J. Roberts, Llanbrynmair, preached to the minister; and Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli preached to the church. Mr. Jones was very successful here. The chapel became too small, so that it became essential to put a gallery on both sides, to join the one which was on the gable end.  He was the instrument for starting the cause and building the first chapel in Bentnewydd (Bontnewydd).  Some of the members accepted by Mr. Jones are still here to this day, but most have died.  He moved to Amlwch in 1826.  Having been without a minister for nearly two years a call was sent to Mr. Josiah Thomas Jones, a student from Newport Pagnel college, and he was ordained on August 6th, 1828. Messrs D. James, Rhosymeirch; W. Griffith, Holyhead; W. Williams, Wern; D. Griffith, T. Jones, Moelfra; A. Jones, Bangor, and others officiated at the occasion.  His connection with the ministry here did not last long. He gave up in  1831, even though he contined to live in the town for some years after that.  He moved to the South, where he settled in different places, and the last was Aberdare, where he died at the end of 1872.

In 1832, a call was sent to Mr. William Williams, (Caledfryn,) Llanerchymedd, and he started his ministry here immediately.  Mr. Williams, was an eloquent man, an independent spirit, and his publicity as a bard and a literary man, and his relationship with the Eisteddfodau, made him popular in the view of many; even though that came later, caused some at that time to feel prejudiced towards him. Soon after he settled here, the chapel filled with listeners, and many joined the church.  A fine new chapel was built in 1839, and it was said at the time that it could accommodate a thousand listeners; but the people of that time must have taken a lot less room than the people of today, because it could not accommodate that many now; and everyone who remembers the people who were here in those days knows, that they needed quite a bit of room.  There were anti-social elements in the church at that time, and the unhappy question of choosing deacons gave them an opportunity for conflict. They were chosen in a secret vote, but it appears that the persons chosen, at least some of them, were pleasing to the minister, and, for some time, he delayed making their names public, and he went away before doing so. This caused a bad feeling, and some were determined to call

*Evangelical Magazine, 1814. Page, 32.

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a brothers meeting in order to discuss the way forward.  They were called to account for their actions when the minister returned as to why they enraged the church in calling such a meeting in the absence of the minister.  Several were expelled.  Others sympathized with them.  The minister considered them as rioters, and that the divine rule is for "those who disturb you to be torn away; " and they considered he had been insulting and tyrannical, and carrying the law of the church on his own shoulders.  In the end the ones who were cast out formed their own cause.  There were amongst them, two preachers, and some of the ministers of the county supported them.  Dr. Arthur Jones, Bangor, Mr. Griffith, Pwllheli, J. Williams, Caecoch, and others came to preach to them.  This caused a great deal of adversity in the County, and ministers and churches were split.  After preaching in different places for a while, the group that left the church built a chapel for themselves, which they called  Joppa.  Several preachers officiated to them for a while, and Mr. William Davies, Bryngwran and Mr. R. P. Griffith, Pwllheli ministered after that.  There was little prosperity in the cause at all. The circumstances under which it started was unfavourable, and the corner of the town in which it stood wasn't favourable to its success. When Salem was built, in 1862, it was decided to give up the cause and to sell the chapel, and most of the members joined that church on its formation, and others returned to the mother church in Penydre'.  Mr. Williams and the friends in Joppa all came to an understanding after the split, and he preached in their church before he moved from Caernarfon to London in 1848.  Mr. Williams was very popular as a preacher for the whole time he was here, and a multitude would gather to listen to him; but there was a heavy burden of debt remaining on the chapel, and little effort was made to move the debt.  Before the end of 1849, a call was sent to Mr. David Roberts, Cemaes, Anglesey.  He started his ministry here in January, 1860, and laboured until the beginning of the summer of 1871, when he moved to Wrexham.  Mr. Roberts' term as minister was, on the whole, a time of peace and blessing in the history of the church; and he was never idle nor unfruitful.  In1862, Salem chapel was built, and part of the church went there, amongst them some of the best members in the place.  In 1858 a Sunday school was started in a neglected corner of the town. Its purpose was mainly as a school for the children of the poor.  The main instrument in the inception of that Sunday school was the religious sister Mrs. Williams, Stationer, who accepted several of these poor children into her house to be taught; but they soon became so numerous that it was essential to search for another room for them.  There is a sound basis for believing that many "pieces that were lost" were found in the light of that candle.

Many industrious and hard working persons were connected with this cause, but no-one seems to predominate so we do not need to name them here.  The following persons were raised to preach in this church. We're not sure if the list is complete, but it is the best we can compile.

  • William Hughes, Brynbeddau. We will give him a brief mention along with Saron.
  • John Griffith, the son of the honourable J. Griffith the minister. He was educated in Carmarthen college, and is now in Buckley, Flintshire.

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  • William Griffith, another son of the minister. He was educated in Carmarthen college too; and he spent more than fifty years in Holyhead.
  • Robert Davies. He was educated in Blackburn college, and is now in Merton, near London.
  • Robert Williams, William Hughes, and John Edwards who started preaching around this time. The first two went with the branch to Joppa.
  • David Parry (Dewi Moelwyn). He was born in Ffestiniog, in 1835.  In 1856 he moved to Caernarfon to work, and he joined the church in Pendref, and while there he started to preach. He spent some time in Bala college, he accepted a call from  Adulam, Tredegar, and was ordained in 1863. In 1867, he emigrated to America.  
  • John D. Jones (Deiniol Wyn). He was born in the community of  Cwmyglo.  He was brought up in the Calvinistic Methodists, but through the influence of some churchmen he joined the Established Church. He was sent out as some kind of church missionary to Jamaica.  He returned to his country and joined the church in Penydref, Caernarfon.  He started preaching. He received a call from Penmorfa, near Porthmadog, and agreed to it but he died before taking up his post.
  • Peter D. Lloyd. He was the son of David Lloyd, Pentrefelin, Pentrefoelas, and was brought up in the church in Bethel. He went to Caerlleon, as an apprentice, and while there was accepted as a member. He moved to Caernarfon and joined the church in Penydref, and that is where he started preaching. He died on August 9th, 1870. at the age of  25.  He was buried in Yspytty Evan cemetery, where there is a family tomb.

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not fully extracted)

JOHN GRIFFITH. He was born close to Pencadair, Carmarthenshire, May 10th, 1732. .........................................

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WILLIAM JONES.  He ended his ministry in Amlwch, but Mr. Jones, was born in Denbigh, September 15th 1790.............................................

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CONTINUED