Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

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

These chapel histories were extracted by Gareth Morgan from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Feb 2008)  - no translations

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

Proof read by Melanie Stark (March 2008)

CWMBWRLA  (Swansea parish)

(Vol 2, p 80)

Pentref ychydig gyda milldir o Abertawy, ar y ffordd i Lanelli a Chaerfyrddin, yw Cwmbwrla. Yr oedd gan eglwys Ebenezer ysgoldy at gadw Ysgol Sabbothol a chyfarfodydd gweddio yn Mhentrefgethin, ychydig yn nes i fyny i'r wlad, er's llawer o flynyddau, a phan gymerodd perchenog y tir feddiant o hwnw, adeiladwyd ysgoldy yn Nghimbwrla yn 1844, yr hwn a agorwyd Awst 12fed a'r 13eg, yn yr un flwyddyn. Pregethwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri D. Rees, a T. Roberts, Llanelli; W. Jones, Abertawy; E. Roberts, Cwmbychan; T. Bowen, yn awr o Bendaran; T. Thomas, Abertawy; E. G. Williams, Ysgetty, a W. Morris, Glandwr. Cadwyd Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddio, pregethu achlysurol, ac ysgol ddyddiol yn yr ysgoldy hwn hyd y flwyddyn 1861, pryd y ffarflwyd yma eglwys Annibynol. Gollyngwyd 50 o aelodau o Ebenezer i ffurfio yr eglwys newydd, a gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Mr. E. Jacob, yr hwn oedd yn awr wedi rhoddi gofal Ebenezer i fyny, ac ar symud i Ebley. Cawn y nodiad canlynol gyda golwg ar ffurflad yr eglwys hon yn y Diwygiwr am Hydref, 1861: -  "Yn ddiweddar, wrth weled fod preswrylwyr yr ardal yn amlhau yn fawr, penderfynwyd sefydlu achos rheolaidd yn y lle. Unodd ychydig frodyr gweithgar y dref a'r rhai oedd yn byw yno, yn y cynyg er dyogelu yr amcan teilwng hwn, a choronwyd eu llafur a llwyddiant. Cydweithredodd y Parch. W. Humphreys, Cadle, yn wresog yn yr ymdrech; a chan ei fod yn byw yn yr ardal, mae yn addaw cydweithredu etto. Nos Sabboth, Medi 8fed, 1861, cafodd y Parch. E. Jacob yr hyfrydwch o ffurflo eglwys yn y lle, yn cynwys yn nghylch 50 o aelodau. Derbyniwyd ar y pryd wyth o rai newyddion, ac y mae o ddeg i bymtheg etto yn y gyfeillach heb eu derbyn. Bwriedir adeiladu addoldy hardd yno mor fuan ag y byddo yn gyfleus. Mae golwg obeithiol iawn ar yr achos ieuangc yn ei gychwyniad." Dewiswyd Mr. Humphreys yn weinidog yn fuan ar ol hyn, a pharhaodd i gyflawni ei weinidogaeth yn wir effeithiol hyd derfyniad ei fywyd defnyddiol. Yn haf 1862 gosodwyd careg sylfaen y capel gan Mr. E. Griffiths, Abertawy, a phregethwyd ar yr achlysur gan Mr. Daniel, Mynyddbach, a Dr. Rees, Abertawy. Cyn-naliwyd cyfarfodydd agoriad y capel newydd Mawrth 29ain, 30ain a'r 31ain, 1863, pryd y pregethodd Meistri J. Thomas, Bryn; W. Morgan, Maesteg; Dr. Rees, Abertawy; J. Roberts, Castellnedd; D. Jones, Cwmafon; T. Davies, Siloa; I. Mathews, Castellnedd; D. Evans, Llansawel; H. Evans, Penbre; E. Evans, Treforis; J. Rees, Canaan; T. Davies, Treforis, a T. Thomas, Glandwr. Traul yr adeiladaeth oedd 700p., a chasglwyd erbyn diwedd cyfarfodydd yr agoriad 200p. Yn y flwyddyn 1864, gosodwyd oriel yn y capel a chynaliwyd cyfarfodydd agoriad drachefn ar orpheniad y gwaith hwnw, Tachwedd 13eg a'r 14eg, pryd y pregethodd Meistri J. Rees, Cwmaman, Aberdare; H. Evans, Penbre; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; I. Evans, Maendy; I. Thomas, Bryn, a J. Joseph, Llanelli. Gorphenaf 9fed, 1869, bu farw y gweinidog llafurus, Mr. Humphreys, er dirfawr dristwch a cholled i bobl ei ofal. Wedi bod tua blwyddyn ar ol marwolaeth Mr. Humphreys yn ymddibynu ar weinidogaeth achlysurol, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Jones, New Tredegar, yr hwn a ddechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Medi, 1870. Mae Mr. Jones a'r bobl yn cydweithredu yn ddymunol, a phob arwydd y bydd ei lafur yn y lle yn llwyddianus. Er fod y capeli Zoar, Pentre-estyll, Ebenezer, Capel Sion, Glandwr, a'r capel hwn, oll o fewn llai na milldir i'w gilydd, y mae yma ddigon o drigolion i'w llenwi oll, a digon yn ngweddill i'r enwadan eraill.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

WILLIAM HUMPHREYS. Ganwyd ef yn nghymydogaeth Glandwr yn y flwyddyn 1822. ..............................

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (Oct 2008)

Cwmbwrla is a village about a mile from Swansea, on the road to Llanelli & Carmarthen. For  many years Ebenezer had a schoolhouse for Sunday School & prayer meetings in Pentregethin, a little nearer the countryside, & when the owner gave possession of the land, a schoolhouse was built in Cwmbwrla in 1844, which opened August 12th & 13th, the same year. On that occasion preachers were Messrs. D. Rees & T. Roberts, Llanelli; W. Jones, Swansea; E. Roberts, Cwmbychan; T. Bowen, Pendaran; T. Thomas, Swansea; E.G. Williams, Sketty & W. Morris, Landore. Sunday School, prayer meetings, occasional preaching & daily school were held in the schoolhouse until the year 1861, when a Congregational Church was formed here.  50 of Ebenezer's members left to form the new church & Mr. E. Jacob, who had now given up the care of Ebenezer & moved to Ebley,  officiated on the occasion. We have the following note on the formation of this church in The Revivalist (Diwygiwr) for October, 1861:- " Lately, seeing that the inhabitants of the area were increasing greatly, it was decided to establish a normal cause in the place. A few of the town's industrious brothers joined with some who lived there, to try & secure this worthy purpose, & their work was crowned with success. Mr. W. Humphreys, Cadle, cooperated fervently in the endeavor; & because he lived in the area, he still cooperates.

On Sunday night, September 8th, 1861, Mr. E. Jacob had the pleasure of forming a church in the place, consisting of about 50 members. Eight new members were received at the time, &  there are from ten to fifteen in the fellowship not yet received. It is intended to build a beautiful building there as soon as it is convenient. There is a very hopeful look on the young cause in it's beginning." Mr. Humphreys was chosen as minister shortly after this, & he continued to perform his ministry with real effect until the end of his useful life.  In summer 1862 the foundation stone of the chapel was laid by Mr. E. Griffiths, Swansea, & Mr. Daniel, Mynyddbach, & Dr. Rees, Swansea preached on the occasion. The new chapel's opening meetings were held on March 29th, 30th & 31st, 1863, when Messrs J. Thomas, Bryn; W. Morgan, Maesteg; Dr. Rees, Swansea; J. Roberts, Neath; D. Jones, Cwmavon; T. Davies, Siloa; I. Matthews, Neath; D. Evans, Llansawel; H. Evans, Pembrey; E. Evans, Morriston; J. Rees, Canaan; T. Davies, Morriston & T. Thomas, Landore preached. The debt for the building was £700, & £200 had been collected by the end of the inauguration  meetings. In 1864, a gallery was put in place & opening meetings were again held at the end of that work, November 13th & 14th, when Messrs. J. Rees,  Cwmamman, Aberdare; H. Evans, Pembrey; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; I. Evans, Maendy; I. Thomas, Bryn & J. Joseph, Llanelli, preached. On July 9th, 1869, the painstaking minister, Mr. Humphreys, died, a huge sadness & loss to the people under his care. After depending on occasional preaching for about a year after Mr. Humphreys' death,  a call was made to Mr. David Jones, New Tredegar,  who started his ministry here in September 1870. Mr. Jones & the people work well as a team, with  every sign that his work here will be successful. Although the chapels Zoar, Pentre-Estyll, Ebenezer, Capel Sion, Landore & this chapel, are all within less than a mile of one another, there are enough inhabitants to fill them all, & enough surplus for the other denominations.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ( Not extracted fully)

WILLIAM HUMPHREYS He was born in Landore in 1822 .............

HOREB, TREFORIS (Llangyfelach parish)

(Vol 2, p 82)

Yr oedd Mr. Thomas Davies, gweinidog y capel hwn, wedi bod yn bregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn yr ardal ers amryw flynyddau, a nifer o'i gyfeillion yn awyddus am ddyogelu ei wasanaeth yn yr ardal fel gweinidog, ac i'r dyben hwnw cymhellasant ef i uno a hwy i gyfodi achos newydd. Cydsyniodd a'u cais, a phregethodd yn ei dy ei hun ar yr ail Sabboth yn Ebrill, 1842. Y Sabboth canlynol pregethodd yn nhy John Evans, Edward-street, a pharhawyd i gynal y moddion yn y ty hwnw am dri mis. Yna ardrethwyd swyddfa hen waith y Clundu, am yr ardreth flynyddol o dair punt. Yn y lle hwnw corpholwyd yr eglwys, ac urddwyd Mr. Davies gan y brodyr heb alw un gweinidog i gymeryd rhan yn y gwasanaeth. Er nad oedd yr achos hwn yn rhwygiad o unrhyw eglwys, etto, gan iddo gael ei gychwyn heb ymgynghori a'r eglwysi a'r gweinidogion cymydogaethol, nid ystyrid ef y pryd hwnw yn achos rheolaidd, ac felly penderfynodd y brodyr urddo eu gweinidog eu hunain. Tua yr amser hwn cafwyd darn helaeth o dir at adeiladu capel a chladdu y meirw gan L. W. Dillwyn, Ysw., am yr ardreth o swllt y flwyddyn. Hyd y les yw mil and un o flynyddoedd. Traddodwyd pregeth ar y sylfaen yn mis Hydref, 1842, gan Mr. D. Davies, gweinidog y Bedyddwyr yn Abertawy. Yn nghyfarfod Calan, Castellnedd, yn 1843, rhoddwyd cais at y cyfeillion yn y lle hwn i osod eu hunain dan nawdd Cyfarfod Chwarterol y sir, a chydymffurflo a threfn arferol yr enwad gyda golwg ar urddiad eu gweinidog. Cydsyniwyd a'r cais, a chynaliwyd cyfarfod urddiad Mr. Davies Gorphenaf 24ain, 1843, pryd y gweinyddwyd gan y Meistri W. Thomas, Glais; D. Jones, Clydach; E. Griffiths, Abertawy, a J. Davies, Mynydd bach. Rhwng muriau y capel, yr hwn oedd y pryd hwnw heb ei y cynaliwyd y cyfarfod hwn. Cyn gynted ag y gosodwyd tô a ffenestri i'r capel aeth y gynnulleidfa iddo. Yn raddol gorphenwyd ef trwy osod eisteddleoedd &c. ynddo. Ebrill 7fed, 1844, y dechreuwyd cynal gwasanaeth rheolaidd ynddo, pryd y pregethodd Mr. W. Rees, o athrofa Lancashire, yn awr offeiriad Llanboidy. Yn mhen tua blwyddyn ar ol hyn bu raid gosod oriel ynddo, oherwydd fod y gynnulleidfa wedi myned yn rhy luosog i lawr y capel i'w chynwys. Rhagfyr 10fed a'r lleg, 1845, cynaliwyd cyfarfod agoriad ar ol gorphen yr oriel, a phob peth arall perthynol i'r adeilad, pryd y cymerwyd rhan yn y gwasanaeth gan y Meistri P. Griffiths, Alltwen; W. Morgans, Troedyrhiw; W. Thomas, Rock; J. Evans, Crwys; E. Jacob, Abertawy; E. Watkins, Canaan; W. Morris, Glandwr, ac eraill.  Maint y capel hwn oedd 36 troedfedd wrth 31 o fewn y muriau. Traul yr adeiladaeth, trefnu a chau oddiamgylch y fynwent &c., oedd rhwng 600p. a 700p., a thalwyd y cwbl trwy ymdrechior diattal y gweinidog a'i bobl ffyddlon. Erbyn y flwyddyn 1869 yr oedd y capel hwn wedi myned yn rhy fychan fel y bu raid ei dynu i lawr ac adeiladu un llawer helaethach. Gosodwyd careg sylfaen y capel newydd prydnawn dydd Sadwrn, Awst 28ain, 1869, gan Miss Hughes, (Moffudd Glantawy,) yn newydd torf fawr o edrychwyr, y rhai a anerchwyd gan y Meistri F. Samuel, a, Dr. Rees, Abertawy; R. Rowlands, Llansalmet; W. Cuthbertson, B.A., Bishop Stortford, a J. Davies, Caerdydd. Rhoddodd Miss Hughes 20p., a'i thad, R. Hughes, Ysw. 10p., at drawl yr adeiladaeth. Gorphenwyd y gwaith ac agorwyd y capel Rhagfyr 3ydd, 4ydd a'r 5ed, 1870. Pregethwyd yn nghyfarfodydd yr agoriad gan Dr. Rees, Abertawy; y Meistri J. Davies, Taihirion; E. Griffiths, Abertawy; J. Roberts, a J. Mathews, Castellnedd; T. Johns, Llanelli; R. Morgans, Glynnedd; R. Morgans, Aberafan; J. Ll. Jones, Crwys, a J. Thomas, Bryn. Mae y capel hwn yn un o'r rhai harddaf yn yr holl ardal, ac ysgoldy eang odditano. Costiodd tua 2,300p., ac y mae y gynnulleidfa ffyddlon wedi casglu 700p. o'r swm hwn Yn y ddwy flynedd ddiweddaf. Maint y capel prydferth hwn yw 55 troedfedd wrth 45.

Mae Mr. Davies er dechreuad yr achos yma yn 1842, wedi derbyn dros 1200 o aelodau i'r eglwys. Rhai o honynt yn hen iawn a rhai yn ieuaingc iawn. Erbyn hyn y mae tua 300 o honynt wedi marw, a chanoedd eraill wedi cael eu gwasgaru gan Ragluniaeth i wahanol ardaloedd a gwledydd. Nifer y gynnulleidfa yn bresenol, rhwng aelodau a gwrandawyr yw tua 500. Yn mysg y ffyddloniaid a fuont feirw gellid enwi David Jones, Tanyard; David Jones, Gwehydd; John David, David John, Jonah Francis, Mary Anne Hopkin, Martha Rees, Hannah Davies, gwraig y gweinidog, a Mary Charles.

Y pregethwyr a godwyd yn yr eglwys hon ydynt y rhai canlynol: -

• John Davies, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn y Taihirion, Bronllwyn, a'r Efail-isaf, Morganwg.
• Samuel Jones, gynt o Benmorfa, sir Gaernarfon.
• Lot Jenkins, yr hwn a urddwyd yn Pomeroy, Ohio, America, ac a symudodd oddiyno i St. Clairs, yn nhalaeth Pennsylvania, lle y bu farw yn mlodau ei ddyddiau er mawr alar i bobl ei ofal a'i frodyr yn y weinidogaeth.
• William Thomas. Ymfudodd yntau i'r America, ac yno ymunodd a'r Wesleyaid.
• Thomas Davies. Addysgwyd ef yn athrofa Lancashire, a chafodd ei urddo yn Runcorn, ond ymfudodd yn fuan oddiyno i South Australia, lle y mae yn bresenol.
• William Davies. Y mae ef yma etto yn bregethwr cynorthwyol defnyddiol.

Rhif yr aelodau yma yn awr yw tua dau gant a haner, ac y mae golwg lewyrchus ar yr achos. Mae llwyddiant mawr fel y gwelir wedi bod ar lafur Mr. Davies yn y lle hwn, ac y mae y ffeithiau a goffawyd yn llefaru yn gryfach dros weithgarwch yr eglwys a'r gweinidog nag unrhyw ganmoliaeth a aliwn ni ei roddi.

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (Nov 2008)

Mr. Thomas Davies, the minister of this chapel, had been a helpful & respected preacher in the area for many years, & a number of his friends were eager to secure his service in the area as a minister, & to that end they persuaded him to join them to raise a new cause. He agreed to their request, & preached in his own house the second Sabbath in April, 1842. The following Sabbath he preached in John Evans' house, Edward Street, & continued in this manner in that house for three months. Then they rented the office of the old Clyndu works, for £3 per year rent. The church was incorporated there, & Mr. Davies was ordained by the brothers without calling one minister to take part in the service, although this cause hadn't split from any church, still, because it started without consulting with the churches & ministers of the neighbourhood, it wasn't considered then to be a regular cause, & so the brothers determined to ordain their minister themselves. About this time they had an extensive piece of land to build a chapel & bury the dead from L. W. Dillwyn, Esq., for one shilling a year rent. The length of the lease is one thousand & one years. A sermon was delivered on the foundation October, 1842 by Mr. D. Davies, Baptist minister in Swansea. In New Year meeting in Neath in 1843, a request was made to the friends here to locate themselves under the patronage of the county's Quarterly Meetings, & to conform with the customary organisation of the sect in respect of the ordination of their minister. They agreed to the request, & held an ordination meeting for Mr. Davies July 24th, 1843, when it was ministered by Messrs. W. Thomas, Glais; D. Jones, Clydach; E. Griffiths, Swansea, & J. Davies, Mynyddbach. This meeting was held between the chapel walls, which were not finished at that time. As soon as they attached a roof & windows to the chapel, the congregation went to it. Gradually it was finished through placing seats etc. in it. April 7th, 1844, they started to hold a normal meeting in it, when Mr. W. Rees, from Lancashire College, now priest in Llanboidy, preached. About a year after this it was necessary to build a gallery in it, because the congregation was too numerous for the floor of the chapel to hold them. December 10th & 11th, 1845, they held an opening meeting after completing the gallery, & everything else pertaining to the building, when, taking part in the service, were Messrs. P. Griffiths, Alltwen; W. Morgans, Troedyrhiw; W. Thomas, Rock; J. Evans, Three Crosses; E. Jacob, Swansea; E. Watkins, Canaan; W. Morris, Landore, & others. The size of this chapel was 36 feet by 31 feet inside the walls.

The building's expense, arranging & enclosing the cemetery etc., was between £600 & £ 700, & the lot was paid through the hard work of the minister & his faithful people. By the year 1869, this chapel had gone too small & it had to be pulled down & build a much more extensive one. The foundation stone for the new chapel was laid Saturday afternoon, August 28th, 1869, by Miss Hughes, Glantawe, in front of a large crowd of onlookers, who were addressed by Messrs. F. Samuel & Dr. Rees, Swansea; R. Rowlands, Llansamlet; W. Cuthbertson, B. A., Bishop Stortford & J. Davies, Cardiff.  Miss Hughes gave £20, & her father, R. Hughes, Esq. £10 towards the building's expense. The work was finished & the chapel opened December 3rd, 4th & 5th, 1870. In the opening meetings preachers were Dr. Rees, Swansea; Messrs. J. Davies, Taihirion; E. Griffiths, Swansea; J. Roberts & J. Matthews, Neath; T. Johns, Llanelli; R. Morgans, Glynneath; R. Morgans, Aberavon; J. Ll. Jones, Three Crosses & J. Thomas, Bryn. This chapel is one of the most beautiful in the area, with a spacious schoolhouse below. It cost towards £2,300, & its faithful congregation collected £700 of this sum in the last two years. The size of this beautiful chapel is 55 feet by 45.

Mr. Davies, since the start of the cause here in 1842, has admitted over 1200 members to the chapel. Some of them very old & some very young. By now  towards 300 of them have died & hundreds more scattered by Providence to different areas & countries. The present number of the congregation, between members & listeners is about 500. Amongst those faithful who died we can name David Jones, Tanyard; David Jones, Gwehydd; John David, David John, Jonah Francis, Mary Anne Hopkin, Martha Rees, Hannah Davies, the minister's wife, & Mary Charles.

The preachers raised in this church are the following:-

• John Davies, the minister of the churches in Taihirion, Bronllwyn, & Efail Isaf, Glamorgan.
• Samuel Jones, formerly of Penmorfa, Caernarvonshire.
• Lot Jenkins, who was ordained in Pomeroy, Ohio, America, & moved from there to St.    Clairs, in Pennsylvania province, where he died in the flowers of his days to the sorrow of people in his care & his brothers in the ministry.
• William Thomas. He emigrated to America & then went to the Wesleyans.
• Thomas Davies. Was educated in Lancashire College, & was ordained in Runcorn, but he emigrated shortly from there to South Australia, where he is at present.

The number of members here now are about two hundred & fifty, & the cause is flourishing. As seen, Mr. Davies'work has been very successful here, & the facts remembered  speak stronger about the activity of the church & the minister than any praise we could give.

Y GLAIS  (Llansamlet parish)

(Vol 2, p 93)

Mae y capel hwn yn y cwr uchaf o blwyf Llansamlet, ar ymyl y ffordd sydd yn arwain o Glydach i Gastellnedd. Fel y nodasom yn hanes Clydach, dechreuwyd yr achos hwn gan nider o aelodai Hebron, Clydach, y rhai a lynasant wrth Mr. William Thomas, pan drowyd ef o'r weinidogaeth yn y lle hwnw. Bu yr eglwys fechan hon yn ymgynnull i addoli mewn annedd dy, o'r enw Cefnygarth, o'i dechreuad yn y flwyddyn 1834, hyd 1841, pryd yr adeiladwyd capel y Glais. Mr. William Thomas fu yn gweinidogaethu yma o'r dechreuad hyd y flwyddyn 1847, pryd yr ymadawodd o'r ardal. Yn 1848, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Rees, mewn cysylltiad a Charmel, Llanguwg, a bu yr eglwys dan ei ofal ef hyd y flwyddyn 1853. Dilynwyd Mr. Rees yma yn yr un flwyddyn gan Mr. David Evans, mewn cystyllaid a Chlydach. Ar ymadawiad Mr. Evans, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. E. Owen gan y ddwy eglwys yn Nghlydach a'r Glais, ac efe ydyw y gweinidog yma er y flwyddyn 1861. Gan fod y gynnulleidfa yn cynyddu bu raid tynu y capel cyntaf i lawr yn 1865, ac adeiladu yr un presenol. Mae hwn yn gapel hardd ac o wnenthuriad cadarn, cynwysa tua 400 o eisteddleoedd, ac nid oes ond ychydig o ddyled yn aros arno.

Cafodd y personau canlynol eu cyfodi i bregethu yn yr eglwys hen: -

• G. Morgan. Dechreuodd bregethu yn y flwyddyn 1860. Ar ef gorphen ei amser yn athrofa Aberhonddu, ymsefydledd yn weinidog ar yr eglwys Gymreig yn Stockton-on-Tees, lle y mae hyd yn bresenol.
• Thomas J. Rees. Dechreuodd bregethu yn 1869. Mae yn bresenol yn yr ysgol gyda Mr. Jones, Penybontarogwy, yn parotoi i fyned i'r athrofa:
• Mathew Griffiths. Dechreuodd ef bregethu gyda'r Wesleyaid, ond y mae er's tua dwy flynedd wedi ymuno a'r eglwys hon, at yn bregethwr cynorthwyol derbyniol yma.
• Joseph Griffiths. Dechreuodd bregethu yn y flwyddyn 1879.

Bu Richard Thomas, Danycoed; David Jones, y gof, a William Baker, Yr  hwn a grybwyllasom yn hanes Clydach, yn aelodau selog ac yn ddaconiaid defnyddiol yn yr eglwys hon o ddechreuad yr achos hyd derfyn eu hoes.

Mae yr achos yma yn awr mewn agwedd lewyrchus iawn, a chan fod poblogaeth yr ardal yn debyg o gynyddu am flynyddau etto, mae yn dra sicr y bydd yma eglwys luosog iawn cyn pen nemawr o flynyddau.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

WILLIAM THOMAS. Ganwyd ef tan y flwyddyn 1806. Yn ardal Penygroes, sir Penfro. .................

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (Nov 2008)

This chapel is in the highest corner of Llansamlet parish, at the edge of the road which goes from Clydach to Neath. As we noted in the story of Clydach, This cause was started by a few members of Hebron, Clydach, those who stuck to Mr. William Thomas, when he turned from the ministry there. This small church congregated to worship in a dwelling-house, by the name of Cefnygarth, from the start in 1834, until 1841, when Glais chapel was built. Mr. William Thomas ministered here from the start until 1847, when he left the area. In 1848 a call was made to Mr. John Rees, in conjunction with Carmel, Llanguicke (Llangiwg), & the church was in his care until 1853. Mr. Rees was followed here the same year by Mr. David Evans, in conjunction with Clydach. On Mr. Evans' departure, a call was given to Mr. E. Owen by the two churches in Clydach & Glais, & he is the minister here since 1861. As the congregation was growing the first chapel had to be pulled down in 1861. This is a beautiful chapel & of strong construction, holding about 400  seats, & there's only a small debt still owing.

The following persons were raised to preach in this church:-

• G. Morgan. Started preaching in 1860. On finishing his time in Brecon College, he established himself as minister of the Welsh chapel in Stockton-on-Tees, where he is still.
• Thomas J. Rees. Started preaching in 1869. He is presently in school with Mr. Jones in Bridgend, preparing to go to college.
• Matthew Griffiths. Started preaching with the Wesleyans, but two years ago he joined this church, as an acceptable assistant preacher.
• Joseph Griffiths. Started preaching in 1879.

Richard Thomas, Danycoed; David Jones, the Smith, & William Baker, who we mentioned in the story of Clydach, were ardent members & useful deacons in this church from the start of the cause to the end of their lives.

The cause here is now in a flourishing phase, & as the population of the area is likely to increase for a number of years yet, it is almost certain there will be many churches here before many years.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not extracted fully)

WILLIAM THOMAS. was born by the year 1806.  In the area of Penygroes, Pembrokeshire ............

BIRCHGROVE  (Llansamlet parish)

(Vol 2, p 95)

Pentref bychan, ond yn cynyddu yn gyflym, yw Birchgrove, ar lechwedd prydferth yn mhlwyf Llansamlet, tua milldir i'r gogledd o Bethel, ac ychydig yn fwy na milldir i'r de o'r Glais. Mae wedi cael ei enw oddi wrth y fferm, ar ran o ba un y mae wedi ci adeiladu. Wrth weled y lle hwn yn cynyddu yn ei boblogaeth, darfu i Mr. J. Rees, gweinidog Canaan a Bethel, yn 1862, adeiladu ysgoldy cyfleus yma at gadw ysgolion dyddiol a Sabbothol, yn nghyda chyfarfodydd gweddio a phregethu achlysurol. Llwyddodd y gwaith da yma i gymaint o raddau fel y barnodd Mr. R. Rowlands, a'i bobl yn Bethel, mai doeth fuasai corpholi yr aelodau breswyliant yn Birchgrove yn eglwys Annibynol, yr hyn a wnaed Hydref 18fed, 1868. Aeth yr ysgoldy yn rhy fychan i gynwys y gwrandawyr, ac felly penderfynwyd adeiladu capel. Cafwyd y tir ar les o 999 o flynyddau am un pupuren yn y flwyddyn gan Mr. Smith, Birchgrove. Agorwyd y capel newydd y Sul a'r Llun, Hydref  15ed a'r 16eg. 1871. Mac yn adeilad tlws dros ben, yn mesur 36 troedfedd wrth 36 dros y rauriau, ac wedi ei wneyd yr nu hyd a lled mewn trefn iddo gad ei helaethu wrth ychydig o draul pan y byddo galwad am hyny. Y draul oedd rhwng 600p. a 700p. Y mae tua 200p. o'r swm hwn wedi eu talu. Mae pob sail i ddisgwyl y bydd yn  fuan achos cryf iawn yn y lle prydferth hwn. Mae yr eglwys hon dan ofal Mr. Rowlands mewn cysylltiad a'r fameglwys yn Bethel. Bu Mr. Griffiths, Abertawy yn pregethu yn fisol yma er dechreuad yr achos hyd yn bresenol, ac y mae yn debyg o wneyd hyny etto tra y parhao ei nerth.

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (Oct 2008)

Birchgrove is a small village, but  increasing quickly, on the beautiful hillside in Llansamlet parish, about a mile to the north of Bethel, a little more than a mile to the south of Glais.

It's had its name from the farm, on part of which it's built. On seeing this place increasing in popularity, Mr. J. Rees, minister of Canaan & Bethel, built a convenient schoolhouse here to hold daily & Sunday school, together with prayer meetings & occasional preaching. This good work succeeded to such an extent that Mr. R. Rowlands, & his people in Bethel, decided it would be wise to incorporate an Independent Church for the members living in Birchgrove, which was done October 18th, 1868. The schoolhouse became too small to hold the listeners, & so they determined to build a chapel. They had the land on a 999 year lease  for a peppercorn a year by Mr. Smith, Birchgrove. The new chapel was opened Sunday & Monday, October 15th & 16th, 1871. It is an exceptionally pretty building, measuring 36 feet by 36, & made length & breadth so that it could be extended for little expense when there is a call for it.  The cost was between £600 & £700.

About £200 of this has been paid. There is every basis to see it will soon be a very strong cause in this very beautiful place. This church is under the care of Mr. Rowlands in conjunction with mother church in Bethel. Mr. Griffiths, Swansea, preached here monthly from the start of the cause until the present, & he will probably do that while he has the strength.