Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru.

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By Thomas Rees & John Thomas; 4 volumes (published 1871+)

Extracted  by Gareth Hicks from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Jan 2008)  - with translation

 Siloh, Henry's Moat

(Vol 3, p57/8)

"Bu pregethu yn achlysurol yn yr ardal yma yn Blaenywern, wedi i Mr. a Mrs. Edwards symud o gymydogaeth Brynberian yma i fyw. Adeiladwyd. y capel presenol yn y flwyddyn 1842, ac agorwyd ef Tachwedd 15fed a'r 16eg, y flwyddyn hono. Mr. Stephen Edwards, Blaenywern a'i deulu, oedd. a'r llaw flaenaf yn ei adeiladiad, ac yn mysg yr aelodau cyntaf yma yr oedd Thomas Roblin, y gof ; William George, Wern ; Lefi George, Danlon;; James Thomas, Bigws, ac Elizabeth Morris, Pantycagal. Caf- wyd cefnogaeth y gweinidogion cylchynol, er nad oedd y lle pan y codwyd y capel dan ofal unrhyw weinidog neillduol. Yn y flwyddyn 1845, derbyniodd Mr. David Owen, Aberteifi, alwad i fod yn weinidog yma, a symudodd i'r lle, a bu yma yn barchus am ysbaid chwe' blynedd, and gan nad oedd yr eglwys yn alluog i'w gynal, dychwelodd i Aberteifi i gadw ysgol, fel cynt, lle y treuliodd weddill ei oes. Well sefydliad Mr. R. Perkins, yn Maenclochog, cymerodd ef ofal yr eglwys yma, ac y mae yn parhau yn weinidog yma, a'r achos mewn gwedd addawus. Yn amser Mr. Perkins, rhoddwyd oriel yn y capel, fel y mae yn gapel digon cyfleus at angen yr ardal. Rhoddodd Mr. S. Edwards, Blaenywern, 100p. mewn ymddiriedaeth, llog y rhai sydd i fynedd i weinidog Siloh. Bu farw Rhagfyr 26ain, 1858, ac yr oedd ei holl blant wedi marw o'i flaen. Yn y flwyddyn 1862, adeiladodd Mrs. Edwards dy gerllaw Siloh, yr hwn a elwir Green Park, fel y gallai fod yn ymyl y capel, ac fel y gallai lettya y pregethwyr a ddeuai heibio, a rhoddodd y ty mewn gwcithred i fod ar ei hol at wasanaeth gweinidog Siloh, a thua phythefnos cyn marw rhoddodd 17p. i dalu am lechi at doi y capel. Yr oedd yn barod ei llaw i gynorthwyo pob achos a ddeuai ar ei gofyn. Bu farw Medi 3ydd, 1872, yn 84 oed, gan adael ei holl eiddo i'w hunig wyr, mab Mr. Jenkins, Pentre-estyll, ger Abertawy, gyda dymuniad arno eu defnyddio i wasanaethu Duw, ac i ddwyn yn mlaen ei achos ef yn y byd. Y mae yr eglwys yma er nad yw yn Iluosog, yn cynwys nifer o bersonau darllengar a meddylgar, ac yn dra awyddus i wybod yr ysgrythyr lan ac y mae yma fesur helaethach  o deimlad crefyddol nag a geir mewn llawer man.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL.

David Owen.
Ganwyd ef yn Ffoshering, gerllaw Aberteifi, yn y flwyddyn 1802. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod yn ieuangc, a dechreuodd bregethu cyn hir, ac aeth i'r athrofa i'r Drefnewydd, lle yr arhosodd dros amser. Dychwelodd i Aberteifi, ac agorodd ysgol yno, a phregethai pa le bynag y gelwid am ei wasanaeth. Urddwyd ef a Mr. William Miles yr un pryd i fod yn gynorthwywyr i Mr. Davies, Aberteifi, a golygid i Mr. Miles ofalu yn benaf am Tyrhos, a Mr. Owen am Llechryd. Yn y flwyddyn 1845, fel y crybwyllasom, symudodd i Siloh, a bu yno am chwe' blynedd, ac yna dychwelodd i Aberteifi, lle y treuliodd weddill ei oes. Bu farw Mehefin 28ain, 1854, yn 52 oed. Yr oedd Mr. Owen yn ddyn gwylaidd a hollol anymhongar. Cyfrifid ef yn gywir a didwyll fel cyfaill, ac yr oedd yn hollol ddiabsen am bawb. Er nad oedd yn hyawdl a doniol fel pregethwr, etto hoffid ef gan bawb a'i hadwaenai. Ni theithiodd ond ychydig. Eiddil oedd ei gorph ar y goreu, ac yr oedd un ochr iddo yn wan, yr hyn a'i hanalluogai i fyned lawer oddicartref, heblaw nad oedd tuedd ynddo at hyny. Bu o wasanaeth mawr fel ysgol-feistr, er mai prin ddigon a gafodd oddiwrth hyny i gynal ei deulu. Gadawodd weddw a dau blentyn amddifaid ar ei ol, ac y mae rhagluniaeth wedi gofalu am danynt fel na fu arnynt eisiau am ddim daioni."

 Translation by Maureen Saycell (Jan 2008)

"There were occasional sermons in this area, after Mr and Mrs Edwards moved to live in Blaenywern from the community of Brynberian. The current chapel was built in 1842, and was opened on November 15th and 16th of that year. Mr Stephen Edwards, Blaenwern and his family were the main activists with building and among the first members were Thomas Roblin, the blacksmith; William George, Wern; Lefi George, Danlon; James Thomas, Bigws, and Elizabeth Morris, Pantycagal. Support was had given by circulating ministers, but the place was not under the specific care of any minister. In 1845 Mr David Owen, Cardigan accepted the call to become the minister here and moved into the area, he was well respected and remained here for six years, but because the church was unable to provide him with a living, he went back to keeping a school in Cardigan, as before, and remained there for the rest of his life. After Mr R. Perkins was inducted at Maenclochog, he undertook the care of this church as well, and he continues as minister here, and the cause is in a promising situation. During Mr Perkins time here a gallery was added to the chapel, this makes the chapel very suitable to the needs of the area. Mr Stephen Edwards, Blaenywern gave £100 into a trust, the interest of this to go to the minister of Siloh. He died on December 26th, 1858, all his children had pre-deceased him. In 1862 Mrs Edwards built a house near Siloh, this was called Green Park, so that she could be near to the chapel, and she could offer lodging to any minister who came by. She willed the house to be for the use of the minister of Siloh after her death, and about two weeks before she died she gave £17 to pay for slates for the chapel roof. She was always ready to support any cause that came to her. She died on September 3rd, 1872, aged 84 years, and left all her belongings to her grandson, the son of Mr Jenkins, Pentrestyll, near Swansea, with the wish that he should use it to serve God, and to further His works in the world. The church although not numerous has many well read and thoughtful people who are anxious to learn the scriptures, and this is a further measure of religious fervour not seen in many places.

Biographical Note

David Owen
He was born in Ffoshering, near Cardigan, in 1802. He was accepted as a member at a young age, and it was not long before he started to preach, he went to Newtown College, where he stayed for a time. He returned to Cardigan, and he opened a school there, and preached whenever his services were called upon. He was ordained at the same time as Mr William Miles to support Mr Davies, Cardigan, the intention being for Mr Miles to be mainly in charge of Tyrhos and Mr Owen for Llechryd. As mentioned in 1845 he went to Siloh for six years, then returning to Cardigan for the remainder of his life. He died on June 28th, 1854 aged 52 years. Mr Owen was a quiet and unassuming person. He was considered to be a true and honest friend, with no disrespect for anyone. Although he was not a eloquent and entertaining preacher, he was liked by everyone who met him. He did not travel far. His body was very delicate, with a weakness down one side, which prevented him going far from home, even if he had the urge to do so. He was of great service as a schoolmaster, although he barely made enough from it to keep his family. He left a widow and two orphaned children, providence has taken care of them and they have not wanted for anything."

 

  ( Gareth Hicks, 18 Jan 2008)