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Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

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(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By Thomas Rees and John Thomas; published in 1871+.

These 8 chapel histories were extracted by Gareth Morgan from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Feb 2008)  - translations as indicated

The main project page is on /big/wal/ChurchHistory/Indchapels#Glamorgan

Proof read by Yvonne John (Feb/Mch 2008)

Translations by Heulwen Jenkins (March/April 2008) and others

EBENEZER, ABERTAWY

(Vol 2, p 38)

Abertawy oedd un o'r manau cyntaf yn Nghymru lle y gosododd Ymneillduaeth ei throed i lawr ynddo. Fel y nodasom yn hanes y Mynyddbach, cafodd eglwys Annibynol ei ffurfio yma tua y flwyddyn 1641, trwy offerynoliaeth Mr. Phillip Jones, o Benytwyn, Llangafelach, a Mr. Ambrose Mostyn, cyn toriad allan y rhyfel, yr hwn a ddechreuodd yn 1642, ac yn fuan ar ol ffurfiad yr eglwysi yn Llanfaches, Mynyddislwyn, a Chaerdydd. Yn 1662, trowyd Mr. Marmaduke Mathews allan o Eglwys Efan, ac yn fuan wedi hyny, daeth amryw weinidogion anghydffurfiol i fyw i'r dref a'r gymydogaeth, megis Meistri Daniel Higgs, M.A., William Thomas, M.A., Stephen Hughes, Meidrym; David Jones, Llandyssilio, a Meredith Davies, Llanon, a bu rhai, os nad pob un o honynt, yn trigianu yma am weddill eu hoes. Pan ganiatawyd rhyddid i'r Ymneillduwyr i drwyddedu tai at bregethu, yn y flwyddyn 1672, darfu i Marmaduke Mathews, Daniel Higgs, a Stephen Hughes drwyddedu eu tai i'r perwyl hyny yn nhref Abertawy. Cadwyd anghydffurfiaeth yn fyw yma trwy holl angerdd yr erledigaeth, a chyn gynted ag y cafwyd deddf goddefiad yn 1688, adeiladwyd capel Annibynol yma, ac erbyn 1697, yr oedd hwnw wedi myned yn rhy fychan, fel y bu raid adeiladu un helaethach ar y to deheuol i'r Heol fawr, ar y fan y saif capel yr Undodiad yn bresenol, a rhentiwyd y capel cyntaf i'r Bedyddwyr. Mae yn ymddangos mai yn yr iaith Saesonaeg y dygid y gwasanacth yn mlaen yn y capel hwn o'r dechreuad. Sais oedd Mr. Higgs, y gweinidog cyntaf, a dilynwyd ef gan un Mr. Denbury, ac yna gan Mr. Whitear. Mr. George Palmer, yr hwn a fu farw yn 1750, oedd y Cymro cyntaf fu yn pregethu yma, ond y mae yn sicr mai yn yr iaith Saesonaeg y pregethai yntau. Felly nid oedd yr achos hwn o nemawr o wasanaeth i boblogaeth Gymreig y dref, a pheth oedd waeth na'r iaith, aeth udgorn y weinidogaeth i roddi sain anhynod yma tua chanol y ddeunawfed ganrif, nes i'r lle o radd i radd fyned yn hollol i feddiant yr Undodiaid.

Yr oedd cangen o eglwys Ty'rdwncyn er's llawer o flynyddau yn cadw gwasanaeth crefyddol rheolaidd yn y Wigfach, amaethdy tua milltir a haner i'r gogledd-orllewin o dref Abertawy, yn benaf er mwyn yr aelodau a gyfaneddant yn y dref a'r gymydogaeth. Wedi marwolaeth Luce Rosser, gwraig y tý, yn 1776, cyfododd rhyw rwystr i gadw yr addoliad yno rhagllaw, a bu raid edrych am le arall. Aeth Mr. Lewis Rees a Mr. Solomon Harris, gweinidog y Saeson, at un Mr. Aleine, perchen ystafell gyfleus y tu cefn i Heolyeastell yn y dref, a chawsant y lle hwnw at gynal cyfarfodydd ar y Sabboth a nosweithiau o'r wythnos. Yn yr ystafell hon y buwyd yn addoli hyd nes yr adeiladwyd capel Ebenezer. Yn amser Mr. Lewis Rees, byddai gweinidogion y Methodistiaid yn lled fynych yn pregethu yn yr ystafell, gan nad oedd gan yr enwad hwnw un lle addoliad yn y dref. Byddai yr aelodau yn myned i'r Mynyddbach i gymuno, ac i'r cyfarfodydd bob bore Sabboth, ac yn cynal y gwasanaeth yn yr ystafell yn y prydnawn a'r hwyr. Wedi i Mr. Davies, Llangeler, ddyfod yn weinidog i'r Mynyddbach, tynodd ei ddoniau digyffelyb ef y fath luaws yn nghyd fel nad oedd yr ystafell, pan y deuai yno i bregethu, yn agos ddigon eang i gynwys ei wrandawyr. Yn y cyfamser, cyfododd rhyw fesur o gamddealldwriaeth rhwng yr aelodau a'u gilydd; barnai rhai fod y bobl yn angerdd eu sel dros eu gweinidog newydd, Mr. Davies, yn euog o daflu diystyrwch ar yr hen weinidog, Mr. Rees, ac felly aethant yn ddwy blaid. Darfu i Mr. David Thomas, Bragwr, adeiladu capel yn 1799, ar ei dir ei hun ar y Cruglas, a chyflwynodd ef i gorph y Methodistiaid. Aeth amryw o aelodau y Mynyddbach o'r ystafell i'r capel, ac ymunasant a'r Methodistiaid, a dyna ddechreuad Methodistiaeth yn Abertawy. Pa fodd bynag, glynodd nifer fawr gyda Mr. Davies yn yr ystafell, ac aeth y lle drachefn yn dra buan lawer rhy fychan i gynwys y gwrandawyr. Yn 1803, adeiladwyd capel Ebenezer, ac agorwyd ef ar y 9fed a'r 10fed o Fai, 1804, pryd y pregethodd y gweinidogion enwog - David Peter, Caerfyrddin; Morgan Jones, Trelech; Thomas Bowen, Castellnedd; John Davies, Alltwen; Griffith Hughes, Groeswen; David Morgan, Esgairdawe; Morgan Lewis, Glynnedd; Dr. Thomas Phillips, Neuaddlwyd; William Griffiths, Glandwr; John Lloyd, Henllan, a Sadrach Davies, Maendy. Yr oedd Ebenezer y pryd hwnw yn un o'r capeli mwyaf yn Nghymru. Mesurai 46 troedfedd wrth 34 o fewn y muriau. Aeth ar unwaith yn rhy fychan i gynwys y gynnulleidfa yn gysurus. Y fath oedd poblogrwydd Mr. Davies fel yr oedd yn anhawdd cael unrhyw gapel yn ddigon mawr i gynwys ei wrandawyr. Yr oedd agwedd foesol Abertawy yn resynus eithaf pan ddechreuodd Mr. Davies ei weinidogaeth yma. Yr oedd trigolion y dref tua deng mil, heb son am y pentrefi tua milldir y tu allan i'r dref, ac nid oedd ond un capel Cymreig yn yr holl dref, sef capel y Bedyddwyr, yr hwn ni chynwysai ar ei eithaf dros dri chant a haner o bobl. Yr oedd y glowyr a'r gweithwyr eraill yn y dref a'r cyffiniau yn debycach i farbariaid nag i breswylwyr gwlad wareiddiedig. Tystiai amryw hen bobl oedd yn ddiweddar yn fyw, ei bod yn berygl bywyd i gerdded ystrydoedd y dref a'r pentrefi cyfagos ar " nos Sadwrn y cyfrif," am y byddai heidiau o ddyhirod meddw a chreulon yn wastad yn barod i ymosod ar y neb a clai yn agos atynt. Byddent hefyd yn arfer ymosod ar dai yn y nos, gan daflu ceryg mawrion atynt, nes dryllio y drysau a'r ffenestri, a phrin y medrant siarad gair heb fytheirio allan regfeydd a chableddau. Peth anghyffredin iawn gynt, yn yr ardaloedd hyn, fyddai cael gweithiwr yn proffesu crefydd. Gwnelid yr ychydig eglwysi, o bob enwad yn y gymydogaeth, i fyny agos yn hollol o amaethwyr a masnachwyr. Yr oedd y dosbarth gweithiol agos oll yn meddiant y diafol, ac yn ei wasanaethu hyd eithaf eu gallu. Pan ddaeth Mr. Davies i'r gymydogaeth, cymerodd cyfnewidiad buan a dymunol le. Cyffrodd ei ddoniau digyffelyb sylw y lluaws; aeth y Mynyddbach yn fuan yn ail i Langeitho, cyrchai canoedd o bell ac agos yno ar y Sabbothau i'w wrandaw, a chafodd llawer o fla enoriaid gwasanaeth Satan eu gwneyd yn wasanaethwyr ffyddlon i Iesu Grist. Er i ganoedd fyw a marw heb eu dychwelyd at yr Arglwydd, etto bu ei weinidogaeth nerthol yn foddion i gyfodi crefydd i gymaint o sylw a dylanwad, nes darostwng i raddau helaeth yr anfoesoldeb a'r barbareidd-dra gwaradwyddus a ffynant yn mysg gweithwyr y dref a'r gymydogaeth. Ennillodd gymaint o ddylanwad dros y werin mewn ychydig o flynyddau, nes y byddai ei ymddangosiad yn ddigon i dawelu yr annuwiolion mwyaf rhyfygus. Cymerer y ffeithiau canlynol fel engreifftiau : - Yr oedd amryw gigwyr o gymydogaeth Cwmaman a Llangiwc yn arfer cadw marchnad Abertawy. Byddai rhai o honynt bob nos Sadwrn, ar ol gorphen gwerthu eu cig, yn myned i'r tafarndai, ac yn yfed yno hyd foreu y Sabboth, pryd y cychwynent tua chartref ar eu ceffylau bychain. Os digwyddai iddynt wrth fyned allan o'r dref gyfarfod Mr. Davies yn dyfod i'w cyfarfod ar yr heol, gyrent yn eu hol nes y caent groesffordd i droi iddi o'i wydd. Yr oedd un dyn diarhebol fel rhegwr, a elwid " Dick y Badwr," yr hwn a arferai gludo dynion dros yr afon rhwng Abertawy a'r Foxhole, pa bryd bynag y canfyddai Mr. Davies yn dyfod yn agos, rhybuddiai ei gymdeithion annuwiol, gan ddyweyd, " Peidiwch rhegu fechgyn, dacw Davies yn dyfod." Un nos Sadwrn, darfu i haid o ddynion ieuaingc meddw, mewn ffordd o ddigrifwch drelaidd, wrth fyned adref yn hwyr o'r dafarn, daflu ceryg at dý Mr. Davies, fel yr arferent wneyd at dai eraill. Pan ddaeth i wybod pwy oeddynt, anfonodd atynt i ddyfod i siarad ag ef; aethant yn grynedig, a'u mamau gyda hwynt, dan wylo, ac mewn braw rhag iddo eu hanfon i garchar. Ond pan ddaethant yno ni wnaeth ddim iddynt, amgen eu cynghori gyda dagrau, a myned i weddi drostynt, gan eu rhwymo i addaw dyfod i'r capel y Sabboth canlynol, yr hyn a wnaethant. Daethant oll yn fuan wedi hyny at grefydd. Yr oedd un o honynt yn fyw yn ddiweddar, os nad yw etto, ac yn "hen ddysgybl" penwyn. Dengys yr engreifftiau hyn, ac amryw o rai cyffelyb a ellid gofnodi, fod un " gweinidog da i Iesu Grist" yn llawer effeithiolach i foesoli ardal na haner cant o'r heddgeidwaid mwyaf gofalus. Gwnaeth adeiladiad y capeli ar y Cruglas ac yn Heol Ebenezer, a'r llwyddiant a ddilynodd hyny, wellhad buan yn moesau Abertawy a'r cylchoedd.

Wedi i Mr. Davies roddi y Mynyddbach a Threforis i fyny, a chyfyngu ei lafur i Ebenezer a'r Ysgetty, llwyddodd i sefydlu eglwys luosog a chref lawn yn mhob ystyr yn y dref. Mae yn debyg i'r eglwys gael ei chyfansoddi yn eglwys hollol annibynol ar y fam-eglwys yn y Mynyddbach cyn gynted ag yr agorwyd y capel yn 1804, os nad cyn hyny, ond nid oes genym unrhyw hanes ysgrifenedig nac argraffedig am ei chorpholiad fel eglwys Annibynol. Bendithiwyd yr eglwys hon, fel eglwysi eraill yn y gymydogaeth, a diwygiad grymus iawn yn 1807, pryd yr ychwanegwyd ugeiniau at yr aelodau, a pharhaodd pethau mewn agwedd nodedig o lewyrchus tra y bu Mr. Davies byw. Yr oedd Mr. Davies wedi llenwi ei bobl ag ysbryd cenhadol o'r pryd y daethai gyntaf i'w mysg, ac y mae yr ysbryd hwnw yn parhau i raddau dymunol yn eglwys Ebenezer hyd y dydd hwn. Yma y cynhaliwyd y cyfarfod cenhadol cyntaf yn Nghymru. Ar yr wythnos gyntaf o Awst, 1814, y cynhaliwyd y cyfarfod dyddorol hwn. Bore dydd Mawrth yn nghapel Ebenezer, gweddiwyd yn Gymraeg a Saesonaeg gan Meistri Davies, Browyr, a Smith Appledore, a phregethodd Mr. Jones, Islington, yn Saesonaeg, a Mr. Jones, Trelech, yn Gymraeg. Am dri o'r gloch, pregethodd Mr. Thomas, Penmain, yn Gymraeg. Am chwech, gweddiodd Mr. Warlow, Milford, a phregethodd Mr. Luke, Hwlffordd, yn Saesonaeg, a Mr. Hughes, Groeswen, yn Gymraeg, a diweddwyd trwy weddi gan Mr. Harris, gweinidog y Bedyddwyr yn Abertawy. Dydd Mercher, am saith y bore, pregethodd Mr. Skeel, Trefgarn, yn Gymraeg. Am ddeg, pregethodd Mr. Williams, Stroud, yn Saesonaeg, yn Eglwys Efan, a Mr. Jones, Talgarth, yn Gymraeg, yn Ebenezer. Am dri, cynnaliwyd cyfarfod cyhoeddus yn neuadd y dref er ffurfio Cangen Gynorthwyol Deheudir Cymru o Gymdeithas Genhadol Llundain. Llywyddwyd y cyfarfod gan L. W. Dillwyn, Ysw. Dewiswyd Thomas Morris, Ysw., Caerfyrddin, yn Drysorydd, a Meistri Peter a Charles, Caerfyrddin, yn Ysgrifenyddion, a phenderfynwyd fod y cyfarfod nesaf i gael ei gynnal yn Nghaerfyrddin. Gan mai yn yr iaith Saesonaeg y dygid y cyfarfod cyhoeddus yn mlaen, traddodwyd dwy bregeth i'r Cymry uniaith yn Ebenezer ar yr un amser, gan Mri. H. Williams, Llanelli, ac S. Davies, Maendy. Am chwech, pregethodd Mr. Thorp, Caerodor, yn Saesonaeg, a Mr. Jones, Pontypool, yn Gymraeg. Am saith bore ddydd Iau, pregethodd Mr. Powell, Aberhonddu. Am ddeg, pregethodd Mr. Davies, Sardis, ac ar ol y bregeth, darllenwyd yn Gymraeg y penderfyniadau a basiwyd yn y cyfarfod cyhoeddus y dydd o'r blaen. Am dri yn y prydnawn, cynnaliwyd cyfarfod cymundeb yn Ebenezer, pryd yr oedd llawer o ganoedd yn cydgymuno. Llywyddwyd wrth y bwrdd gan Mr. Davies, Alltwen. a Mr. Mathew Wilks, Llundain; ac anerchwyd y cymunwyr gan Mr. Thorp, a Mr. Peter. Gan fod y dorf yn aruthrol o fawr, tynwyd ymaith ffenestri y capel, a gosodwyd i fyny esgynlawr i'r llefarwyr i sefyll arno, fel y gallasai y torfeydd yn y tý, a thu allan eu clywed. Yr oedd rhyw deimlad nodedig o nefolaidd yn yr holl gyfarfodydd, ond yn enwedigol y cyfarfod cymundeb. Er. fod y cyfarfodydd wedi cael eu cadw yn ddiorphwys am dri diwrnod, nid oedd y lluaws yn foddlon ymadael heb gael dwy bregeth drachefn yn yr hwyr, ac felly pregethodd Mr. Mathew Wilks, a Mr. George, Brynberian. Daeth pob un o'r gweinidogion gwyddfodol a chaseiadau oddiwrth eu heglwysi i'r cyfarfod hwn, a chasglwyd yn ystod y cyfarfodydd yn Ebenezer 80p. 0s. 4c.; yn y Burrows 50p. 15s.; ac yn Eglwys Evan 18p. Yr oedd y cwbl a anfonwyd i'r fam-gymdeithas o'r cyfarfod hwn yn 500p. Oddiar y cyfarfodydd enwog hyn y mae eglwysi Cymru wedi anfon degau o filoedd o bunau i Gymdeithas Genhadol Llundain, ac mewn ychwanegiad at hyny, wedi anfon allan amryw o'u gwyr ieuaingc i'r maes cenhadol, y rhai sydd wedi troi allan yn genhadon enwog a llwyddianus iawn, ac yn mysg yr enwocaf o ba rai y mae Mr. Griffith John, un o blant eglwys Ebenezer.

Bu farw Mr. David Davies, yn nghanol ei ddyddiau a'i ddefnyddioldeb, yn Rhagfyr, 1816, er galar dirfawr i bobl ei ofal, ac i Gymru yn gyffredinol. Yn mhen ychydig gyda blwyddyn ar ol marwolaeth Mr. Davies, rhoddodd yr eglwysi yn Ebenezer a'r Ysgetty alwad i Mr. Thomas Davies, myfyriwr yn athrofa Llanfyllin, ac urddwyd ef Ebrill 23ain, 1818. Dechreuwyd cyfarfod yr urddiad trwy weddi gan Mr. T. Bowen, Castellnedd; pregethwyd ar natur eglwys, a gofynwyd y gofyniadau arferol gan Mr. J. Davis, Alltwen; gweddiwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. T. Powell, Aberhonddu; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. D. Peter, Caerfyrddin, oddiwrth Mat. xxi. 28.; ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys gan Mr. G. Hughes, Groeswen, oddiwrth 1 Tim. i. 17., a diweddwyd trwy weddi gan Mr. T. Luke, Abertawy. Pregethwyd yn yr hwyr, ac yn hwyr y dydd blaenorol, gan Meistri H. Williams, Llanelli; J. Williams, Ty'nycoed; J. Jones, Talgarth, a J. Rowlands, Llanybri. Bu Mr. T. Davies am rai blynyddau yn boblogaidd a rhyfeddol o barchus, nid yn unig gan ei bobl ei hun, ond hefyd gan y wlad yn gyffredinol. Gydag amser, pa fodd bynag, o herwydd rhyw wendidau perthynol iddo, bu raid i'r eglwys ymwrthod ag ef fel eu gweinidog, etto parhaodd canoedd yn y dref a'r cyffiniau yn eu teimlad o anwyldeb tuag ato er ei holl wendidau. Yn 1826, helaethwyd y capel trwy ychwanegu un-droedfedd-ar-bymtheg at ei led, fel yr oedd yn 50 troedfedd wrth 46 oddi fewn i'r muriau. Cynnaliwyd cyfarfodydd agoriad ar ol yr helaethiad hwn, Hydref 25ain a'r 26ain, 1826. Dechreuwyd y nos gyntaf gan Mr. D. Davies, Sardis, a phregethodd y Meistri L. Powell, Mynyddbach, Llandilo, a W. Jones, Penybont-ar-ogwy. Am haner awr wedi deg yr ail ddydd, gweddiodd Mr. S. Price, Llanedi, a phregethodd y Meistri D. Davies, Sardis, Brittan, Heolycastell, Abertawy, yn Saesonaeg, a D. Peter, Caerfyrddin. Yn y prydnawn, gweddiodd Mr. H. Herbert, Drefnewydd, a phregethodd y Meistri J. Williams, Ty'nycoed, a J. Rowlands, Cwmllynfell. Yn yr hwyr, gweddiodd Mr. J. Davies, Castellnedd, a phregethodd y Meistri Jenkins, Llangeitho, (Trefynydd,) a D. Peter, Caerfyrddin. Bu y capel ar ol ei helaethiad yn anghysurus o lawn am tua phymtheng mlynedd, ond wedi adeiladu Canaan, Capel Sion, Pentre-estyll, a Zoar, teneuodd y gynnulleidfa i raddau. Yn Mehefin, 1842, darfu cysylltiad Mr. Thomas Davies a'r eglwys hon fel ei gweinidog, ac yn niwedd yr un flwyddyn, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Elias Jacob, myfyriwr yn athrofa Aberhonddu, yr hwn a urddwyd yma Chwefror 1af a'r 2i1, 1843. Yr oedd trefn y gwasanaeth fel y canlyn : Y nos gyntaf pregethodd y Meistri J. Evans, Crwys, a W. Morris, Glandwr. Am ddeg, dranoeth, pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Rees, Llanelli; gofynwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. Evans, Crwys; gweddiwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. Jones, Heolycastell, a phregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. E. Davies, un o athrawon yr athrofa yn Aberhonddu. Am ddau, pregethodd Mr. E. Lewis, athrofa Aberhonddu, a Mr. D. Evans, Castellnedd. Am chwech, pregethodd Mr. W. Griffiths, Llanharan, ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys, a Mr. Jones, Heolycastell, i'r gynnulleidfa yn gyffredinol. Dechreuwyd y gwahanol oedfaon trwy weddi gan y Meistri Griffiths, LIanharan; Lewis, Aberhonddu; Watkins, Canaan, a Williams, Ysgetty. Bu Mr. Jacob, yn llafurio yma gyda diwydrwydd a ffyddlondeb canmoladwy hyd Awst, 1861, pryd y derbyniodd alwad i Ebley, sir Gaerloew, lle y mae hyd yn bresenol. Yn y flwyddyn 1856, gan fod y llywodraeth wedi gwahardd claddu ychwaneg wrth y capel, penderfynodd yr eglwys adeiladu ysgoldy helaeth dros y beddau. Costiodd yr adeilad cyfleus hwn 400p., yr hyn a dalodd y gynnulleidfa yn. ddioed. Cynnaliwyd cyfarfod agoriad yr ysgoldy ddydd. Nadolig, 1856, pryd y bu tua dwy fil o bersonau yn yfed te ar yr achlysur. Yn yr ysgoldy hwn y cedwir yr Ysgol Sabbothol a chyfarfodydd wythnosol yr eglwys. Yn Mawrth, 1862, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas Rees, Cendl, y gweinidog presenol. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Ebrill. Yn nechreu Gorphenaf, yr un flwyddyn, tynwyd yr hen gapel i lawr, a dechreuwyd adeiladu yr un presenol, yr hwn a orphenwyd erbyn dechreu Mehefin, 1863. Ymddangosodd yr hanes canlynol am yr agoriad yn y Diwygiwr am Gorphenaf, 1863: - " Ailadeiladwyd y capel hwn yn ddiweddar, ac yn awr y mae yn un o'r capeli mwyaf a phrydferthaf yn y Dywysogaeth. Mesura 70 troedfedd o hyd, 46 o led, a 32 o uchder i'r nenfwd. Y mae yr oriel yn rhedeg dros dair rhan o bedair o hono, ac wedi ei gyfleu yn y fath fodd, fel y gall pob dyn o bob congl o honi weled y pregethwr ar yr esgynlawr yn hollol ddidrafferth. Tu cefn i'r esgynlawr y mae cofadail prydferth, o fynor gwyn, wedi ei osod i fyny ar y mur, er coffadwriaeth am Mr. David Davies, gweinidog cyntaf Ebenezer, a thrwy offerynoliaeth yr hwn y dechreuwyd yr achos yno, yn gystal ag yn y dref. Y mae dyweyd mai Mr. T. Thomas, Glandwr, dynodd y cynllun, yn ddigon o warantiad am dlysni y capel. Yr adeiladwyr oeddynt Meistri Thomas, Watkins, a Jenkins, Abertawy, y rhai a gyflawnasant eu gwaith yn anrhydeddus. Costiodd yr adeilad 2,000p. neu 2,100p., heblaw defnyddiau yr hen gapel. Daeth yn barod erbyn diwedd Mai, ac yn Mehefin, cynaliwyd tri o gyfarfodydd neillduol mewn cysylltiad a'r agoriad. Yr oedd y cyfarfod cyntaf, yr hwn a gynaliwyd Mehefin yr 2i1, yn gwbl Seisnig, pryd y disgwylid Dr. Brown, o Cheltenham, i bregethu; ond oblegid afiechyd, methodd, a daeth Mr. J. Whiting, o Stroud, yn ei le, a phregethodd ddwy bregeth hynod o alluog, a chymerwyd than yn y gwahanol gyfarfodydd gan Meistri W. Jones, Castle Street; J. M. Evans, Newton; a J. Whitby, Burrows. Casglwyd yn y ddau gyfarfod 106p.

"Mehefin 6ed a'r 7fed, cynaliwyd cyfarfodydd Cymreig, pryd y pregethodd y Meistri J. Roberts, Castellnedd; J. Davies, Cwmaman; T. Thomas, Glandwr; W. Morgan, Caerfyrddin, a J. Mathews, Castellnedd.

"Mehefin 15fed a'r 16eg, cynaliwyd y gyfres olaf o gyfarfodydd mewn cysylltiad a'r agoriad; pryd ypregethwyd am 2 y dydd cyntaf gan y Meistri E. Evans, Skiwen, ac R. Thomas, Bangor. Am haner awr wedi 6, pregethwyd gan y Meistri J. Griffiths, Llanymddyfri; J. Evans, Capel Sion, a P. Griffiths, Alltwen. Am 7 yr ail ddydd, pregethodd y Meistri R. Lewis, Ty'nycoed, a Thomas, Bryn. Am 10, y Meistri E. Jacob, Ebley, ac R. Thomas. Am 2, y Meistri T. Davies, Siloah, Llanelli, a J. Thomas, Liverpool. Am haner awr wedi 6, y Meistri J. Thomas, ac R. Thomas. Cymerwyd rhan hefyd yn y gwahanol gyfarfodydd gan y Meistri D. Rees, Llanelli; J. Rees, Canaan; T. Davies, Llandilo; R. Williams, Bryntroedgam; J. Davies, Capel Sion; L. Davies, Sketty; W. Davies, Aberhonddu, &c. Rhwng y symiau a gasgiwyd yn y cyfarfodydd agoriadol, a'r hyn a gasglwyd gan y gyunulleidfa yn flaenorol, gwnaed yn agos i 600p. rhwng y cwbl, gan adael rhywbeth fel 1,500p. o ddyled, yr. hon modd bynag a doddir yn fuan trwy ymdrech y Dr. Rees, a'i gynnulleidfa fawr. Rhwydd hynt iddynt yn yr ymdrech. Gwna les mawr iddynt."

Saith gant o bunau yw y ddyled sydd yn aros yn awr, ac yn y swm hwn y mae dau cant o ddyled y capel yn Fabian's Bay, a gymerwyd gan eglwys Ebenezer arni ei hun er cynorthwyo yr achos ieuangc hwnw. Gellid talu y cwbl mewn ychydig wythnosau pe yr yrngymerid a hyny. Rhif aelodau yr eglwys yn,bresenol yw pum' cant a phedwar-ar-ddeg-ar-hugain, ac er's blynyddau bellach, y mae cyfanswm y casgliadau at bob achos rhwng pump a chwe' chant punt yn y flwyddyn.

Mae yr eglwys hon er nad yw nemawr dros driugain-a-deg oed, yn fam i amryw o eglwysi yn y gymydogaeth: megis Heolycastell, Canaan, Capel Sion, Pentre-estyll, Cwmbwrla, y Sandfields, a Walter-road. Er fod cynifer o ganghenau wedi myned allan o honi, mae yr hen fam etto yn ymddangos yn gryf ac iachus. Ag ystyried lluosogrwydd yr eglwys, nid yw y nifer a gyfodwyd i bregethu ynddi ond ychydig mewn cymhariaeth. Y rhai canlynol yw yr unig rai y cawsom ni eu henwau.

  • David Williams, mab yr hen swyddwr enwog Peter Williams. Ganwyd ef Ionawr 27ain, 1804. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod eglwysig Medi 7fed, 1819, gan Mr. T. Davies. Dechreuodd bregethu yn mis Mawrth, 1823. Aeth i athrofa Caerfyrddin yn 1824 neu 1825, ac urddwyd ef yn Forest Green, sir Gaerloew, yn 1829. Symudodd oddiyno i Kingswood, yn 1832; i Kineton, yn 1843; i Eatington, yn 1845; i Welford, yn 1855, ac i Wootton Bassett, yn 1860, lle y bu farw Awst 27ain, 1868. Yr oedd yn ddyn da iawn, ac yn bregethwr rhagorol. Perchid ef yn fawr yn mhob un o'r lleoedd y bu ynddynt.
  • David Thomas. Gweler ei hanes yn nglyn a hanes Bethel, Llansamlet, lle y bu am ychydig amser yn weinidog.
  • John Thomas. Y mae er's blynyddau bellach yn weinidog defnyddiol yn America.
  • Daniel Thomas. Y mae yntau er's blynyddau wedi ymfudo i America.
  • John Thomas, sydd un o ddiaconiaid yr eglwys, ac yn bregethwr cynnorthwyol derbyniol iawn.
  • David John, gweinidog eglwys Booth Street, Manchester.
  • David Davies, gweinidog yr hen gapel, Llanybri.
  • John Mathews. Mae yn awr yn fyfyriwr yn athrofa Aberhonddu.
  • Thomas Thomas, a ddechreuodd bregethu yma, ond a symudodd ogledd Lloegr.

Yn yr eglwys hon y magwyd Mr. Griffith John, y Cenhadwr, ac yma y derbyniwyd ef yn aelod pan nad oedd and wyth mlwydd oed; ac er mai yn Onllwyn y dechreuodd bregethu, etto Ebenezer a gyfrifir ganddo fel ei fam-eglwys. Yma yr urddwyd ef cyn ei fynediad allan i China, ar y 6ed o Ebrill, 1855. Mae y safle uchel y mae wedi ei gyrhaedd fel Cenhadwr gweithgar, galluog, a llwyddianus, yn anrhydedd, nid yn unig eglwys a'i magodd, ond hefyd i'r genedl yn gyffredinol.

Mae nifer o ddynion rhagorol am eu duwioldeb, eu ffyddlondeb, a'u dylanwad fel crefyddwyr wedi bod yn perthyn i'r achos hwn o'i ddechreuad, y rhai y cedwir eu henwau mewn coffadwriaeth barchus; megis Peter Williams, Daniel Daniel, Dafydd Hugh, Dafydd Rees, Dafydd Harry, William Dafydd, yn nghyd ag amryw eraill a ymadawsant a'r eglwys hon pan ddechreuwyd y gwahanol ganghenau. Cawn etto achlysur i grybwyll eu henwau hwy yn hanes yr eglwysi hyny.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

DAVID DAVIES. Ganwyd ef yn mhentref Llangeler, sir Gaerfyrddin, Mehefin 12fed, 1763. ..................................................................

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (May 2009)

Swansea was one of the first places in Wales where the foot of non-conformism was put down. As we noted in the history of  Mynyddbach, the Independent church was formed here about the year 1641, by Mr. Phillip Jones, from Penytwyn, Llangyfelach, and Mr. Ambrose Mostyn, before the outbreak of the war, that started in 1642, and soon after the formation of the churches in Llanfaches, Mynyddislwyn, and Cardiff.  In 1662, Mr. Marmaduke Mathews was cast out of Eglwys Efan and soon after that, several non-conformist ministers came to live in the town and the district, such as Messrs Daniel Higgs, M.A., William Thomas, M.A., Stephen Hughes, Meidrym; David Jones, Llandyssilio, and Meredith Davies, Llanon, and some, if not all of them, lived here for the rest of their lives.  When non-conformists were granted freedom to license houses for preaching, in the year 1672,  Marmaduke Mathews, Daniel Higgs, and Stephen Hughes licensed their houses to that end in the town of Swansea. Non-conformity was kept alive here through all the passion of persecution, and as soon as the Act of Tolerance was passed in 1688, an Independent chapel was built here, and by 1697, that had become too small, so that they had to build a more extensive one on the southern side of the High Street, on the site of the present Unitarian chapel, and the first chapel was rented to the Baptists. It appears that the service was conducted in the English language in this chapel from the very first.  Mr. Higgs, the first minister, was an Englishman, and he was followed by one Mr. Denbury, and after that by Mr. Whitear.  Mr. George Palmer, who died in 1750, was the first Welshman to preach here, but it is quite certain that he preached in English.  So this cause was never of much service to the Welsh population in the town, and what was worse than the language, the trumpet of the ministry gave an indistinct sound here about the middle of the eighteenth century, until gradually the place moved completely into the possession of the Unitarians.

A branch of the Ty'rdwncyn church held a regular religious service for many years in Wigfach, a farmhouse about a mile and a half to the north west of the town of Swansea, mainly for the sake of the members who met in the town and the community. After the death of  Luce Rosser, the lady of the house, in 1776, a hindrance arose to prevent them from worshipping there, and they had to search for somewhere else.  Mr. Lewis Rees and Mr. Solomon Harris, the minister of the English, went to see Mr. Aleine, the owner of a convenient room behind Heolycastell in the  town, and were allowed that room to hold meetings on the Sunday and weekday evenings.  In this room they worshipped until Ebenezer chapel was built.  During the time of  Mr. Lewis Rees, the Methodist ministers used to preach quite often in this room, since this denomination didn't have one place of worship in the town.  The members went to Mynyddbach for communion, and to services every Sunday morning, and held the services in the room in the afternoon and evening.  After Mr. Davies, Llangeler, became the minister of Mynyddbach, his incomparable gifts attracted such multitudes to gather in that room, when he came to preach, that it was not big enough to contain all his listeners. In the meantime, a certain misunderstanding took place between the members; some felt that the people in the midst of their passion and zeal for their new minister, Mr. Davies, were guilty of disregarding the former minister, Mr. Rees, and so they became two factions. Mr. David Thomas, a brewer, built a chapel in 1799, on his own land in Cruglas, and offered it to the body of the Methodists. Several members from Mynyddbach moved from the room to the chapel, and they joined with the Methodists, and that was the beginning of Methodism in Swansea. Anyway, a great many clung to Mr. Davies in the room, and the place soon became too small to contain the listeners. In 1803,  Ebenezer chapel was built, and it opened on 9th and 10th of  May, 1804, when these famous ministers preached - David Peter, Carmarthen; Morgan Jones, Trelech; Thomas Bowen, Neath; John Davies, Alltwen; Griffith Hughes, Groeswen; David Morgan, Esgairdawe; Morgan Lewis, Glynneath; Dr. Thomas Phillips, Neuaddlwyd; William Griffiths, Glandwr; John Lloyd, Henllan, and Sadrach Davies, Maendy.  Ebenezer was,  at that time, one of the largest chapels in Wales.  It measured 46 feet by 34 inside the walls.  It immediately became too small to contain the congregation comfortably.  Mr. Davies' popularity was such that it was difficult to find any chapel big enough to contain his listeners.  The moral attitude in Swansea was utterly wretched when Mr. Davies started his ministry here. The inhabitants of Swansea numbered about ten thousand, besides the inhabitants of the villages about a mile out of the town, and there was only one Welsh chapel in the whole town, the Baptist chapel, which at best could contain over three hundred people.  The miners and other workers in the town and the vicinity were more akin to barbarians than to residents of a civilized country. Several old people that were still alive testified that it was a danger to life to walk the streets of the town and the nearby villages on "pay day Saturday night," as hoards of drunken, cruel rascals were always ready to attack anyone that went close to them. They would also attack houses in the night, throwing big stones at them, until doors and windows broke, and they would hardly be able to utter a word without threatening and swearing and blaspheming. It was an unusual event then, in these areas, to have workers professing religion.  Those few churches, from all denominations in the community, were made up almost completely of farmworkers and merchants. The working classes were almost all in the possession of the devil, and were in his service to the best of their ability. When Mr. Davies came to the community, a quick, pleasant conversion took place. His incomparable gifts excited great attention;  Mynyddbach soon came second to Llangeitho, hundreds journeyed there from far and near on Sundays to listen to him, and many of Satan's deacons were made into faithful servants for Jesus Christ. Even though hundreds lived and died without returning to the Lord, yet his powerful ministry was a means to raise religion to so much notice and influence, until it subdued to a great degree the shameful immorality and barbarism that thrived amongst the workers of the town and the community. He had such an influence over the common people within a few years, that just his appearance was enough to quieten the most arrogant ungodly people. Take these facts as examples: - There were several butchers from the area of  Cwmaman and Llangiwc who held a market in Swansea. Every Saturday evening some of them, when they'd finished selling their meat, would go to the public houses, and would drink there until Sunday morning, when they started for home on their little horses. As they went out of the town, if they happened to meet Mr. Davies coming towards them on the road,  they would go back until they found a crossroads to turn into.  There was one man who was well known for swearing, and was called " Dick y Badwr," (Dick the Boatman) who used to carry men across the river between Swansea and Foxhole, whenever he came across Mr. Davies coming close, would say to his ungodly companions, " Don't swear boys, Davies is coming." One Saturday evening, a crowd of drunken young men, for fun, as they went home late from the inn, threw stones at Mr. Davies' house, as they used to do to other houses. When he came to know who they were, he sent for them to come to speak to him; they started shivering, and so did their mothers, weeping, and in fear in case he sent them to prison. But when they arrived there he didn't do anything to them, other then to advise them with tears, and prayed for them, binding them to promise to come to chapel the following Sunday, which they did.  They all turned to religion after that. One of them was still alive until recently, even might still be alive, and is a white haired 'old pupil'. These examples and many others similar show that one "good minister for Jesus Christ" is far more effective in moralizing an area than fifty of the most caring policemen. The building of the chapels in Cruglas and in Heol Ebenezer, and the success that followed that, did much to improve the morals of Swansea and the district.

When Mr. Davies had given up Mynyddbach and Morriston, and restricted his labour to Ebenezer and Sketty, he succeeded in establishing a strong, well populated church in the town. It appears that it has been composed as a completely independent church from the mother church in Mynyddbach as soon as the chapel was opened in 1804, if not before that, but we have no written or printed history about its embodiment as an Independent church. This church was blessed, as other churches in the community were, with a very powerful revival in 1807, when scores were added to the membership, and things continued in a remarkably successful way while Mr. Davies lived.  Mr. Davies filled his people with a missionary spirit from the time he first came amongst them, and that spirit continues to a good degree in  Ebenezer church till this day.  This is where the first missionary meeting in Wales was held. This interesting meeting was held in the first week in August, 1814. On Tuesday morning in Ebenezer chapel, Messrs Davies, Browyr, and Smith Appledore prayed in Welsh and English, and Mr. Jones, Islington, preached in English, and Mr. Jones, Trelech, in Welsh. At three o'clock, Mr. Thomas, Penmain,  preached in Welsh.  At six, Mr. Warlow, Milford, prayed and a Mr. Luke, Haverfordwest,  preached in English, and  Mr. Hughes, Groeswen, in Welsh, and they ended the service in prayer with Mr. Harris, the Baptist minister in Swansea.  On Wednesday, at seven in the morning, Mr. Skeel, Trefgarn, preached in Welsh. At ten, Mr. Williams, Stroud, preached in English, in Eglwys Efan, and Mr. Jones, Talgarth, preached in Welsh, in Ebenezer. At three, a public meeting was held in the town hall in order to form the South Wales Support Branch of the London Missionary Society. The meeting was chaired by L.W. Dillwyn, Esq. Thomas Morris, Esq., Carmarthen, was chosen as Treasurer, and Messrs Peter and Charles, Carmarthen, as Secretaries, and it was decided that the next meeting would be held in Carmarthen. Since the public meeting was held in English, two sermons were given to the monoglot Welsh by Messrs. H. Williams, Llanelli, and S. Davies, Maendy in Ebenezer at the same time. At six, Mr. Thorp, Caerodor, preached in English, and Mr. Jones, Pontypool, in Welsh. At seven on Thursday morning, Mr. Powell, Brecon preached. At ten, Mr. Davies, Sardis, preached and after the sermon, the decisions passed in the public meeting the previous day were read out in Welsh. At three in the afternoon, a communion meeting was held in Ebenezer, when many hundreds came together to take communion. Mr. Davies, Alltwen and Mr. Mathew Wilks, London presided at the table and Mr. Thorp, and Mr. Peter addressed the communicants.  Since the crowd was so amazingly large, the chapel windows were taken out, and a platform was erected for the speakers to stand on, so that the crowds in the house, and outside could hear them. There was a remarkablyly heavenly feeling  in all the meetings, but especially in the communion. Even though the meetings had been held with no rest for three days, the multitude was unwilling to leave without two more sermons in the evening, and so Mr. Mathew Wilks, and Mr. George, Brynberian preached. Each one of the ministers present came to this meeting with collections from their own churches, and during the meeting in Ebenezer £80. 0s. 4p was collected; in  Burrows  £50. 15s; and in Eglwys Efan £18.  £500 was sent to the mother society from this meeting.  Since this famous meeting the churches of  Wales have sent tens of thousands of pounds to the London Missionary Society, and in addition, have sent out several of their young men to the missionary field,  who have turned out to be very well known and successful missionaries, and in the midst of them the most famous of these is Mr. Griffith John, one of the children of Ebenezer.

Mr. David Davies, died in the middle of his days and his usefulness, in December, 1816, much to the great grief of the people under his care, and to Wales in general. Within a little more than a year after the death of Mr. Davies, the church of  Ebenezer and Sketty sent out a call to Mr. Thomas Davies, a student in the college at Llanfyllin, and he was ordained on April 23rd, 1818. The ordination service began with a prayer from Mr. T. Bowen, Neath; Mr. J. Davies, Alltwen preached on the nature of church and asked the usual questions; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. T. Powell, Brecon;  Mr. D. Peter, Carmarthen preached on the duty of the minister,  from Mat. xxi. 28.; and Mr. G. Hughes, Groeswen preached on the duty of the church, from 1 Tim. i. 17., and the meeting ended in prayer by Mr. T. Luke, Swansea. Messrs H. Williams, Llanelli;  J. Williams, Ty'nycoed; J. Jones, Talgarth, and  J. Rowlands, Llanybri, preached in the evening, and in the evening of the previous day.  Mr. T. Davies was for some years, popular and amazingly respected, not only by his own people, but also by the country in general. In time, however, because of some weaknesses he had, the church had to turn away from him as their minister, yet hundreds in the town continued to feel a fondness for him despite all his weaknesses. In 1826, the chapel was extended by adding sixteen feet to its width,  so that it was 50 feet by 46 within the walls. Opening meetings were held after the extension was built, in October 25th and 26th, 1826. The first evening started with Mr. D. Davies, Sardis, and Messrs L. Powell, Mynyddbach, Llandilo, and W. Jones, Bridgend preached. At half past ten the second day, Mr. S. Price, Llanedi prayed, and Messrs D. Davies, Sardis,  Brittan, Heolycastell, Swansea, preached in English, and D. Peter, Carmarthen. In the afternoon, Mr. H. Herbert, Newtown prayed, and Messrs J. Williams, Ty'nycoed, and J. Rowlands, Cwmllynfell preached. In the evening,  Mr. J. Davies, Neath prayed, and Messrs Jenkins, Llangeitho, (the organizer) and D. Peter, Carmarthen preached. After the extension was built the chapel was uncomfortably full for about fifteen years, but after Canaan, Capel Sion, Pentre-estyll, and Zoar were built, the congregation thinned out to some degree. In June, 1842, Mr. Thomas Davies' connection as minister of the church came to an end, and at the end of the same year a call was sent out to Mr. Elias Jacob, a student in the college at Brecon, was ordained here on February 1st and 2nd, 1843. The service was organized as follows : The first evening Messers J. Evans, Crwys, and W. Morris, Glandwr preached. At ten, the next day, Mr. D. Rees, Llanelli preached on the nature of church; the questions were asked by Mr. Evans, Crwys;  the ordination prayer was prayed by  Mr. Jones, Heolycastell, and Mr. E. Davies, one of the professors from the college in Brecon. At two,  Mr. E. Lewis, from Brecon college and Mr. D. Evans, Neath preached. At six Mr. W. Griffiths, Llanharan, preached on the duty of the church, and Mr. Jones, Heolycastell, preached to the congregation in general. The different services started through prayer by Messrs Griffiths,  Llanharan; Lewis, Aberhonddu; Watkins, Canaan, and Williams, Sketty. Mr. Jacob, laboured here busily and faithfully until August, 1861, when he accepted a call to Ebley, Gloucestershire, where he still resides.  In the year 1856, as the government had prohibited any more burials near the chapel, the church decided to build an extensive schoolroom on top of the graves.  This convenient  building cost £400., which the congregation paid immediately. The opening services were held on Christmas day, 1856, when about two thousand people drank tea on the occasion. The Sunday school was held in this schoolroom and the weekday meetings of the church. In March, 1862, Mr. Thomas Rees, Cendl, the present minister received a call.  He started his ministry here in April.  At the beginning of July, the same year, the old chapel was pulled down, and the present chapel, which was completed by June, 1863, was built.  The following history of the opening appeared in the 'Diwygiwr' in July, 1863: - " This chapel was rebuilt lately, and is now one of the biggest and most beautiful in the Principality. It measures 70 feet in length, 46 in width, and 32 in height to the ceiling.  The gallery runs across three quarters of it, and has been designed in such a way that, every man can, from every corner, see the minister on the platform with no difficulty. Behind the platform there is a beautiful monument, from white marble, set up on the wall, to commemorate Mr. David Davies, the first minister of  Ebenezer, who was so instrumental in the beginnings of this cause as well as in the town.  Saying that Mr. T. Thomas, Glandwr,  designed the building, is enough of a guarantee of the beauty of the building. The builders were Messers Thomas, Watkins, a Jenkins, Swansea, who completed their work honourably. The building cost £2,000 or £2,100., without the materials from the old chapel. It was ready by the end of May, and in June, three notable meetings were held in connection with the opening. The first meeting, which was held on June 2nd, completely in English, when Dr. Brown, of Cheltenham was expected to preach; but because of illness, he failed, and Mr. J. Whiting, of Stroud, came instead, and preached two remarkably able sermons, and Messers W. Jones, Castle Street; J. M. Evans, Newton; and J. Whitby, Burrows took part in the different meetings. £106 was collected during the two services.

"On June 6th and the 7th, Welsh services were held here, when Messrs J. Roberts, Neath; J. Davies, Cwmaman; T. Thomas, Glandwr; W. Morgan, Carmarthen, and J. Mathews, Neath preached.

"On June 15th and 16th, the last series of meetings in  connection with the opening were held; when Messrs E. Evans, Skewen, and R. Thomas, Bangor preached for the first two days. At half past six, Messrs J. Griffiths, Llandyfri; J. Evans, Capel Sion, and P. Griffiths, Alltwen preached. At 7 the second day, Messrs R. Lewis, Ty'nycoed, and Thomas, Bryn preached. At 10, Messrs E. Jacob, Ebley, and R. Thomas preached. At 2, Messrs T. Davies, Siloah, Llanelli, and J. Thomas, Liverpool.  At half past  6, Messrs J. Thomas, and R. Thomas. Messrs D. Rees, Llanelli; J. Rees, Canaan; T. Davies, Llandilo; R. Williams, Bryntroedgam; J. Davies, Capel Sion; L. Davies, Sketty; W. Davies, Brecon, &c. also took part in the different services.  Between the sums collected in the opening services, and that which was collected by the congregation earlier, almost £600 was collected on the whole, leaving something like £1,500 debt left,  which soon melted, anyway, through the efforts of  Dr. Rees, and his great congregation. We wish them well in their endeavours. It will do them good."

The debt is now seven hundred pounds, and in this amount there is two hundred pounds debt from the chapel in Fabian's Bay, that Ebenezer church took upon herself to support this young cause. The whole debt could be paid within a few weeks if they undertook to do so.  There are, at present, five hundred and thirty four members, and for years now, the total collection towards every cause is between five and six hundred pounds a year.

Even though this church isn't much more than seventy years old, it is a mother to several churches in the community: such as Heolycastell, Canaan, Capel Sion, Pentre-estyll, Cwmbwrla,  Sandfields, and Walter-road. Even though many branches have broken off from it, yet the old mother appears strong and healthy. And considering the multitudes of the church, those who were raised to preach in it are quite few in comparison. The following are the only names we have been given.

  • David Williams, the son of the famous old official Peter Williams. He was born on January 27th, 1804.  He started preaching in March, 1823. He died in Wootton Bassett, in 1860, on August 27th, 1868.
  • David Thomas. His history is to be seen concerning the history of Bethel, Llansamlet, where he was a minister for a short time.
  • John Thomas. He has been a useful minister for years now in America.
  • Daniel Thomas. He emigrated to America years ago.
  • John Thomas, who is one of the deacons of the church, and is a very acceptable lay preacher.
  • David John, the minister of Booth Street chapel, Manchester.
  • David Davies, the minister of the old church at  Llanybri.
  • John Mathews. He is now a student in Brecon college.
  • Thomas Thomas, who started preaching here but moved to the north of England.

Mr. Griffith John, the missionary was brought up here and was accepted as a member when he was eight years old; and even though he started preaching in Onllwyn, yet it is Ebenezer that is counted as his mother-church. He was ordained here before he went out to China, on the 6th of  April, 1855. The high position he has reached as a hard working, able and successful missionary, is an honour, not only to the church who nurtured him, but also to the nation in general.

Many excellent men, in their faithfulness, and influence as religious men have belonged to this cause from the very beginning, and their names have been kept in respectful memory; Peter Williams, Daniel Daniel, Dafydd Hugh, Dafydd Rees, Dafydd Harry, William Dafydd, along with several others who left the church when the different branches started. We will have occasion to mention their names in the history of those churches.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not extracted fully)

DAVID DAVIES. He was born in the village of  Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, June 12th, 1763. ..................................................................

YR YSGETTY (Swansea)

(Vol 2, p 35)

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Ardal nodedig o brydferth, yn y rhan isaf o blwyf Abertawy, yw yr Ysgetty, ychydig gyda dwy filldir i'r gorllewin o'r dref. Mae yn dra thebyg fod yma gangen o eglwys Ty'rdwncyn yn cynal gwasanaeth crefyddol rheolaidd oddiar y flwyddyn 1688, os nad yn hir eyn hyny, ond gan nad oes unrhyw gofnodion ysgrifenedig am yr achoa ar gael, nid oes genym un sicrwydd am amser ei ddechreuad. Ar brydnawn a hwyr y Sabbothau y cedwid y gwasanaeth yma gynt, am y byddai pawb a fedrant yn myned 1 Dy'rdwncyn yn y bore. Cawn y cofnodiad canlynol yn nydd-lyfr Thomas Morgan, Hellan, yr hyn a ddengys mai felly yr arferid gwneyd yn ei amser ef, ac yn hir wedi hyny.

" Tachwedd 15fed, 1741, yn Nhy'rdwncyn yn y bore, oddiwrth Col. i. 12; yn yr hwyr yn yr Ysgetty, oddiwrth Job xxx. 23."

Mae yn sicr fod gwahanol anedd-dai yn yr ardal wedi bod yn dai cyfarfod gan y gynnulleidfa er dechreuad yr achos hyd y pryd yr adeiladwyd y capel cyntaf, ond nid ydym wedi dyfod o hyd i enwau ond dau o honynt, sef y Brynisaf a'r Tygwyn, y lle o ba un y symudodd y gynnulleidfa i'w haddoldy. Yn y flwyddyn 1770, yr adeiladwyd y capel, sef yr unfed-flwyddyn-ar-ddeg o weinidogaeth Mr. Lewis Rees yn y lle. Yr oedd amryw ddynion selog a gweithgar yn perthyn i'r gynnulleidfa pan adeiladwyd y capel yn 1770. Y ddau henuriad llywodraethol oedd Mr. Eees Harris a Mr. Benjamin Davies, a'r ddau ddiacon oedd Mr. Thomas Perkins a Mr. William Jones. Enwir hefyd Mr. William Gwynne, Gwr-saeson,  a Mr. John Habaccuc, o'r Cocyd, fel rhai ffyddlon a haelionus iawn. Bu Mr. Habaccuc fyw nes yr oedd yn 102 flwydd oed. Aelod lled ieuangc oedd Mr. William Rosser, Gwerneinon y pryd hwn, ond parhaodd yn ffyddlon a defnyddiol iawn hyd derfyn ei oes, a bu ei fab Mr. Samuel   

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Rosser, Goetrefawr, a'i fcrch Mrs. Hughes, Ysgettyisaf, yn golofnau cedyrn dan yr achos, yn enwedig mewn pethau arianol, am ugeiniau o flynyddau. Gan Mr. John Harris, o'r Brynisaf, y cafwyd y tir at adoiladu y capel. Ar y cyntaf rhoddwyd ef yn rhad, ond o herwydd i arolygwyr yr adeiladaeth gymeryd i mewn fwy o dir oddiamgylch y capel, er mwyn cael pren prydferth a dyfai gerllaw y tu fewn i'r mur allanol, nag a nodasai y perchenog ar y cyntaf, digiodd wrthynt a bygythiodd dori y lès, ond wedi llawer o ymdrech, a challineb Mr. Rees, y gweinidog, ac eraill, cafwyd ganddo roddi lês o 999 o flynyddau am yr ardreth o bum' swllt y flwyddyn. Y mae un peth arall cysylltiedig ag adeiladiad y capel cyntaf yn yr Ysgetty na ddylid ei adael yn ddisylw. Yr oedd morwyn gyda Mr. William Rosser o'r enw Elizabeth, yr hon, o herwydd ei bod yn eneth gref iawn o gorph, a adwaenid dan yr enw Hearty Bet. Mae yn ymddangos fod ei sel gyda'r achos goreu yn gryfach na'i chorph, cr cryfed oedd hwnw. Gan nad oedd ganddi lawer o arian i'w cyfranu at y capel newydd, elai allan yn y nos, ar ol gorphen ei diwrnod gwaith, i gasglu ceryg a'u cario at yr adeilad. Bu am lawer o nosweithiau am oriau bob nos yn gwneyd hyny, a thebyg iddi arbed rhai punoedd yn y modd hwnw. Pa beth a all sefyll o flaen sel a chariad ?

Bu y gynnulleidfa yn addoli yn y capel hwn o 1770, hyd 1842. Yn yr ysbaid hwnw yr oedd agwedd a phoblogaeth yr ardal wedi cyfnewid yn fawr, fel y barnwyd yn angenrheidiol prynu darn o dir i adeiladu capel arno tua haner milldir yn uwch i fyny, er mwyn bod yn fwy yn nghanol y boblogaeth. Gorphenwyd yr adeilacl ac agorwyd ef Tachwedd 9fed a'r lOfed, 1842. Rhoddwyd hanes cyfarfod yr agoriad yn y Diwygiwr fel y canlyn : " Dechreuwyd yr hwyr cyntaf am 6, pan y gweddiodd y Parch. E. Grifflths, Abertawy, a phregethodd y Parchn. T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli, a D. Jones, Clydach, oddiwrth Zech. xii. 10-14., ac Esaiah v. 4. Am 10, dydd lau, dechreuodd y Parch. J. Evans, Crwys, a phregethodd y Parchn. J. Davies, Cwmaman; T. Dodd, Burrows, Abertawy, (yn Saesoneg,) a J. Williams, Ty'nycoed, oddiwrth Salm xlii. 6., Hag. ii. 9., a Ioan viii. 56. Am 3, dechreuodd y Parch. T. Grifflths, Pentregethin, a phregethodd y Parchn. W. Jones, Heolycastell, Abertawy, (yn Saesonaeg,) ac L. Powell, Caerdydd, oddiwrth Esaiah lvi. 3., a Salm xxv. 20. Am 6, dechreuodd y Parch. R. Owens, Abertawy, a phregethodd y Parchn. D. Pugh, York Place, (Bedyddiwr,) yn Saesonaeg, a W. Morris, Glandwr, oddiwrth 1 Petr i. 13., a 2 Cor. xxxiii. 12, 13. Gorphenwyd trwy weddi gan y Parch. W. Ford, Browyr. Yr oedd y cynnulleidfaoedd yn lluosog ac ystyried gerwindeb yr hin, y pregethau yn gynwysfawr a gwlithog, y cyfraniadau yn haelionus, a phob arwyddion fod Duw gyda ni. Teilynga caredigrwydd yr ardal yn gyffredinol ar yr amgylchiad ganmoliaeth wresog, ac yn. neillduol Mrs. Hughes, Ysgettyisaf, a blaenoriaid yr eglwys, gydnabyddiaeth gyhoeddus am eu dull ffyddlawn, trefnus, a gofalus, yn dwyn pethau oddiamgylch. Pwrcaswyd y tir, ac adeiladwyd y capel helaeth, hardd, a chyfleus hwn a 700p. o draul, o ba un y mae 300p. wedi eu talu eisioes, trwy ymdrech yr ardalwyr yn unig, a theimlant yn ewyllysgar ac awyddus iawn i barhau yn eu hymdrechion, nes cael y tý yn ddiddyled i gadw coffadwriaeth o enw Duw Jacob." Trwy gydweithrediad y gynnulleidfa ni buwyd yn hir cyn talu y geiniog olaf o'r ddyled. Mae yn deilwng o sylw fod y capel a'r tir wedi costio mewn gwirionedd tua 900p. er mai 700p. fu raid i'r eglwys dalu. Talodd Mrs. Hughes y gweddill o'i   

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llogell ei hun. Hi oedd yn gweinyddu fel trysorydd pwyllgor yr adeiladaeth. Mae mynwent helaeth a phrydferth iawn oddiamgylch y capel, a llawer o ganoedd o feirw o dref Abertawy, yn gystal ag o ardal yr Ysgetty, wedi eu claddu ynddi. Y fynwent hon yw Bunhill fields Ymneillduwyr Abertawy o bob enwad. Mae tý cyfleus ar gwr y fynwent yn perthyn i'r capel, yr hwn a adeiladwyd gan y ddiweddar Mrs. Hughes, yn hollol ar ei thraul ei hun. Er fod y capel hwn, pan yr adeiladwyd ef yn cael ei gyfrif yn un hardd a nodedig o gyfleus, etto, cyn pen wyth-mlynedd-ar-hugain, cyfodwyd capeli yn y dref a'r cwmpasoedd llawer harddach a mwy cysurus, fel lleoedd addoliad. Parodd hyn i gynnulleidfa yr Ysgetty benderfynu mynu capel newydd mwy teilwng o'r oes ac o'u hardal brydferth hwythau, yn yr hon y mae ugeiniau o fan balasdai nodedig o dlysion. Yn 1869, tynwyd y rhan fwyaf oll o'r hen gapel i lawr, ac ail adeiladwyd ef. Y mae yn awr yn addoldy nad oes ei brydferthach yn y deyrnas, ac yn cynwys eisteddleoedd i tua 550 o wrandawyr. Traul yr ailadeiladaeth oedd 1108p., ac y mae mwy na haner y swm hwn wedi ei dalu eisioes, a diau na fydd y gweddill yn hir cyn cael ei lwyr ddileu. Agorwyd y capel tlws hwn, Mehefin 6ed a'r 7fed, 1870, pryd y gweinyddwyd gan Meistri Kilsby Jones, W. Jansen Davies, Llanymddyfri; Dr. Rees, Abertawy; W. E. Jones, Treforis; W. Morgan, Caerfyrddin; T. Johns, Llanelli; J. Thomas, Bryn, a W. Jenkins, Pentre-estyll. Dan yr un weinidogaeth. y bu y gangen yn yr Ysgetty a'r fam-eglwys yn y Mynyddbach o'r dechreuad hyd y flwyddyn 1809. Yn y flwyddyn hono, gan fod y cylch gweinidogaethol mor eang, a bod yr eglwysi wedi dewis Mr. Daniel Evans, Bangor, yn gydweinidog a Mr. David Davies, barnwyd mai y ffordd oreu i ddwyn yr achos yn mlaen oedd rhanu y cylch gweinidogaethol. Dewisodd Mr. Davies, Ebenezer, Abertawy, a'r Ysgetty, a gadawodd y Mynyddbach a Threforis dan ofal Mr. Evans. O'r pryd hwnw hyd Mehefin, 1842, pan derfynodd cysylltiad Mr. Thomas Davies ag eglwys Ebenezer, bu yr Ysgetty dan yr un weinidogaeth ag Ebenezer. Yna dewisodd pob un o'r ddwy eglwys eu gweinidogion eu hunain. Rhoddodd eglwys yr Ysgetty alwad i Mr. Edmund G. Williams, o athrofa Aberhonddu, yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1842, ac urddwyd ef Ebrill 20fed, 1843. Bu Mr. Williams yma yn llafurus iawn, ac yn dra llwyddianus, hyd y flwyddyn 1849, pryd y cafodd ar ei feddwl i geisio urddau yn yr Eglwys Sefydledig, yr hyn a gafodd. Y mae er's mwy nag ugain mlynedd bellach yn gaplan carchardy, Abertawy. Mae gan bob dyn ei chwaeth ei hun, ond yr ydym ni yn sicr y buasai yn well genym gael treulio ein nerth i bregethu i gynnulleidfa barchus yr Ysgetty, pe buasai raid i ni fyw ar fara a dwfr yn unig, na sefyll trwy y blynyddau, o Sabboth i Sabboth, uwch ben torf o garcharorion, er cael tal da am hyny. Yn y flwyddyn 1851, rhoddodd yr eglwys yn yr Ysgetty alwad i Mr. Thomas Rees Davies, Gwenddwr, mab yr hynod Rees Davies, Saron. Dewisiad anhapus i'r eglwys fu y dewisiad hwn. Bu raid iddynt dori y cysylltiad ag ef yn mhen ychydig gyda dwy flynedd. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1855, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Lewls Davies, o athrofa Aberhonddu, a mab yr hyawdl David Davies, Sardis; yr hwn a urddwyd yma yn Gorphenaf yr un flwyddyn. Rhoddwyd hanes yr urddiad yn y Diwygiwr fel y canlyn: " Gorphenaf 2il a'r 3ydd, 1855, cynaliwyd cyfarfod urddiad Mr. L. Davies, diweddar fyfyriwr yn Aberhonddu, yn yr Ysgctty, ger Abertawy. Nos Lun, dechreuwyd gan Mr. W. Humphreys, Cadle, a phregethodd Meistri Lewis, Garmel,   

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Llangiwc; Evans, Clydach, a Lewis, Ty'nycoed. Dranoeth am 10, dechreuodd Mr. Rees, Canaan, a phregethodd Mr. E. Jacob, Abertawy, ar natur eglwys ; gofynodd Mr. E. Grifflths, Abertawy, y gofyniadau; gweddiwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. J. Evans, Crwys, a phregethodd Mr. D. Evans, Castellnedd, ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog. Am 2, dechreuodd Mr. T. Thomas, Glandwr, a phregethodd Meistri Jones, Heolycastell, Abertawy, yn Saesonaeg, a Daniel, Mynyddbach. Am 6, dcchreuodd Mr. Evans, Castellnedd, a phregethodd Meistri Davies, Treforis; Jones, Myddfau, (i'r eglwys,) a Rees, Canaan. Mae Mr. Davies yn dechreu ei lafur dan arwyddion hyfryd. Mae bywhad ar yr achos. Llawer mwy nag arfer yn dyfod i'r cyfarfodydd yn yr wythnos, a rhai yn dyfod i'r gyfeillach agos bob tro. Fe dderbyniwyd pedwar y cymundeb diweddaf, ac y mae wyth yn y gyfeillach yn bresenol." Rhif yr aelodau yma yn 1850, oedd dau gant, ond erbyn 1861, yr oeddynt wedi lluosogi i ddau-cant-triugain-adau, ac y mae yn debyg eu bod tua y rhif hyny yn bresenol, neu ychwaneg. Mae Mr, Davies wedi bod yma bellach am un-mlynedd-ar-bymtheg a'i ddefnyddioldeb a'i ddylanwad yn myned fwy fwy o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. Mae yr eglwys hon, cyn belled ag y gwyddom ni, er dechreuad yr achos, wedi bod yn rhagorol o dangnefeddus, a'i chymeriad crefyddol yn uchel yn y gymydogaeth. Gwneir y gynnulleidfa i fyny o amaethwyr, crefftwyr, gweithwyr, a gwasanaeth-ddynion yr amryw foneddigion a breswyliant yn y gymydogaeth. Mae dau ysgoldy cyfleus yn perthyn i'r eglwys. Un yn mhenferef y Cocyd, lle y mae Ysgol Sabbothol lewyrchus tua phedwar ugain o rif, a'r llall yn mhentref Cillay, ac Ysgol Sabbothol yno hefyd, ond nid mor lewyrchus a'r ysgol yn y Cocyd. Nid ydym yn gwybod fod yr eglwys hon, er hened, lluosoced, a pharchused ydyw, wedi cyfodi cymaint ag un pregethwr o ddechreuad yr achos hyd yn bresenol, ac nis medrwn yn unwedd gyfrif am beth mor hynod.     

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (March 2008)

Sketty is a remarkably beautiful area in the lower part of Swansea parish,  a little more than two miles to the west of  the town.  It is very likely that a branch of Tirdonkin has been holding regular religious services here since the year 1688, if not long before then, but, because there are no written minutes to be had about the cause, we do not have any certainty of it's beginning. The services were formerly kept on Sunday afternoons & evenings as everyone who was able went to Tirdonkin in the morning. We have the following memorandum in the diary of Thomas Morgan, Hellan, that this was the custom in his time & long after that.

"November 15th, 1741, in Tirdonkin in the morning, from  Col. i. 12; in Sketty in the evening, from Job xxx. 23"

It's certain that different dwelling-houses in the area were used as meeting houses by the congregation from the beginning of the cause until the time the first chapel was built, but we have not yet come across their names other than two of them, namely Brynisaf & Tygwyn, the place from which the congregation moved to their place of worship. In the year 1770, the chapel was built, namely the eleventh year of Mr. Lewis Rees' ministry there. There were many zealous & industrious men belonging to the congregation when the chapel was built in 1770. The two governing elders were Mr. Rees Harris & Mr. Benjamin Davies, & the two deacons were Mr. Thomas Perkins & Mr. William Jones. Mr. William Gwynne, Gwrsaeson & Mr. John Habaccuc, from Cockett, were also named as faithful & very generous. Mr. Habaccuc lived until he was 102 years old. Mr. William Rosser, Gwerneinon, was a fairly young member at this time, but he stayed faithful & very useful to the end of his life, & his son, Mr. Samuel Rosser, Goetrefawr, & his daughter, Mrs. Hughes, Sketty,  were firm pillars under the cause, especially in financial things, for twenty years. The land for building the chapel was had from Mr. John Harris, from Brynisaf. At the beginning he gave it free, but because the building's surveyor took more land from around the chapel, in order to get a beautiful tree that grew adjacent to the inside of the outer wall, without asking the owner first, he took offence & threatened to break the lease, but after a lot of effort & the prudence of Mr. Rees, the minister, & others, a lease was obtained from him for 999 years for the rent of five shillings a year. There's one other thing connected to the building of the first chapel in Sketty that mustn't go unnoticed. There was a maid with Mr. William Rosser, by the name of  Elizabeth, who, because she was a girl strong in body, was known by the name Hearty Bet. It's shown that her zeal with the cause was stronger than her body, although that was strong. Because she didn't have much money to contribute to the new chapel, she would go out in the night, after finishing her working day, to collect stones & carry them to the building. She did this for hours on many nights, & she probably saved many pounds in that way. What can stand before zeal & love?

The congregation worshipped in this chapel from 1770 until 1842. In that space of time the attitude & population of the area changed a lot., it was judged necessary to buy a piece of land on which to build a chapel about half a mile higher up, in order to be more central to the population. The building was finished & it opened November 9th & 10th 1842.  The account of the meeting was given in The Revivalist as follows: "The first evening  started at 6, when the Rev. E. Griffiths, Swansea,  prayed & the Revs. T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli & D. Jones, Clydach, preached from Zech. xii. 10-14, &  Isaiah v. 4. At 10 on Thursday, the Rev. J. Evans, Three Crosses, started & the Revs. J. Davies, Cwmamman, T. Dodd, Burrows, Swansea, (in English), & J. Williams, Ty'nycoed, preached from Psalm xlii. 6., Hag. ii 9., & John viii. 56. At 3, the Rev. T. Griffiths, Pentregethin started, & the Revs. W. Jones, Castle Street, Swansea, (in English) & L. Powell, Cardiff, preached from Isaiah lvi. 3., & Psalm xxv. 20. At 6, the Rev. R. Owens, Swansea,  started & the Revs. D. Pugh, York Place (Baptists) in English, & W. Morris, Landore,  preached  from 1 Peter to 13, &  2  Cor. xxxiii. 12, 13. It was finished by prayer by the Rev. W. Ford, Gower. The congregations were numerous, considering the severity of the weather, the sermons comprehensive & dewy, the contributions generous, & every sign that God was with us. The deserved kindness of the area was generally praised warmly & especially Mrs. Hughes, lower Sketty, & the church leaders, public recognition of their faithful, orderly,  & caring manner in bringing  things around. Land was bought, & an extensive, beautiful & convenient chapel built for £700, of which £300 is already paid through the effort only of the locals, & they felt willing & very eager to carry on their efforts until the house was debt free to keep the memory of the name of God Jacob". Through the cooperation of the congregation they weren't long before paying the last penny of the debt. It's worth noting that the chapel & land  in fact cost towards £900 though the chapel had to pay £700. Mrs. Hughes paid the rest out of her own pocket. She acted as treasurer of the building committee. There is an extensive & beautiful graveyard around the chapel, & many hundreds of Swansea's dead, as well as from the area of Sketty, are buried in it. This graveyard is Bunhill Fields, Swansea Non-Conformists & all denominations. There's a convenient house at the edge of the graveyard belonging to the chapel, built by the late Mrs. Hughes, wholly at her own expense.  Although this chapel, when it was built, was reckoned to be beautiful & also remarkably convenient, within twenty-eight years, more beautiful & comfortable chapels were raised in the town as places of worship. This made the Sketty congregation determined to have a new chapel more worthy of the age & their beautiful area, in which  many are  notable & pretty palatial.  In 1869, the majority of the old chapel was pulled down, & rebuilt. It is now the most beautiful house of worship in the kingdom,  & holds seats for about 550 listeners. The expense of the rebuild was £1108, & more than half this sum is already paid, &, doubtless,  it won't be long before the remainder is obliterated. This pretty chapel opened June 6th & 7th, 1870, officiated by Messrs. Kilsby Jones, W. Jansen Davies, Llandovery; Dr. Rees, Swansea; W. E. Jones,  Morriston; W. Morgan, Carmarthen; T. Johns, Llanelli; J. Thomas, Bryn, & W. Jenkins, Pentre-Estyll.

The branch in Sketty was under the same ministry as the mother church in Mynyddbach from the beginning to the year 1809. In that year, because the ministerial circle was so large, & the churches chose Mr. Daniel Evans, Bangor, as joint minister with Mr. David Davies, they judged the best way to take the cause forward was to divide the ministerial circle. Mr. Davies, Ebenezer, Swansea chose Sketty, & Mynyddbach & Morriston was left in the care of Mr. Evans. From that time until June, 1842, when Mr. Thomas Davies' connection with Ebenezer church finished, Sketty was under the same ministry as Ebenezer. Then  each of the two churches chose their own ministers. At the end of the year 1842,  Sketty called Mr. Edmund G. Williams, of Brecon College, & he was ordained on April 20th, 1843. Mr. Williams was very painstaking here, & very successful, until the year 1849, when he thought to take orders in the Established Church, which he did. He has been ,for more than twenty years, chaplain of Swansea prison. Every man has his own work, but we are sure that we'd have been better to spend our power preaching to the respectful congregation of Sketty, if we had to live only on bread & water, than standing through the years from Sabbath to Sabbath, above a crowd of prisoners, although well paid for that.

In 1851, the church in Sketty called Mr. Thomas Rees Davies, Gwenddwr,  the son of the well-known Rees Davies, Saron. This was an unhappy choice for the church. They had to break the connection with him within two years. At the start of the year 1855, they called Mr. Lewis Davies, of Brecon College, son of the eloquent David Davies, Sardis; who was ordained here in July of the same year. The account of the ordination was given in the Diwigiwr (Revivalist ) as follows: "July 2nd & 3rd, 1855,  the ordination meeting was held for Mr. L. Davies, formerly student in Brecon,  in Sketty, near Swansea. Monday started by Mr. W. Humphreys, Cadle, & Messrs. Lewis, Carmel, Llangiwg; Evans, Clydach; & Lewis, Ty'nycoed preached. Next day at 10, Mr. Rees, Canaan started & Mr. E. Jacob, Swansea, preached on the nature of the church;  Mr. E. Griffiths, Swansea asked the questions; prayers were said by Mr. J. Evans, Three Crosses, & Mr. D. Evans, Neath preached on the minister's duty. At 2, Mr. T. Thomas, Landore, started & Messrs.Jones, Castle Street, Swansea, in English, & Daniel, Mynyddbach, preached. At 6, Mr. Evans, Neath, started, & Messrs. Davies, Morriston; Jones, Myddfai ( to the church) & Rees, Canaan, preached. Mr. Davies is starting his labours under lovely signs. There is life in the cause. Many more than usual come to the meetings in the week, & some bringing the  fellowship closer every time. Four accepted the last communion, & there are eight in the fellowship at present."

The number of members here in 1850 was 200, but by 1861, they had multiplied to two hundred & sixty two, & it's likely that there are that many presently, or more. Mr. Davies has been here now for sixteen years, & his usefulness & influence become more & more from year to year. This church, as far as I know, from the start of the cause, has been admirably peaceful, & it's religious reputation is high in the locality. The congregation is made up of  farmers, craftsmen, workers &  servants of the several gentlemen residing in the locality. Two convenient school houses belong to the church. One in the village of Cockett,  where there is a flourishing Sunday School almost eighty in number, & the other in the village of Killay, &  Sunday School there too, though not as flourishing as the school in Cockett. We don't know that this church, though old, numerous & respected, has raised so much on one preacher from the start of the cause to the present, & we would be unable to liken an account of something so remarkable.

TANYGRAIG (Swansea)

(Vol 2, p 84)

Mae y lle hwn ar lan y mor yn y rhan isaf o blwyf Llansamlet, tua milldir a haner i'r dwyrain o dref Abertawy. Mae yma yn bresenol gryn lawer o drigolion, ac y mae yr ardal yn debyg o gynyddu yn ddirfawr yn ei phoblogaeth yn dra buan. Bu ysgol Sabbothol a phregethu achlysurol yn y gymydogaeth hon gan y Methodistiaid am rai blynyddau, ond oherwydd difaterwch y trigolion rhoisant yr ysgol a'r pregethu heibio. Yn mhen ychydig wedi hyny, sef tua y flwyddyn 1856, cychwynwyd pregethu achlysurol yma drachefn gan Mr. J. Rees, gweinidog Canaan, yn nhý Mr. Morgan Huzzey, yn agos i waith copr Porttenant. Ar symudiad Mr. M. Huzzey o'r ardal, rhentiodd Mr. Rees anedd-dý at gadw ysgol a phregethu, a buwyd yn cadw moddion yn y tý hwnw am ddwy flynedd. Pregethid hefyd yn fynych yn nhy Mr. Thomas Davies. Pan ddaeth Mr. William Thomas, yr hwn oedd yn bregethwr cynorthwyol yn Nghanaan, i fyw i'r ardal, dechreuwyd pregethu yn rheolaidd yma bob nos Sabboth; a phan y bu raid rhoddi y tý yn yr hwn y pregethid i fyny, agorodd Mr. David Williams, Cigydd, ei ddrws i'r Arch, ac yno y buwyd yn addoli nes adeiladu y capel. Ffurfiwyd yma eglwys, yn benaf o aelodau a ollyngwyd o Canaan, ac agorwyd y capel Hydref 9fed a'r 10fed, 1860. Mr. Rees fu yn gofalu am y lle fel gweinidog hyd ei symudiad i Rodborough, ond cynorthwyid ef yn achlysurol gan weinidogion y gymydogaeth. Yn ngwanwyn y flwyddyn 1867, rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. D. T. Jones, o goleg Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef yma Mai 13eg a'r 14eg, y flwyddyn hono. Gweinyddwyd a'r yr achlysur gan Dr. Rees, Abertawy; J. Rees, Rodborough; B. Williams, Canaan; W. Morgan, Caerfyrddin; E. Griffiths, Abertawy; E. Owens, Clydach, ac eraill. Gan fod yr eglwys yn ychydig o rif a gwan addawodd eglwysi y dref a'r gymydogaeth roddi iddynt ychydig gynorthwy i wneyd i fyny gyflog y gweinidog am beth amser. Bu Mr. Jones yn llafurio yma, ond heb gael ei galonogi gan nemawr o lwyddiant, hyd nes yr ymfudodd i'r America yn 1870. Oddiar ei ymadawiad ef y mae gweinidogion y gymydogaeth, yn nghyd a'r brodyr W. Thomas a W. Harris, y rhai sydd yn aelodau yn y lle, yn llenwi lle gweinidog sefydlog. Gwan a lled ddilwyddiant y mae yr achos hwn wedi bod er y dechreuad, ond y mae yr ychydig bobl sydd yma mor ffyddlon, haelionus, ac ymdrechgar ag unrhyw eglwys yn y Dywysogaeth. Costiodd y capel, heblaw llogau y ddyled, 600p., ac y mae yr ychydig frodyr a chwiorydd sydd yma wedi tynu y swm hwn i lawr i 350p., heb gael ond y peth nesaf i ddim o gymhorth y tu allan i'w hardal. Pe byddai llawer o eglwysi lluosog Cymru yn cyfranu yn ol eu rhif fel y bobl hyn byddai ganddynt filoedd yn flynyddol i'w rhoddi at achosion cyhoeddus. Yr ydym yn hyderu y ca yr ychydig ffyddloniaid yn y Ile hwn eu talu yn dda am eu ffyddlondeb trwy gael byw i weled y bychan wedi myned yn fil a'r gwael yn genedl gref.

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (March 2008)

This place is at the seaside in the lower part of Llansamlet Parish,  about  a mile & a half from the town of Swansea. Presently, there are a considerable number of inhabitants and the area is likely to increase enormously in it's population very soon. For many years there was an occasional Sunday school & preaching  in this locality by the Methodists, but because of the inhabitants' indifference they gave up the school & preaching. A little while after that, namely about the year 1856, occasional preaching was started here again by Mr. M. Rees, minister of Canaan, in Mr. Morgan Huzzey's house, near to Port Tennant copper works. On Mr. Huzzey's moving from the area, Mr. Rees rented a dwelling-house to keep school & preach, & they kept that way in the house for two years. There was also frequent preaching in the house of Mr. Thomas Davies. When Mr. William Thomas, who was assistant preacher in Canaan, came to live in the area, regular preaching was started here every Sunday night; & when it was necessary to give up the house in which there was preaching, Mr. David Williams, Butcher, opened his door to the Bidding & there they worshipped until building a chapel. The church here was formed mostly from members released from Canaan, & the chapel was opened October 9th & 10th 1860. Mr. Rees looked after the place as a minister until he moved to Rodborough, but he was occasionally helped by ministers of the neighbourhood.  In spring of the year 1867, the church called Mr. D. T. Jones, of Carmarthen College, & he was ordained here May 13th & 14th of that year. The occasion was officiated by Dr. Rees, Swansea; J. Rees, Rodborough; B. Williams, Canaan; W. Morgan, Carmarthen; E Griffiths, Swansea; E. Owens, Clydach, & others. Because the church was few in number & weak, the churches of the town & neighbourhood promised to give them a little help for a while to make up the minister's wage. Mr. Jones laboured here, but without being encouraged by much success, until he emigrated to America in 1870. Since his departure the ministers of the neighbourhood, together with the brothers W. Thomas & W. Harris, who are members there, have filled the place of a permanent minister. This cause has been weak & a little unsuccessful from the start, but the few people who are here are as faithful, generous & energetic as any church in the Principality. The chapel cost £600, without interests on the debt, & the few brothers & sisters who are here, have brought this sum down to £350, without having next to nothing in help from outside their area. If  many of the numerous Welsh churches, contributed by their number like these people, they would have thousands annually to give to public causes. I trust the few faithful ones in this place get well paid for their faithfulness through living to see the small become a thousand & the weak a strong nation.

FABIAN'S BAY (Swansea )

(Vol 2, p 85)

Un o faesdrefl mwyaf cynyddol Abertawy, ar y tu dwyreiniol i'r afon, yw y lle hwn. Mr. Rees, Canaan; Mr. Griffiths, Abertawy; Mr. Jones, Heolycastell, a Dr. Evan Davies fu a'r llaw flaenaf yn nghychwyniad yr achos hwn yn y flwyddyn 1861. Wedi cael allan fod mwyafrif dirfawr trigolion y gymydogaeth yn siarad yr iaith Saesonaeg, ac i raddau mawr yn anwybodus o'r Gymraeg, barnasant fod yma angen achos Saesonig. Cymerwyd anedd-dý yn y gymydogaeth at gadw ysgol Sabbothol a moddion crefyddol eraill, ac yn mhen ychydig corpholwyd yno eglwys. Cymerwyd tir mewn man cylleus at adeiladu addoldy, ac yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1862 adeiladwyd ysgoldy cyfleus ar ddarn o'r tir, yn cynwys 235 o eisteddleoedd, ac esgynlawr cyfleus i'r pregethwr i sefyll arno. Gadawyd digon o dir o flaen yr ysgoldy i adeiladu y capel heb gyffwrdd a'r adeilad hono. Aeth traul yr adeiladaeth, rhwng llogau ei phethau eraill, tua 400p. Trwy ymdrech yr eglwys fechan, yn cael ei chynorthwyo gan yr eglwysi yn y dref a'r ardal, yr oedd y ddyled erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ddiweddaf wedi ei dynu i lawr i 200p., a chymerodd eglwys Ebenezer, Abertawy, at y swm hwn er mwyn i'r eglwys ieuangc yn Fabian's Bay gael ei dwylaw yn rhyddion i ymgymeryd a'r gorchwyl o adeiladu capel, oblegid mae yr ysgoldy er's amryw fisoedd wedi myned yn rhy fychan i gynwys y gwrandawyr. Bwriedir yn ddioed adeiladu yma gapel digon eang i gynwys pum' cant o wrandawyr. Gosodwyd ei gareg sylfaen i lawr gan 0. Wills, Ysw., o Gaerodor, Hydref 13eg, 1871, a disgwylir y bydd yr adeilad yn barod cyn pen blwyddyn. Y gweinidog cyntaf yma oedd un William Jones, a bu yma am tua dwy flynedd; ond gan nad oedd ei fuchedd yn deilwng o'r Efengyl bu ei ymadawiad a'r lle yn fantais i'r achos. O'r flwyddyn 1864 hyd 1868 bu yr eglwys yn benaf dan ofal Mr. W. Lloyd, Abertawy, yn cael ei gynorthwyo gan Meistri E. Griffiths, F. Samuel, T. Rees, ac eraill o weinidogion y dref. Yn Ebrill 1861, symudodd Mr. J. Thomas yma o Dredegar, ac y mae yn parhau i lafurio yma ac ar y Sandfields. Am y ddwy flynedd gyntaf ni bu llafur Mr. Thomas yma mor Ilwyddianus ag y disgwyliasai ef a'i gyfeillion iddo fod, oherwydd rhyw amgylchiadau anffafriol, ond er's yn agos i flwyddyn bellach mae yr Arglwydd yn ymddangos fel yn gwenu yn neillduol ar y lle, a rhai degau wedi cael eu hychwanegu at yr achos. Mae rhif yr adelodau yn bresenol tua haner cant, ac y mae pob sail i obeithio pan y ceir yma gapel newydd y ceir ychwanegiad mawr at yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa. Mae yma ysgol Sabbothol lewyrchus er dechreuad yr achos.

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (March 2008)

This place is one of the largest suburbs in central Swansea, on the eastern side of the river. Mr. Rees, Canaan; Mr. Griffiths, Swansea; Mr. Jones, Castle Street; & Dr. Evan Davies were foremost in starting this cause in the year 1861. After finding out that an enormous majority of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood spoke English, & to a large degree were ignorant of Welsh, they judged there was a need here for an English cause. They took a dwelling-house in the neighbourhood to keep a Sunday school & other religious means, & shortly they incorporated a church there. They took land in a convenient place to build a place of worship & at the start of the year 1862 a convenient schoolroom was built on part of the land, holding 235 seats (pews?) & a convenient platform for the preacher to stand on. They left enough land in front of the schoolroom to build a chapel without touching that building. The cost of the construction, between interest & other things, went to £400. Through the effort of the small church, being helped by the churches of the town & area, by the end of the year the debt was brought down to £200, & Ebenezer, Swansea took this sum so that the young church in Fabian's Bay could have a free hand to take on the task of building a chapel, because, for many months, the schoolroom has gone too small to contain the audience.The intention was to build a chapel here at once, large enough to hold five hundred listeners.The foundation stone was laid by O. Wills, Esq., from Bristol, October 13th 1871, & they looked for the building to be ready before the end of the year. The first minister here was a William Jones, who was here for almost two years; but because he was not worthy of the Gospel his departure was an advantage to the cause. From the year 1864 until 1868 the church was,in the main, under the care of Mr. W. Lloyd, Swansea helped by Messrs. E. Griffiths, F. Samuel, T. Rees & other ministers from the town. In April 1861, Mr. J. Thomas moved here from Tredegar, & he continues to work here & the Sandfields. For the first two years Mr. Thomas' work here wasn't as successful as he & his friends wanted it to be, because of some unfavourable circumstances, but, since almost a year ago, the Lord appears to be smiling on the place, & some trinkets have been added to the cause. At present the members number towards fifty, & there is every basis to hope that when they have the new chapel here there will be a big increase to the church & the congregation. There is a flourishing Sunday school here since the beginning of the cause.

BETHANIA, TYMAEN (Michaelston-super-Avon parish)

(Vol 2, p 136)

Ar ol yr ychwanegiad mawr a fu at yr eglwysi yn Nghwmafan, fel mewn llawer o fanau eraill yn Morganwg yn y flwyddyn 1849, aeth capel y Rock yn rhy gyfyng i'r gynnulleidfa, fel y penderfynodd Mr. Thomas a'r eglwys yn hytrach na'i ailadeiladu, i godi capel arall mewn man cyfleus i ran o'r eglwys yn nes i ganol y Cwm. Cafwyd darn o dir ar Wauntymaen, lle yr oedd llawer o dai eisioes wedi eu codi a'r boblogaeth yn cynyddu yn ddirfawr. Adeiladwyd yma gapel eang yn mesur dros y muriau 54 troedfedd o hyd wrth 50 troedfedd o led, a chostiodd yn agos i naw cant o bunau. Agorwyd ef Mai 5ed a'r 6ed, 1861, a gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri W. Humphreys, Cadle; 0. Owens, Brynmenyn; H. Rees, Ystrad; J. Thomas, Glynnedd; T. Thomas, Clydach; E. Griffiths, Abertawy; T. Jones, Treforis; T. Davies, Treforis; E. Jacob, Abertawy; J. Steadman, Mumbles; J. Mathews, Castellnedd, a J. Davies, Mynyddbach.* Yn anffodus wedi dechreu adeiladu cafwyd allan fod y tir o dan y capel yn ymollwng ac agenodd y muriau ychydig fel y bu raid en cadarnhau a barau heiyrn, yr hyn, heblaw ychwanegu y draul, a barodd lawer o bryder i'r cyfeillion yn y lle. Dyoddefodd yr eglwys hon yn gystal a holl eglwysi y Cwm, oblegid arafwch masnach y lle am flynyddoedd, ac ymadawodd llawer mewn canlyniad i ardaloedd eraill; ond teimlodd yr eglwvs hon yn fwy, oblegid mai achos newydd ydoedd, dan faich o ddyled; ond daliodd yr achos ei dir, a thrwy ddyfalbarhad Mr. Thomas, y gweinidog, ac ychydig ffyddloniaid, cariwyd yr achos yn mlaen yn ddiwaradwydd. Yn 1858 gorphenwyd ac ad-drefnwyd y capel, a gwnaed rhyw gyfnewidiadau ynddo; a chynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd ei ail agoriad Gorphenaf 18fed a'r 19eg. Tua diwedd y flwyddyn hono a dechreu yr un ganlynol ychwanegwyd tua 220 at yr eglwys; ond y mae yr eglwys er hyny wedi dyoddef colledion mawrion trwy symudiadau a marwolaethau, ond y mae yr achos mewn cyflwr gobeithiol; a'r ddyled yr hon unwaith a ofnid mor fawr wedi dyfod i lawr i 300p. er i'r capel trwy ei adeiladiad. a'i ad-drefnial gostio dros 1300p.+ Erbyn hyn y mae yr eglwys wedi dyfod yn mlaen yn gryf a llwyddianus. Mae yr achos o'r dechreuad wedi bod mewn cysylltiad a'r Rock, ac o dan yr un weinidogaeth. Ni chodwyd yma ond un pregethwr, sef John Stephens, sydd yn awr yn yr ysgol yn Menybont-ar-ogwy.

*Diwygiwr 1861. Tu dal, 187.  + Llythyr Mr. Thomas, Rock.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (May 2009)

After the large increases that occurred in the Cwmafan churches, as in many other places in Glamorgan in 1849, Capel y Rock became too small for the congregation, so that Mr Thomas and the church decided that rather than rebuild, to raise another chapel in a convenient place for those in the church nearer to the centre of the Cwm. They obtained a piece of land on Wauntymaen, where many houses had already been built and the population was increasing greatly. They built here a large chapel measuring across the walls 54ft long by 50ft wide, and it cost almost £900. It opened on 5/6th May 1861, and officiating on the occasion were Messrs W. Humphreys, Cadle; O. Owens, Brynmenyn; H. Rees, Ystrad; J. Thomas, Glyn Neath; T. Thomas, Clydach; E. Griffiths, Swansea; T. Jones, Morriston; T. Davies, Morriston; E. Jacob, Swansea; J. Steadman, Mumbles; J. Mathews, Neath, and J. Davies, Mynyddbach.* Unfortunately, after starting to build, they discovered that the ground beneath the chapel was sinking, and the walls cracked a bit so that they had to be strengthened with iron bars, and this, never mind the additional cost, caused a lot of anxiety to the friends in the place. This church suffered as much as all the churches of the Cwm, due to the slowness of the businesses in the place for years, and as a result many (members) left for other districts; but this church felt it more because it was a young cause, under the burden of debt; but the church held its ground, and through the perseverance of Mr Thomas, the minister, and a few faithfulls, carried the cause forward without disgrace. In 1858, they reorganised the chapel, and made some alterations to it; and had the re-opening meeting on 18th/19th of July. Towards the end of that year and the start of the following, some 220 were added to the church; but the church has suffered great losses since then through people moving away and deaths, but the cause is in a hopeful state; and the ndebt once feared as being so large has reduced to £300, despite the building and rebuilding of the chapel having cost over £1300. + By now the church has moved ahead strongly and successfully. The cause has from the start been connected to the Rock, and under the same minister. Only one preacher was raised here, namely John Stephens, who is now at the school in Bridgend.

*Diwygiwr 1861. p187.  + Letter from Mr. Thomas, Rock.

 

LLANSAWEL, NEU BRITON FERRY

(Vol 2, p 136)

Er nad yw yr achos Annibynol yn y plwyf hwn yn hen, dichon na fu adeg er's yn agos i ddau cant a haner o flynyddau heb fod aelodau perthynol i'r Annibynwyr yn byw yn y plwyf. Yma yr oedd Bussey Mansel yn byw yn yr ail-ganrif-ar-bymtheg, ac efe oedd perchenog y rhan fwyaf, os nad yr oll, o'r plwyf. Yr oedd y boneddwr hwnw yn un o weinyddwyr y weithred er taenu yr efengyl yn Nghymru yn 1650, a bu trwy dymor yr erledigaeth yn aelod ffyddlon ac yn noddwr cadarn i'r eglwys yn y Chwarelaubach. Gresyn na buasai Iarlliaid Jersey, ei ddisgynyddion a'i etifeddion, yn glynu gydag egwyddorion.ou henafiaid. Gan nad yw y lle hwn ond dwy filldir o Gastellnedd. mae yn ddiameu fod llawer o aelodau a gwrandawyr y Chwarelaubach a Maesyrhaf yn trigianu yma o oes i oes. Yn y flwvddyn 1809, gan fod Mr. Bowen, Castellnedd, wedi bod yn ddyoddefydd o herwydd pregethu mewn tai heb eu trwyddedu, mynodd drwyddedu tý yma fel y gallasai bregethu yn ddiofn cosp. A ganlyn sydd gopi o'r drwydded.

"To all to whom it may concern. Whereas the dwellinghouse of David Rees of the parish of Briton Ferry, in the county of Glamorgan, and the Diocese of Llandaff, is certified to the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard, by Divine permission, Bishop of Llandaff, to be lately fixed upon as a proper place for the Protestant Dissenters of the Independent persuasion to meet in for Divine Worship.

These are, pursuant to an Act of Parliament, in that behalf made and provided, To certify that the Certificate hereof was Registered in the said Lord Bishop's Registry the 1st day of April, in the year of Our Lord 1809.

EDW. PEARSON,

Registrar."

Bu Mr. Bowen yn pregethu yn fynych yma hyd derfyn ei oes, ac ymwelid a'r ardal yn aml gan weinidogion o ardaloedd eraill, megis Methusalem Jones, Merthyr; W. Jones, Penybont, &c. Pregethodd yr enwog Daniel Griffiths lewer yma yn ei dymor, ond ei ganlyniedydd Mr. J. Mathews gafodd yr anrhydedd o sefydlu achos yn y lle. Yn 1847, cynaliwyd Ysgol Sabbothol, a chyfarfodydd gweddio, yn nghyd a phregethu achlysurol, gan Mr. Mathews, a phobl Zoar, Castellnedd, mewn anedd-dy yn Giant's Grave. Yn y flwyddyn 1848, adeiladwyd yma gapel lled helaeth a chyfleus yn cynwys tua 400 o eisteddleoedd. Yn mhen tua blwyddyn ar ol agor y capel corpholwyd yma eglwys yn cael ei gwneyd i fyny gan mwyaf oll o aelodau a ollyngasid o Zoar. Mr. Mathews, a Mr. William Parker, un o ddiaconiaid Zoar, fu yn gweinyddu ar yr achlysur. Y dynion mwyaf blaenllaw a gweithgar yma fel aelodau ar ffurfiad yr eglwys oeddynt Griffith Lewis, Thomas Morgan, Thomas Parker, William Hughes, Thomas Davies, William Hunter, Benjamin Howells, a William Lovett. Bu yr eglwys ieuangc dan offal Mr. Mathews hyd Hydref, 1851, pryd yr urddwyd Mr. Griffith Roberts yn weinidog. Ychydig gyda dwy flynedd y bu ef yma cyn i'w fuchedd fyned yn rhy annheilwng iddo gael ei ddyoddef yn hwy fel gweinidog yr efengyl. Ar ol ei ymadawiad ef bu yr eglwys yn ymddibynu ar weinidogaeth achlysurol hyd 1859, pryd yr ymsefydlodd Mr. David Evans. y gweinidog presenol yma. Mae gweinidogaeth Mr. Evans wedi bod yn dderbyniol a llwyddianus iawn hyd yn bresenol. Yn y flwyddyn 1865, tynwyd yr hen gapel i lawr ac adeiladwyd un llawer mwy a harddach ar ei safle. Cynwysa y capel presenol o saith i wyth cant o eisteddleoedd. Traul adeiladaeth y capel cyntaf oedd 516p., a thraul adeiladaeth yr ail oedd 1500p. Rhif yr aelodau yn bresenol yw 260. Ni fu yma ddim tebyg i derfysg eglwysig hyd o fewn tair blynedd yn ol, pryd y darfu i ryw nifer o'r aelodau yn nghymydogoeth Giant's Grave fyned i groes-dynu a'r eglwys, ac amlygu dymuniad am gael eu ffurfio yn eglwys ar eu penau eu hunain, ond barnai yr eglwys yn wahanol iddynt, am y golygent fod un achos Annibynol yn bresenol yn ddigon i gyfateb i anghenion yr ardal. Parhaodd y blaid fechan hon i ymgyndynu. O'r diwedd, rhoddwyd Ilythyrau gollyngdod iddynt i fyned i Zoar, Castellnedd, and nid oedd hyny drachefn yn en boddloni. Dechreu achos newydd yn Giant's Grave oedd eu pwngc hwy. Buont yn nghyfarfodydd chwarterol yr undeb sirol yn gofyn cymeradwyaeth i gwblhau eu hamcanion, ond pan wrthododd y gweinidogion yn benderfynol eu cefnogi, aethant i gyfarfod misol y Methodistiaid, a chawsant dderbyniad ganddynt hwy. Peth blin yw gweled y naill enwad crefyddol yn y modd hwn yn cefnogi rhwygiadau mewn enwad arall. Nid oes un enwad yn Nghymru yn hollol ddifai ar y pen hwn, ond y mae yn llawn bryd i ni oll amlygu mwy o ysbryd caredig cristionogaeth a llai o ysbryd plaid.

Translation by Maureen Saycell (April 2009)

The Independent cause was not old in this parish, despite the fact that there have been members of the cause living in the area. Bussey Mansell lived here in the 17th century and owned most of the parish. He was a signatory on the document to spread religion in Wales in 1650, throught the period of persecution he was a faithful member and benefactor  of the church in Chwarelaubach. It is a shame that his descendants the Earls of Jersey did not keep to their ancestors principles. As it is only 2 miles from Neath there is no doubt that many listeners from Chwarelaubach and Maesyrhaf must have lived here from time to time. In 1809 Mr Bowen, Neath was having trouble with preaching in various houses and licensed a house here so that he could preach without fear. The following is a copy of the licence

"To all to whom it may concern. Whereas the dwellinghouse of David Rees of the parish of Briton Ferry, in the county of Glamorgan, and the Diocese of Llandaff, is certified to the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard, by Divine permission, Bishop of Llandaff, to be lately fixed upon as a proper place for the Protestant Dissenters of the Independent persuasion to meet in for Divine Worship.

These are, pursuant to an Act of Parliament, in that behalf made and provided, To certify that the Certificate hereof was Registered in the said Lord Bishop's Registry the 1st day of April, in the year of Our Lord 1809.

EDW. PEARSON,

Registrar."

Mr Bowen preached here often to the end of his life, as well as others like Methusalem Jones, Merthyr, W Jones, Penybont, &c. The famous Daniel Griffiths preached here many times in his life, but it was his successor Mr J Mathews that had the pleasure of founding a cause here. In 1847 there was  Sunday School, prayer meetings, and occasional preaching here with Mr Mathews and the people of Zoar, Neath in a house at Giant's Grave.  A chapel was built here in 1848 containing 400 seats, a church was formed within a year mainly with members transferred from Zoar. Mr Mathews and Mr William Parker one of the Deacons of Zoar officiated on the occasion. The following were the founding leaders - Griffith Lewis, Thomas Morgan, Thomas Parker, William Hughes, Thomas Davies, William Hunter, Benjamin Howells, a William Lovett. The young church was under the care of Mr Mathews until October 1851 when Mr Griffith Roberts was ordained. He was here barely 2 years before his immorality became too much to sustain as a minister of religion. The church survived on occasional ministry until 1859 when Mr David Evans, the current minister, settled here. His ministry has been successful and pleasing. In 1865 the old chapel was demolished and a much more handsome one built in his place. The current chapel has 700 to 800 seats. The cost of building the first was £516, the second £1,500. The current number of members is 260. There were no problems here until the last 3 years when a number of members around Giant's Grave wanted to have their own church as they thought that there was a need for another cause, but the church disagreed. The small cause pulled together and eventually they were given letters of release to go to Zoar, Neath, but that did not satisfy them. They were determined to have a cause at Giant's Grave and went to quarterly meetings of the Independents and were flatly refused support. Then they went to the Methodist monthly meeting and were accepted by them. It is sad to see one denomination backing another's divisions. There are no denominations in Wales that are totally innocent, and the time has come to have more christian charity and less denominational fervour.

HEOL Y CASTELL, ABERTAWY

(Vol 2, p 58)

Mae dechreuad yr achos hwn yn ffrwyth llafur ac ymdrechion hunan-ymwadol Mr. D. Davies, gweinidog Ebenezer, a rhai o aelodau ei eglwys. Gwelent hwy fod angen am le yn y dref i Saeson o olygiadau Annibynol i addoli, a bod plant amryw o honynt yn debygol o fyned at enwadau eraill, neu fyned yn hollol ddigrefydd, oddieithr i wasanaeth crefyddol yn yr iaith Saesonig gael ei gynal yn y dref, gan fod llawer a honynt yn anhyddysg yn y Gymraeg. Yr aelodau o Ebenezer a gydweithredent a Mr. Davies i gychwyn yr achos Saesonig, oeddynt Meistri Roger Hopkins, Thomas Jones, a Henry Griffiths, yn nghyda rhai pobl ieuaingc. Adeiladwyd y capel yn Heolycastell yn y flwyddyn 1814, ac agorwyd ef Rhagfyr 28ain a'r 29ain, yn yr un flwyddyn, pryd y pregethwyd gan Meistri W. Warlow, Milford; Peter, Caerfyrddin; Williams, Llanelli; East, Frome, wedi hyny o Birmingham, a Thorpe, Caerodor. Y mae y capel hwn yn awr yn helaeth iawn mewn cyferbyniad i gapeli yn gyffredin, ond yr amser yr adeiladwyd ef nid ymddengys fod un addoldy yn y Dywysogaeth mor helaeth ag ef.. Yr oedd traul yr adeiladaeth tua dwy fil o bunau, a chan na chasglwyd ond ychydig mewn cymhariaeth ar y cychwyniad, bu y ddyled arno yn agos a lladd yr achos, ac yn waradwydd i'r enwad am fwy nag ugain mlynedd. Pe buasai Mr. Davies, Ebenezer, yn cael iechyd a bywyd am ychydig o flynyddau yn hwy, mae yn ddiau y buasai yr holl ddyled yn cael ei dileu yn fuan, ond gan fod ei iechyd ef yn gwaelu ar y pryd, ac iddo farw yn mhen dwy flynedd wedi hyny, cafodd y baich trwm ei adael fel hunlle i lethu yr achos ieuangc a gwan. Yn fuan wedi agoriad y capel, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas Luke, y pryd hwnw o Hwlffordd. Bu ef yma o 1815 hyd 1821, yn dderbyniol iawn fel pregethwr, ac yn sefyll yn uchel yn ngolwg trigolion y dref, ond nid ymddengys iddo wneuthur ond ychydig mewn cymhariaeth at ddileu y ddyled oedd ar y capel. Ar ol ymadawiad Mr. Luke, daeth yma un Mr. Barfit, ond nid ymddengys iddo aros yma ond dwy neu dair blynedd o hwyaf. Dilynwyd ef gan Mr, Brittan, gwr genedigol o Gaerodor. Dywedir fod Mr. Brittan   59 yn bregethwr rhagorol, ac y buasai yn debygol o gyfodi yr achos i gryfder, pe buasai ei gallineb a'i lywodraeth ar ei dymherau yn gyfartal a'i alluoedd fel pregethwr. 0 herwydd ei annoethineb bu yn foddion i rwygo yr eglwys. Aeth a rhyw nifer gydag ef allan i'r dyben o gychwyn achos newydd. Adeiladodd gapel York Place, ond methodd wneyd un daioni yno drachefn. Y canlyniad fu iddo ymadael, ac i'r capel gael ei werthu i'r Bedyddwyr. "Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Brittan, o Heolycastell, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Eliezer Jones, myfyriwr yn athrofa Caerfyrddin, a mab yr enwog Dr. Arthur Jones, Bangor. Urddwyd ef yma Ebrill 9fed, 1828, pryd y gweinyddwyd gan Meistri Peter, Caerfyrddin; Hamerton, Newton, ac eraill. Bu Mr. Jones yma hyd Mawrth, 1832, pryd y symudodd i Rodborough. Mae yn bresenol yn weinidog eglwys fawr yn Ipswich. Dilynwyd Mr. Jones gan Mr. Robert Taylor, ond ni bu ef yma nemawr o amser cyn i'r capel gael ei gauad, ac i'r gynnulleidfa gael ei gwasgaru, o herwydd y ddyled oedd yn aros ar y lle. Wedi i bethau fod yn yr agwedd flin hon am tua dwy flynedd, cafodd y lle ei ail agoryd yn 1836, pryd y dechreuodd Mr. William Jones, y gweinidog presenol ei lafur yma. Ymddangosodd yr adroddiad canlynol, yr hwn a ddengys sefyllfa pethau ar y pryd, yn y Diwygiwr am 1838, tu dal. 181: - " âdeiladwyd y capel er's pedair-blynedd-ar-hugain yn ol, a chan na allesid cael dernyn o dir ar werth y pryd hwnw, buwyd dan yr angenrheidrwydd o lesi y sylfaen am 35p. o ardreth flynyddol. Mae yr adeilad yn helaeth a chyfleus, ond nid oes dim afreidiol yn ei gylch; yr oedd y draul o'i adeiladu yn llawer, llog yr hyn at yr ardreth flynyddol a wnai swm lled fawr I'w dalu bob blwyddyn, ond yr oedd y gynnulleidfa mor fawr a chyfrifol fel y telid hi yn rhwydd, a lleiheid llawer ar y corph hefyd am gryn amser; ond o herwydd amgylchiadau a phersonau, y byddai yn anfuddiol manylu yn eu cylch ar hyn o bryd, ymranodd y gynnulleidfa, a buan iawn yr aeth yr ardreth a'r llog yn rhy drwm i'r rhai a arosodd yn Castle Street i'w ddwyn. Goddefid i'r naill a'r llall i gynyddu, gwywodd y gynnulleidfa, nychodd yr achos, a'r diwedd fu cau y drws i fyny; yna ymwasgarodd yr ychydig oeddynt wedi bod yn ffyddlon yn mhob tywydd, fel defaid heb ganddynt fugail. Gwnaed parotoadau uniongyrchol i werthu y capel; dangosai yr Undodwyr a'r Eglwyswyr am y mwyaf awyddus am dano; ar hyn, gwresogodd calonau ychydig o gyfeillion, hoffasent ei feini, a thosturiasant wrth lwch yr achos yn y fan; daethant yn mlaen a chynygiasant atal y gwerthiant, ar yr amod i'r 'Undeb Cyffredinol' dderbyn y capel i mewn; ac yn nghyfarfod yr Undeb Cyffredinol, derbyniwyd ef yn rheolaidd fel achos anghyffredin, ar yr amod fod Abertawy a Morganwg yn ymysgwyd yn gyntaf; a'r hyn ymrwymodd y Parchn. "W. Jones, Penybont; T. Davies. Abertawy; D. Jones, Clydach ; J. Evans, Crwys ; D. Rees, Llanelli, a'r Meistri D. Rees, a D. Gibbs, Abertawy; . Hughes, ac S. Rosser, Ýsgetty; M. Morgans, Rhianfawr; J. Jones, Brynbrain; J. Powell, Cefnyfforest, ac R. Monger, Glandwr, yn feichnion am y ddyled, a phrynasant y gwaelod am 700p,, yr hyn, at y ddyled oedd yn aros, a thraul tynu y gweithredoedd, a wnai fwy na l,900p. Gwnaeth yr ymddiriedolwyr agor y capel, ac yn fuan gwahoddasant Mr. W. Jones, Rhydybont, yno i weinidogaethu ; yr hwn, trwy lawer o aberth personol, a gydsyniodd a'u cais, ar y dybiaeth fod yr Undeb yn cymeryd y ddyled; adffurfiwyd yr eglwys, a dynesodd llawer o'r gwrandawyr, ar y ddealldwriaeth na fuasai i'r hunlle fu bron a gwasgu yr anadl o honynt gynt yn cael pwyso arnynt mwy; ond y mae llawer     60 hyd yma yn sefyll draw, gan ofni na fydd i'r Undeb gyflawni yr hyn a addawyd. Pe ysgogai eglwysi Cymru fel pe byddent yn ddifrifol, llenwid y capel yn y man, a byddai y gynnulleidfa hon mor gynorthwyol ag un yn Morganwg at leihau y dyledion cyffredinol.  Yn awr y mae pob amod a waned ar dderbyniad y capel i'r Undeb wedi ei gyflawni. Dirprwywyd y Meistri D. Rees, Llanelli, a R. Thomas, Glandwr, I gasglu yn mysg y Saeson yn Abertawy; cawsant yn yspaid wyth diwrnod gant  a thairpunt. Casglodd yr un personau yn Merthyr a Dowlais 40p. Bu y Meistri Jones, Penybont; Evans, Cymar; Griffiths, Llanharan; Williams, Maendy; Hughes, Dowlais; Powell, Caerdydd, a Jones a Davies, Abertawy, yn ddiwyd yn eu gwahanol ddosbarthion, fel y mae y sir, gan mwyaf, wedi ei cherdded yn lled lwyddianus; yn awr troir at siroedd eraill Cymru." Casglwyd am ryw ganoedd yn Morganwg a'r siroedd cylchynol yn yr ymdrech hon, ond arosodd y rhan fwyaf o'r ddyled nes i Mr. Evan Watkins, y pryd hwnw o Ganaan, ymgymeryd a'r gorchwyl o'i dalu yn y flwyddyn 1843. Ymroddodd ef gydag egni penderfynol at y gwaith. Ysgrifenodd filoedd o lythyrau i bob parth o'r deyrnas, a theithiodd ganoedd o filldiroedd i gasglu, fel erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1846, yr oedd y rhan fwyaf o'r baich wedi cael ei symud. Gwnaeth Mr. Jones a'r gynnulleidfa yn Heolycastell eu rhan yn deilwng, ac fe lafuriodd amryw o'r gweinidogion cymydogaethol yn dda, ond i lafur digyffelyb Mr. Watkins y mae llwyddiant yr ymdrech yn benaf i'w briodoli. Wedi symud baich y ddyled aeth pob peth yn mlaen yn gysurus a llwyddianus dros lawer o flynyddau, ond nid yw y gynnulleidfa yn awr mor lluosog ag y bu rai blynyddau yn. ol, o herwydd fod amryw gapeli Saesonig eraill wedi cael eu hadeiladu yn y dref. Effeithiodd agoriad y capel Presbyteraidd yn fawr ar gynnulleidfa Heolycastell, am mai yno yn benaf yr oedd y Scotiaid yn addoli cyn iddynt gael capel eu 'hunain. Mae Mr. Jones yn awr yn iach a bywiog mewn corph a meddwl, er ei fod o fewn ychydig fisoedd i bedwar ugain mlwydd oed. Nid ydym yn gwybod am neb a gyfodwyd i bregethu yn yr eglwys hon ond Mr. C. M. Davies, Wallingford, a Mr. Thomas Lloyd, St. Ives, sir Huntingdon. Maent hwy yn weinidogion parchus yn Lloegr er's degau o flynyddau bellach.   

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL.

THOMAS LUKE. Ganwyd ef yn Salisbury, yn y flwyddyn 1777. Yr oedd ei rieni yn perthyn i'r eglwys Annibynol yn ninas Salisbury, ac ymunodd yntau a'r eglwys hono yn dra ieuangc. Yn 1802, aeth yn fyfyriwr i athrofa Dr. Bogue yn Gosport. Wedi bod yno am rai blynyddau ymsefydlodd yn Alton, lle y bu yn llafurio am bum' mlynedd, ond ni chafodd ei urddo yno. Symudodd i Hwlffordd, lle yr urddwyd ef Awst 29ain, 1811. Yn nechreu 1815, symudodd i Abertawy, ac oddiyno yn 1821, i Taunton, lle y bu yn weinidog defnyddiol a phurchus am ddwy flyneddar- hugain. Yn 1843, rhoddodd ei weinidogaeth i fyny, a syrnudodd i Goodwig, Abergwaun, lle yr oedd etifeddiaeth gan ei wraig, ac yno y bu yn cyfaneddu hyd ei farwolaeth, yr hyn a gymerodd le Rhagfyr 12fed, 1853. Cyhyd ag y parhaodd ei nerth, pregethai unwaith bob Sabboth yn nghapel yr Annibynwyr yn Abergwaun, er mwyn yr ychydig Saeson a   61 gyfaneddent yn y dref a'r gymydogaeth. Yr oedd Mr. Luke yn gristion pur, yn bregethwr buddiol, ac yn wr boneddíg yn holl ystyr y gair. Yr oedd ef a'i briod yn ddiarhebol am eu haelioni at bob achos crefyddol a dyngarol. Mae hanes Mr. Barfit, canlyniedydd Mr. Luke, yn Abertawy, yn hollol anhysbys i ni; ac nis gwyddom ddim ychwaneg am Mr. Brittan, na'i fod yn enedigol o Gaerodor, ac iddo ymfudo i'r America ar ei ymadawiad o Abertawy. Nis gwyddom hefyd ddim ani Mr. Robert Taylor, ond iddo gael ei addysgu yn athrofa Hackney, ac iddo symud o Abertawy i Somerton, lle yr oedd hyd yn ddiweddar.   

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins   (April 2008)

The start of this cause is the fruit of the labour & self denial efforts of Mr. D. Davies, minister of Ebenezer, & some of the members of his church. They saw there was a need for a place in the town for English of the Independent view, to worship, & that children of many of them were likely to go to other denominations, or go completely unreligious, except for a religious service in the English language being held in the town, because many of them  were unversed in Welsh. The members of Ebenezer who cooperated with Mr. Davies to start the cause in English were Messrs. Roger Hopkins, Thomas Jones & Henry Griffiths, together with some young people. The chapel in Castle Street was built in the year 1814 & it opened on December 28th & 29th, in the same year, when Messrs. W. Warlow, Milford; Peter, Carmarthen; Williams, Llanelli; East, Frome later from Birmingham, & Thorpe, Bristol,  preached. This chapel is now very large in contrast to chapels generally, but when it was built there did not appear to be one  house of worship in the Principality larger than it. The cost of the building was about two thousand pounds, & because only a small amount was collected in comparison at the beginning, the debt on it almost killed the cause, & a shame to the denomination for more than twenty years. If Mr. Davies, Ebenezer, had health & life for a few years longer, doubtless all the debt would have been erased soon, but because his health was sickening at the time, & he died within two years after that, the heavy load was left as a nightmare to crush the young & weak cause.

Soon after opening the chapel, a call was given to Mr. Thomas Luke, at that time from Haverfordwest. He was here from 1815 until 1821, very acceptable as a preacher, & standing high in the sight of the inhabitants of the town, but he did not appear to make but a little in comparison to erase the debt on the chapel. After Mr. Luke departed, a Mr. Barfit came here, but he did not appear to stay here but two or three years. He was followed by Mr. Brittan, a man born in Bristol. It's said that Mr. Brittan was an excellent preacher & he, probably, would have raised the strength of the cause, if his wisdom & control of his moods were equal to his ability as a preacher. Because of his folly his manner  tore the church. He took a few with him  to start a new cause. He built York Place Chapel but failed to do any good there again. The result was that he left, & for the chapel to be sold to the Baptists.   After Mr. Brittan left Castle Street, a call was made to Mr. Eliezer Jones, a student in Carmarthen College, & the son of the renowned Dr. Arthur Jones, Bangor. He was ordained here April 9th 1828,  when Messrs. Peter, Carmarthen, Hammerton, Newton, & others officiated. Mr. Jones was here until March 1832, when he moved to Rodborough. At present he is the minister of a large church in Ipswich. Mr. Jones was followed by Mr. Robert Taylor, but he was here hardly any time before the chapel was closed, & the congregation scattered because of the debt on the place. After things had been in this sorry state for about two years, the place was re-opened in 1836, when Mr. William Jones, the present minister, started his work here. The following report appeared in the Revivalist for 1838, page 181, which showed the position of things at the time."The chapel has been  built since twenty four years ago, &, because there was no piece of land for sale at that time, they were from necessity,  under leases on the basis of £35  rent yearly.  The building is large & convenient, but there is nothing wasteful in it's circle, the building debt was large, interest on this in addition to the annual rent made quite a large sum to pay each year, but the congregation was so large & responsible, that it was paid quickly & lessened greatly on the body for a considerable time: but because of circumstances & persons, it would be  unprofitable to elaborate in their circle at this time, the congregation parted & very soon, the rent & interest became too heavy for the ones who remained in Castle Street to bear. No progress was made, & the congregation faded, the cause languished, & ended with closing the door; then the few who had been faithful in all weather, scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Immediate preparations were made to sell the chapel; the Unitarians & Churchmen showed the most eager for it; this warmed the hearts of some friends, & they immediately took mercy on the ashes of the cause; they came forward & offered to stop the sale, on condition the"Ecunemical Union" took in the chapel; & in the Ecunemical Union meeting it was accepted normally as an extraordinary cause,  on condition that Swansea & Glamorgan stirred themselves first; at this  the Revs. W. Jones, Bridgend; T. Davies, Swansea; D. Jones, Clydach; J. Evans, Three Crosses; D. Rees, Llanelli, & Messrs. D. Rees & D. Gibbs, Swansea; Hughes & S. Rosser, Sketty; M. Morgans, Rhianfawr;  J. Jones, Brynbrain;  J. Powell, Cefnyfforest  & R. Monger, Landore were engaged as surety for the debt, & they bought the whole for £700, this at the debt that was left & the costs of drawing up the deeds, came to more than £1900. The trustees opened the chapel, & soon they invited Mr. W. Jones, Rhydybont, there to minister; who, through lots of personal sacrifice, consented to their request, on the assumption that the Union would take the debt; the church reformed  & approached many of the congregation on the understanding that the nightmare wouldn't  almost squeeze the breath from them, other than weighing  more on them; but many, to date, are staying away, in case the Union doesn't fulfil it's promise. If the churches of Wales moved as if they were serious, the chapel would fill immediately, & this congregation would be as helpful as any in Glamorgan at decreasing the common debts.

Now every condition put on the admission of the chapel to the Union had been fulfilled.

Messrs. D. Rees, Llanelli & R. Thomas, Landore, were delegated to collect amongst the English in Swansea; within eight days  they had one hundred & three pounds. The same persons collected £40 in Merthyr & Dowlais. Messrs Jones, Bridgend; Evans, Cymar; Griffiths, Llanharan; Williams, Maendy; Hughes, Dowlais; Powell, Cardiff, & Jones & Davies, Swansea were diligent in their various allocations, as is the county, on the whole, after being rather successful; now they turn to other Welsh counties. They collected for some hundreds in Glamorgan & the surrounding counties in this effort, but the biggest part of the debt stayed, until  Mr. Evan Watkins, at that time from Canaan, undertook the task to pay it in the year 1843. He applied himself with a determined effort to the work. He wrote thousands of letters to every part of the kingdom & travelled hundreds of miles to collect, as by the end of the year 1846, the majority of the burden was shifted. Mr. Jones & the congregation in Castle Street did their worthy part, & several of the local ministers worked well, but  the success of the effort is mostly attributed to the work of Mr. Watkins. After shifting the burden of the debt everything went ahead comfortably & successfully over many years, but the congregation now is not as numerous as a few years ago, because several other English chapels have been built in the town. The opening of the Presbyterian chapel greatly affected the congregation of Castle Street, as that's where the Scots chiefly worshipped before they had their own chapel. Mr. Jones is now well & active in body & soul,  even though he is within months of eighty years old. We do not know of anyone raised to preach in this church but Mr. C. M. Davies, Wallingford & Mr. Thomas Lloyd, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. They are respected ministers in England for tens of years past.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

THOMAS LUKE. He was born in Salisbury, in the year 1777. His parents belonged to the Independent church in the city of Salisbury, & he joined that church quite young. In 1802, he went as a student to Dr. Bogue's academy in Gosport. After being there for some years he settled in Alton, where he worked for five years, but he wasn't ordained there. He moved to Haverfordwest, where he was ordained August 29th, 1811. At the beginning of 1815, he moved to Swansea, & from there in 1821, to Taunton, where he was a useful & respected minister for twenty-two years. In 1843, he gave up his ministry, & moved to Goodwick,  Fishguard,  where his wife had an inheritance, & he lived there until his death, which happened December 12th, 1853. As long as his strength lasted, he preached once every Sabbath in the Independent chapel in Fishguard, for the sake of the few English who dwelled in the town & neighbourhood. Mr. Luke was a pure Christian, a beneficial preacher, & a noble man in the whole meaning of the word. He & his wife were renowned for their generosity to every religious & philanthropic cause. Mr. Barfit's story,  Mr. Luke's successor in Swansea, is completely unknown to us; & we know nothing more about Mr. Brittan, other than he was a native of  Bristol, & he emigrated to America on his departure from  Swansea. We also know nothing about Mr. Robert Taylor, other than he received his education in Hackney college, & he moved from Swansea to Somerton, where he was until recently.

SILOH, GLANDWR [Landore] (Llangyfelach parish)

(Vol 2, p 61)

 Cyn dechreu yr achos yn y lle hwn, yr oedd trigolion yr ardal yn hynod am eu hanfoesoldeb a'u hanwybodaeth. Yn y flwyddyn 1822, dechreuodd rhai o aelodau y Mynyddbach gynal cyfarfodydd gweddio yn y gymydogaeth, a chychwynwyd yma ysgol ar nosweithiau o'r wythnos, ac ar y Sabboth. Dechreuwyd yr ysgol ar nos Fawrth mewn lle a elwir y Cwm. Sion Rosser, David Davies, David Rosser, David Williams, Joseph Maybery, William Rees, a Thomas Williams, oedd y prif offerynau i gychwyn yr ysgol. Ar ol bod yn y Cwm am. dair wythnos, aeth y lle yn anghyfleus, a chan fod y gwaith copr, a elwir y Gwaithbach, yn sefyll ar y pryd, cawsant ganiatad gan Mr. Morgans, arolygydd y gwaith, i fyned i'r swyddfa (office) i gadw eu hysgol a'u cyfarfodydd. Aeth y lle hwnw drachefn yn rhy gyfyng, fel y bu raid iddynt symud i ystordy y gwaith. Buwyd fel hyn yn symud o fan i fan am agos ddwy flynedd. Yn 1824, cafwyd darn cyfleus o dir gan Syr John Morris, ar ba un yr ailadeiladwyd ysgoldy, yr hwn a alwyd y Coleg, o herwydd ei fod wedi cael ei amcanu at gadw ysgol ddyddiol yn gystal a gwasanaeth crefyddol. Wedi adeiladu y Coleg, cafwyd yma bregethu lled gyson agos bob nos Sabboth. Pan dorodd yr adfywiad mawr allan yn 1828, cynyddodd rhif yr aelodau i'r fath raddau, fel y barnwyd yn addas eu corpholi yn eglwys, a bu raid adeiladu capel helaeth ar ddarn o dir yn gyfochrog a'r Coleg. Gwnaed hyn yn y flwyddyn 1829. Yr oedd hwn yn addoldy prydferth, a chymharol helaeth. Galwyd ei enw ef Siloh. Llwyddodd yr achos yn fawr wedi cael addoldy cyfleus, fel erbyn 1840, yr oedd y tý hwn wedi myned yn rhy fychan, fel y bu raid ei ailadeiladu a'i helaethu yn y flwyddyn hono. Drachefn yn 1862, helaethwyd yr oriel, fel yr eistedda arni rai degau yn fwy nag o'r blaen, ac ar yr un amser cafodd yr eisteddleoedd oll eu had-drefnu, a'r holl adeilad ei brydferthu yn fawr.

Mr. D. Evans, Mynyddbach, oedd gweinidog cyntaf yr eglwys hon, yr hon a gorpholwyd ganddo yn eglwys Annibynol yn y flwyddyn 1828, fel y nodir uchod, ond o herwydd fod ei gylch gweinidogaethol mor eang, fel nas gallasai ymweled a Glandwr ond anfynych, dewiswyd Mr. E. Griffiths, Abertawy, yn gydweinidog ag ef yn Siloh, a buont ill dau yn gwasanaethu yr achos gyda ffyddlondeb mawr am rai blynyddau. Ar farwolaeth Mr. Evans, rhanwyd maes eang ei lafur rhwng tri gweinidog. Rhoddodd yr eglwys yn Nglandwr alwad i Mr. Robert Thomas, myfyriwr yn athrofa y Drefnewydd. Urddwyd Mr. Thomas yma Ebrill 18fed a'r 19eg, 1837. Y noson gyntaf gweddiodd Mr. W. Williams, Tredwstan, a phregethodd Mr. R. Pryse, Cwmllynfell, a Mr. J. Evans, Capel Sïon, oddiwrth Heb. ii. 16, a Job xix. 28. Dranoeth am 10, gweddiodd Mr. D. Roberts, Dowlais. Traddodwyd y gynaraeth gan Mr. D. Rees, Llanelli; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. T. Davies, Abertawy; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. W. Jones, Heolycastell, Abertawy, a rhoddwyd siars effeithiol i'r gweinidog ieuangc gan Mr. W. Williams, Wern, y pryd hwnw o Liverpool, dan weinidogaeth pa un y dygasid Mr. Thomas i fyny yn Rhosllanerchrugog. Am 2, gweddiodd Mr. P. Griffiths, Alltwen, a phregethodd Mr. D. R Stephen, (Bedyddiwr,) Abertawy, yn Saesoneg, a Mr. J. Hughes, Dowlais, oddiwrth Dat. ii. 27, a 1 Cron. xxix. 5. Yn yr hwyr, dechreuwyd gan Mr. Daniel Davies, (Bedyddiwr,) Abertawy, a phregethodd Mr. Williams, Wern, yn absenoldeb Mr. D. Williams, Llanwrtyd, ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys, a Mr. W. Jones, Penybont, i'r gynnulleidfa, oddiwrth Act. xiii. 15, a Salm. iv. 4.

Dwy flynedd fu tymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Thomas yma. Yn 1839, synmdodd i Raiadrgwy, yn groes i deimladau ei bobl yn Nglandwr, ond barnai mai ei ddyledswydd oedd gwneyd hyny er mwyn iechyd ei deulu. Yn mhen ychydig fisoedd ar ol ymadawiad Mr. Thomas, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. W. Morris, Llanfyllin, yr hwn a ymsefydlodd yma yn Mai, 1839. Cynhaliwyd cyfarfod sefydliad Mr. Morris, Hydref 18fed a'r 19eg, a chymerodd y gweinidogion canlynol ran yn ngwasanaeth cyhoeddus y cyfarfod; Meistri J. Lewis, Caerodor ; P. Griffiths, Alltwen ; D. Rees, Llanelli; J Evans, Crwys; W. Jones, Penybont; J. Davies, Aberdare; J. Evans, Capel Sïon, a D. Evans, Castellnedd. Darfu i ddoniau poblogaidd Mr. Morris, ar unwaith orlenwi y capel, a chan fod gradd o ddiwygiad crefyddol yn yr holl eglwysi ar y pryd, aeth y capel yma yn llawer rhy fychan i gynwys y gynnulleidfa, felly, adeiladwyd y capel helaeth presenol yn 1840. Parhaodd Mr. Morris i lafurio gyda mesur helaeth o lwyddiant hyd ddiwedd y flwyddyn 1847, ac yn nechreu y flwyddyn ganlynol symudodd i Birkenhead. Yn ddioed ar ol ei ymadawiad ef, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas Thomas, Clydach, y gweinidog presenol. Mae Mr. Thomas wedi cyflawni ei waith fel gweinidog yma bellach am dair-blynedd-ar-hugain ac y mae ol ei lafur i'w ganfod yn amlwg ar yr eglwys a'r ardal. Heblaw talu y ddyled drom oedd ar y capel pan ddechreuodd ef ei weinidogaeth yma, gosodwyd allan amryw ganoedd o bunau i'w helaethu a'i addurno, ac i adeiladu tý yn ei ymyl, ac ysgoldy hardd ar safle yr hen Goleg, yn 1862. Y mae hefyd ysgoldy eang wedi ei adeiladu ar y Brynhyfryd, lle y cedwir ysgolion dyddiol a Sabbothol, ac ysgoldy arall yn Mhlasmarl, yr hwn a adeiladwyd gan yr eglwysi yn Nglandwr, a Libanus, Treforis, cydrhyngddynt. Traul adeiladaeth y Coleg oedd 90p.; y capel a adeiladwyd yn 1829, 560p.; y capel y 1840, 760p.; yr adgyweiriad, ac adeiladau oddiamgylch iddo yn 1862, 900p. Costiodd ysgoldy Brynhyfryd 600p., a rhan eglwys Siloh o ysgoldy Plasmawr 160p. Fel hyn gwelir fod yr eglwys weithgar hon wedi gosod allan ar ei chapeli a'i hysgoldai, heb gyfrif y llogau, dros dair mil o bunau mewn saith-mlynedd-a-deugain, ac y mae dros ddwy ran o dair o'r swm hwn wedi ei wneyd yn yr ugain mlynedd diweddaf.

Yr aelodau cyntaf a dderbyniwyd yma wedi sefydliad yr achos oedd Robert Morgan, a'i wraig. Enwau y diaconiaid yma o ddechreuad yr achos hyd yn bresenol ydynt Joseph Maybery, David Williams, a adwaenir wrth yr enw "Cymro o Mexico;" William Rees, Robert Monger, William     63 Williams, William Hughes, Samuel Hughes, Evan Griffiths, yr hwn sydd yn awr yn aelod yn Ebenezer, Abertawy; "William Richard, John Jones, Evan Mathews, Joseph Evans, David Rees, Rees David, John Davies, William Williams, John Evans, a Thomas Jones. Mae amryw o'r brodyr teilwng hyn wedi myned oddiwrth eu gwaith at eu gwobr. Mr. Joseph Maybery, oedd un o'r prif offerynau yn nghychwyniad yr achos. Yr oedd yn ddyn nodedig o wybodus, coethedig, a llafurus gyda'r achos, ac yn ddyn hollol rydd oddiwrth syniadau bychain, crebachlyd, a gwael. Ni chawsom erioed y fraint o adnabod dyn mwy rhagorol yn mhob ystyr nag ef. Wedi llafurio yn ffyddlon i gyfodi yr achos i fod yn gryf a hunan-gynaliol yn Nglandwr,, arweiniwyd ef gan Ragluniaeth. i Lanelli, lle y bu drachefn yn un o brif golofnau yr achos Saesonig yno hyd ei farwolaeth. Bu farw y cristion gwerthfawr hwn lonawr 16eg, 1871, yn 74 oed. Pe byddai yn mhob eglwys ond un diacon o fath Mr. Maybery, gwelid golwg well yn fuan ar agwedd crefydd yn Nghymru. Cyfaill teilwng i Joseph Maybery, oedd Robert Monger. Gwasanaethodd ei swydd yn effeithiol fel diacon, a bu farw a llwyddiant yr achos yn agos at ei galon. Gorphenodd ei yrfa lonawr laf, 1868, yn 75 oed. Y diweddaf o ddiaconiaid Siloh a ymadawodd a'r fuchedd hon, yw John Davies - dyn siriol, gweithgar, a llawn o rinweddau.

Mae yn eglwys Glandwr er's blynyddau o dri i bedwar cant o aelodau, a dichon nad oes un eglwys, yn ol ei rhif a'i sefyllfa, yn fwy haelionus at bob achos cartrefol a chyhoeddus. Mae ei chasgliadau cenhadol tua haner can punt y flwyddyn, ac nid oes braidd un achos perthynol i'r enwad nad yw yn cael ei gynorthwyo gan yr eglwys hon.

Y pregethwyr a gyfodwyd yma ydynt y rhai canlynol:

  • Daniel Jones, Wickham Market, Suffolk. Urddwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1843, ac y mae yn parhau etto yn gryf a ffyddlon yn ngwaith ei Arglwydd.
  • William Roberts, Gt. Mersey-street, Liverpool. Un genedigol o Llanfyllin, ydyw, ond yma y dechreuodd bregethu yn amser Mr. Morris.
  • Joseph Morris, Brunswick Chapel, Caerodor. Mab hynaf Mr. Morris, y gweinidog.
  • Griffith Morris, ail fab Mr. Morris. Bu y gwr ieuangc gobeithiol hwn farw ar gychwyniad ei fywyd cyhoeddus.
  • William Humphreys, yn nglyn a hanes eglwys Cwmbwrla y rhoddir ei gofiant ef.
  • Thomas Davies, yr hwn a aeth i Unol Daleithiau America.
  • Joseph John. gweinidog yr eglwys Saesonig yn Ystalyfera.
  • David Rees, a urddwyd yn ddiweddar yn Witton Park, yn ngogledd Lloegr.   

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins   (March 2008)

Before starting the cause in this place, the local inhabitants were remarkable for their immorality & their ignorance. In the year 1822, some of the members of Mynyddbach started to hold prayer meetings in the neighbourhood, & they began a school here on weeknights, and on the Sabbath. The school started on Tuesday night in a place called the Cwm. Sion Rosser, David Davies, David Rosser, David Williams, Joseph Maybery, William Rees & Thomas Williams were the main instruments in starting the school. After being in the Cwm for three weeks, the place became inconvenient, & because the copper works, called Gwaithbach, (Little Works), was standing at the time, they had permission from Mr. Morgans, the works superintendent, to go to the office to hold their school & their meetings. That place again became too confined, as they had to move to the works storehouse. They were like this, moving from place to place, for almost two years. In 1824 they were given a convenient piece of land by Sir John Morris, on which they rebuilt a schoolhouse, which they called the College, because it's purpose was to hold a day school as well as religious service. After building the College, there was regular preaching almost every Sabbath night. When the big revival broke out in 1828, the number of members rose to such a degree that they judged it suitable they were incorporated as a church , and an ample chapel would need to be built on a piece of land parallel with the College. This was done in the year 1829. This was a beautiful place of worship, and comparatively large scale. It was called Siloh. The cause succeeded well after having a convenient place of worship, as by 1840, this building had become too small, as it had to be re-built & extended in that year. Again in 1862, the gallery was built, as tens more than before sat there & at the same time all the pews were re-arranged, & all the building was much beautified.

Mr.D. Evans, Mynyddbach, was the first minister in this church, incorporated as an Independent Church by him in the year 1828, as noted above, but because his ministerial group was so widespread he could rarely visit Landore, he chose Mr. E. Griffiths, Swansea as minister with him in Siloh, & they both served the cause very faithfully for some years. On Mr Evans' death, his wide area of work was shared between three ministers. The church in Landore called Robert Thomas, a student at Newtown college. Mr. Thomas was ordained here 18th & 19th April, 1837. The first evening Mr. W.Williams, Tredwstan, prayed & Mr. R. Pryse, Cwmllynfell & Mr. J. Evans, Sion Chapel, preached from Heb. ii 16, & Job xix 28. Next day at 10 Mr D.Roberts of Dowlais, prayed. The initial address was delivered by Mr. D. Rees, Llanelli; the questions were asked by Mr. T. Davies, Swansea; prayers were raised by Mr W. Jones Castle Street, Swansea, & an effective charge was given to the young minister by Mr.W. Williams, Wern, at that time from Liverpool, under whose ministry Mr Thomas prospered in Rhosllanerchrugog. At 2, Mr. P. Griffiths, Alltwen prayed & Mr.D.Stephens, (Baptists), Swansea preached in English with Mr. J. Hughes, Dowlais from Rev. ii 27, & 1 Chron. xxix. 5. In the evening, Mr. Daniel Davies (Baptists) Swansea started &, in the absence of Mr. D. Williams, Llanwrtyd, on church duty, Mr. Williams, Wern & Mr.W. Jones, Bridgend preached to the congregation from Act. xiii 15 & Psalm iv. 4.

The term of Mr Thomas' ministry here was for 2 years. In 1839 he moved to Rhayader, contrary to the feelings of his people in Landore, but he judged that it was his duty to do this for the sake of his family's health. Within a few months after Mr Thomas' departure, Mr. W. Morris, Llanfyllin, was given the calling, who located here in May 1839. Mr. Morris' induction meeting was held October 18th & 19th & the following ministers took part in the public service of the meeting. Messrs. J. Lewis, Bristol; P. Griffiths, Alltwen; D. Rees, Llanelli; J. Evans, Three Crosses; W. Jones, Bridgend; J. Davies, Aberdare; J. Evans, Sion Chapel; & D. Evans, Neath. Mr. Morris' popular talents at once overfilled the chapel, & because there was a degree of religious revival in all the chapels at the time, the chapel here became much too small to hold the congregation, so the present extensive chapel was built in 1840. Mr. Morris continued to work with great success until the end of 1847, & at the start of the next year moved to Birkenhead. Soon after his departure Mr. Thomas Thomas, Clydach was called, the present minister. Mr Thomas has fulfilled his work as minister here for more than twenty three years & the mark of his work is visible on the church & the area. Besides paying the heavy debt that was on the chapel when he started his ministry here, he set up many hundreds of pounds to enlarge & decorate it, & to build a house at it's side, & a lovely schoolhouse on the site of the old College in 1862. There is also a spacious schoolroom built on Brynhyfryd, where daily & Sunday schools are held, and another schoolroom in Plasmarl which was built between them by the Landore churches & Libanus, Morriston. The construction cost of the College was £90; the chapel built in 1829, £560; the 1840 chapel £760; the restoration & buildings around it in 1862, £900. Brynhyfryd schoolroom cost £600, & £160 for Siloh's part of Plasmarl schoolroom. So it can be seen that this industrious church set out for it's chapels & schoolrooms, without counting interests, over £3000 in forty seven years & almost two thirds of this amount was in the last twenty years.

The first members admitted here after establishing the cause were Robert Morgan & his wife. The names of the deacons here from the start of the cause until the present are Joseph Maybery, David Williams, known by the name "Welshman from Mexico"; William Rees, Robert Monger, William Williams, William Hughes, Samuel Hughes, Evan Griffiths, who is now a member in Ebenezer, Swansea; William Richard, John Jones, Evan Mathews, Joseph Evans, David Rees, Rees David, John Davies, William Williams, John Evans & Thomas Jones. Many of these worthy brothers have gone from their work to their prize. Mr. Joseph Maybery, was one of the main instruments in starting the cause. He was a noteworthy, knowing man, cultured & painstaking with the cause, & a man completely free from small, wrinkled?? & flimsy ideas.We've never had the privilege of knowing a man more excellent in every sense than he. After working faithfully to raise the cause to be strong & self-supporting in Landore, he was led by Providence to Llanelli, where he was again one of the main pillars of the English cause there until his death. This invaluable christian died January 16th, 1871, aged 74 years. If there was one deacon in every church of Mr. Maybery's kind, a better view would be seen on religious attitude in Wales. A worthy friend of Joseph Maybery, was Robert Monger. He served his post as deacon effectively, & he died with the success of the cause close to his heart. His course ended January 1st, 1868, aged 75 years. The last of Siloh's deacons who left this life, was John Davies- a cheerful, hardworking man & full of virtue.

For years there are three to four hundred members in Landore church, & perhaps there isn't one church, according to it's size & situation, more liberal to every homely & public cause. It's missionary collection is almost £50 per year, & there's almost no cause relative to the denomination that doesn't get help from this church.

The ministers raised here are the following:

  • Daniel Jones, Wickham Market, Suffolk. He was ordained in the year 1843, & he still continues strong & faithful in the Lord's work.
  • William Roberts, Gt. Mersey Street, Liverpool. He was born in Llanfyllin, but he started preaching here during Mr. Morris' time.
  • Joseph Morris, Brunswick Chapel, Bristol. Mr. Morris, the minister's, oldest son.
  • Griffith Morris, Mr. Morris' second son. This hopeful young man died at the start of his public life.
  • William Humphreys, his memoir is given in the story of Cwmbwrla church.
  • Thomas Davies, who went to the United States of America. Joseph John, the minister of Ystalyfera English church.
  • David Rees, who was recently ordained in Witton Park, in the north of England.