Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

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

Caernarfonshire section (vol 3) - Pages  279 - 292

Proof read by Yvonne John (May 2008)

Chapels below;

• (Continued) BANGOR
• BETHLEHEM  (with translation)
• BETHESDA (with translation)

Pages  279 - 292

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(Continued) BANGOR

(Not extracted fully)

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BETHLEHEM

(Llanllechid parish)

Mae cryn lawer o dywyllwch yn nglyn a hanes dechreuad yr holl eglwysi yn amgylchoedd dinas Bangor, a hyny yn un peth am eu bod wedi bod yn ymgynnull mewn cyrdfer o leoedd, ac yn cael eu symud o fan i fan. Nid oes genym sicrwydd am un lle yn yr holl gylchoedd a drwyddedwyd at addoli, ond lle a elwir yn nghofrestr Llys Esgobol Bangor, yn Turnpike Aber, a gofrestrwyd gan Mr. W. Hughes, Hydref 13eg, 1795.

Mae traddodiad fod garddwr perthynol i Gastell Penrhyn, er's cant a haner o flynyddau yn ol, wedi croesawi ddau wr ieuangc o Rhydychain, a bod y ddau wedi pregethu un noson mown tyddyn bychan gerllaw o'r

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enw Tyddyn Iolyn, a bod y ddau mewn canlyniad wedi dianc boreu dranoeth.*

Nid ydym wedi llwyddo i gael enwau y naill na'r llall; nac ychwaith enw y garddwr, ond mae digon o sicrwydd y byddis arferol ar ol hyny o gyfarfod 'nawr ac eilwaith yn Tyddyn Iolyn a'r tyddynod oddiamgylch. Dywedir fod pregeth ar brydnawn Sabboth tua chan' mlynedd yn ol, naill ai yn Tanycoed neu y Wern - dau dyddyn nid yn nepell o'r gymydogaeth, a bod rhyw un yn cyhoeddi pregeth yno i fod ryw adeg arall, a bod hen glochydd Llanllechid wedi dal ar y cyfleu i hysbysu ei oedfa yntau, a dyna gynwys hono, "Bydd dyrnu yr Iâr yn nhy Mary Owen yr Achubuchaf, am ddau o'r gloch y Sabboth nesaf." Yr oedd un o'r enw Ellin Williams yn byw yn Cochwillan Ffarm, genedigol o rywle yn Mon, yr oedd yn berthynas i'r hen William Prichard, Clwch y Dernog, ac yr oedd un arall o'r enw Elizabeth Ellis yn byw yn Tyddyn Isaf - dau dyddyn gerllaw. Byddai y ddwy yma yn arfer myned i Rhosymeirch a Phwllheli, i gymundeb. Unwaith yr oedd rhyw bregethwr i'w ddisgwyl i'r gymydogaeth, ac nis gallodd gadw ei gyhoeddiad, naill ai gan ofn neu ryw amgylchiad arall. Yr oedd amryw wedi casglu at eu gilydd, naill ai i wrando neu i derfysgu, a dywedir fod y ddwy chwaer uchod wedi ymostwng., ar eu gliniau yn nghanol y gelynion a gweddio yn gyhoeddus fel y bu effeithian anghyffredin mewn canlyniad. Tybir fod Mr. R. Harris, Pwllheli, wedi bod yn pregethu yn y Felin Isaf, lle agos i Bethlehem, amryw droion. Mae bod yr Ellin Williams a nodwyd, trwy y gydnabyddiaeth a'r berthynas oedd rhyngddi â W. Prichard, yn rheswm lled gryf dros gydymdeimlad Pwllheli a Rhosymeirch a'r ardal. Clywsom ar ol merch Ellin Williams, yr hon a fu farw yn ddiweddar yn ardal Llanllechid, mewn oedran teg, ei bod hi a'i main wedi bod yn gwrando ar Mr J. Griffith, Caernarfon, yn pregethu yn y Felin Isaf, pan oedd yn Llanfyllin, cyn iddo ddyfod i Gaernarfon, yn y flwyddyn 1781, ac mai ei destyn oedd, "Y rhai hyn a ryfelant a'r Oen," Dat. xvii. 14. A'i fod bum' mis cyn hyny yn Bangor mewn hen loft, ac mai ei destyn y pryd hwnw ydoedd "Y rhai sydd yn aflonyddu byd," Act. xvii. 6.

Caegwigyn yw y lle cyntaf y mae genym sicrwydd am dano y cafodd yr achos yma drigfa arosol. Tueddir ni yn gryf i feddwl fod eglwys wedi ei sefydlu yma yn flaenorol i ddyfodiad Dr. Lewis i bregethu i Dre'rgarth, a'i bod yn gyfamserol os nad wedi ei ffurfio cyn dechreuad yr achos yn Mangor. Pan roddwyd galwad i Mr. William Hughes i weinidogaethu yn Mangor a'r amgylchoedd, yn Nghaegwigyn yn cynhaliwyd cyfarfod ei urddiad yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1789. Gweinyddwyd ar Yr achlysur gan Meistri B. Jones, Pwllheli, D. Lloyd, Dinbych, A. Tibbot, a G. Lewis, Caernarfon. Daeth Mrs. Edwards, Nanhoron, i'r cyfarfod yn ei cherbyd, gyda gweision mewn arwydd wisgoedd, ac yr oedd gweled boneddiges yn cyrchu at Ymneilldnwyr tlodion yn llenwi yr ardal â syndod, a dywedir i hyny fod yn foddion i ladd rhagfarn llawer o bobl eu herbyn. Yr oedd Mr. Hughes wedi bod yn llafurio yma er y flwyddyn flaenorol. Capel bychan wedi ei wneuthur o ddarn o'r tý oedd Caegwigyn, a chynwysai le i bedwar ugain neu gant o wrandawyr. Bu y lle mewn cysylltiad â Bangor, ac o dan yr un weinidogaeth hyd nes y rhoddodd Mr Roberts ofal Bangor i fynu; ac wedi ei symudiad ef i Ddinbych cymerodd

* Ysgrif Mr. E. Stephen, Tanymarian, yr hon a ddarllenwyd yn Nghyfarfod Chwarterol Ebenezer, Mai 2ail, 1864.

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Mr. Llewelyn Samuel ofal y lle mewn cysylltiad â Bethesda. Yn 1825, y flwyddyn gyntaf wedi sefydliad Mr. Samuel yn y lle, codwyd capel newydd o fewn canllath i Caegwigyn, a galwyd ef Bethlehem. Symudodd Mr. Samuel yn mhen blynyddoedd i fyw i Danymarian, a chafodd yr Eglwys yma fantais fawr trwy ei gael yn bresenol yn ei holl gyfarfodydd.

Dywedir y byddai gwr a gwraig o blwyf Dwygyfylchi, sef yr hen Evan Thomas a Sarah Morris, Tyddyndû, yn arfer dyfod i Gaegwigyn bob mis i gymundeb, agos i ddeng milldir o ffordd. Y fath bris fyddai seintiau gynt yn ei roddi ar foddion grâs. Yr oedd hen gymeriad hynod o grefyddol, a hynod o selog yn perthyn i'r eglwys yn Caegwigyn o'r enw Pierce Humphrey. Dywedir iddo un tro, yn ei awydd am i'r Sechinah symud gyda yr arch o'r hen Gaegwigyn i'r adeilad newydd, fyned ar ben y muriau, cyn rhoddi tô arnynt, a gweddio gyda phryder a thaerineb am i'r gogoniant lenwi yr ail deml pan y byddai hi yn barod, a chyn y Sabboth canlynol yr oedd yr hen Gristion twym galon wedi cyfarfod â damwain farwol, trwy i'r waggon fyned drosto yn agos i Gonwy.

Nid ydym yn gwybod traul yr adeiladu, ond faint bynag, yr oedd y cwbl wedi ei dalu oddieithr 30p. cyn marw Mr. Samuel. Mae y capel wedi ei adeiladu ar lease, am gant ag un o flynyddoedd, a 10s. o ground rent. Nid oes ond pedair blynedd ar ddeg o'r lease wedi myned heibio, trwy fod amser ei dechreuad wedi ei estyn. Dyddiad ei chychwyniad yn awr yw y 24ain o Hydref, 1850, yn lle y 12fed o Fai, 1825. Wrth y capel y mae lle bychan i gladdu, ac amryw o gyrph y saint yn huno ynddo. Yr un a gladdwyd gyntaf yno oedd mab y diweddar Dr. A. Jones, Bangor, ac yno wedi hyny y claddwyd y Doctor ei hun.

Yn y flwyddyn 1856, cymerodd Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, ofal yr Eglwys, mewn cysylltiad â Carmel; ac y mae yn parhau etto i lafurio yma. Rhif yr Eglwys ar ei sefydliad oedd triugain, ond y mae erbyn hyn uwchlaw cant mewn cymundeb, ac nid yw cylch y gymydogaeth yn eang. Yr oedd ychydig ddyled ar y capel ar ddyfodiad Mr. Stephen, ac wedi talu hwnw, codwyd capel newydd harddach a helaethach. Adeiladwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1860. Costiodd dros 526p., ond y mae y ddyled yn toddi yn gyflym, a bydd yn fuan i'w chyfrif yn mysg pethau a fu. Mae yma Eglwys fechan weithgar, heddychol, a haelionus. Cesglir yma ar gyfartaledd bob blwyddyn, tua phunt ar gyfer pob aelod.

Codwyd yma un pregethwr, sef Mr. Richard Roberts, yr hwn a addysgwyd yn Athrofa y Bala, ac sydd yn awr yn weinidog yn Gartside Street, Manchester.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (March 2013)

There is a great deal of darkness about the history of the beginnings of all the churches around the city of Bangor, and that is because they used to meet in so many different places, and that they used to be moved from place to place. We have no assurance of any place in the whole circuit that was licensed for worship, except a place that was named in the register of  the Court of Bangor Bishopric, as Turnpike Aber, which was registered by Mr. W. Hughes, on October 13th, 1795.

There is a tradition that the gardener from Penrhyn Castle, a hundred and fifty years ago, had welcomed two young men from Oxford, and that the two had preached one evening in a nearby farmstead by

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the name of  Tyddyn Iolyn, and that the two as a result had fled the next morning.*

We have failed to find the names of either of them; nor the name of the gardener either, but there is plenty of evidence that after this it was usual for the people to meet now and again in Tyddyn Iolyn and the surrounding farmsteads. It is said that a sermon on a Sabbath afternoon about a hundred years ago, either in Tanycoed or the Wern - two farmsteads quite close to the community, that someone announced a sermon would take place there sometime, and that the old bellringer of Llanllechid took the opportunity to announce his own service, and this is the content, "There will be a hen beating in Mary Owen, the Greatest Saved's house, at two o'clock next Sunday." There was one Ellin Williams living in Cochwillan Ffarm, who was born somewhere in Anglesey, who was a relative of old William Prichard, Clwch y Dernog, and there was another, Elizabeth Ellis, living in Tyddyn Isaf - two farmsteads nearby. These two used to go to Rhosymeirch and Pwllheli, to communion. Once a preacher was expected in the community, and he failed to keep his appointment, either out of fear or some other circumstance. Several had collected together, either to listen or to cause trouble, and it is said that the two sisters had gone down on their knees in the midst of the enemies and prayed publicly and there was an unusual effect on people as a result. It is supposed that Mr. R. Harris, Pwllheli, had been preaching in Felin Isaf, close to Bethlehem, many times. The fact that Ellin Williams was mentioned, through her relationship with W. Prichard, is quite a strong reason for the sympathy of  Pwllheli and Rhosymeirch area. We heard from the daughter of Ellin Williams, who died lately in a fair old age, in the Llanllechid area, that she and her mother had been listening to Mr J. Griffith, Caernarfon, preaching in Felin Isaf, when he was in Llanfyllin, before he came to  Caernarfon, in 1781, and that his text was, "They will fight against the Lamb," Rev. xvii. 14. And that he had, five months previously in an old loft, preached in Bangor and his text at that time was "These that have turned the world upside down," Act. xvii. 6.

Caegwigyn is the first place of worship we are sure had a settled home. We feel strongly that a church had been established here before the arrival of Dr. Lewis when he preached in Tre'rgarth, and that it was concurrent with if not established before the cause in Bangor. When a call was sent to Mr. William Hughes to minister in Bangor and the district, it was in  Caegwigyn that his ordination meeting was held at the end of 1789. On the occasion Messrs B. Jones, Pwllheli, D. Lloyd, Dinbych, A. Tibbot, and G. Lewis, Caernarfon officiated. Mrs. Edwards, Nanhoron, came to the meeting in her carriage, with servants in livery, and seeing a Lady travelling to the poor non-conformists surprised the whole area, and it is said that this was a means to kill off the prejudice of people in the area.  Mr. Hughes had been labouring here since the previous year. Caegwigyn was a little chapel which had been formed from part of the house, and it contained room for eighty to a hundred listeners. The place was connected with Bangor, and under the same ministry until Mr Roberts gave up the care of  Bangor; and later he moved to Denbigh

* Mr. E. Stephen, Tanymarian's essay, which was read in Ebenezer quarterly meeting, May 2nd, 1864.

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Mr. Llewelyn Samuel undertook the care of the place along with Bethesda. In 1825, the first year after Mr Samuel's ordination in the place, a new chapel was built within a hundred yards of Caegwigyn chapel, and it was called Bethlehem. Mr. Samuel moved to Tanymarian within some years, and this church had the great advantage  of having his presence in all their meetings.

It is said that a man and his wife from the Dwygyfylchi parish, by the name of  Evan Thomas and Sarah Morris, Tyddyndû, used to come to Caegwigyn every month to communion, close to ten miles travel. Such was the price that saints of that time would place on the means of grace. There was an old, religious character who was remarkably faithful a member of the church in Caegwigyn by the name of Pierce Humphrey. It is said that he, one time, in his need for the Sechinah, the blessing of God, moving with the ark from the old Caegwigyn to the new building, went to the top of the walls, before putting the roof on them, and prayed intensively and with apprehension for the glory to fill the second temple when it was ready, and before the following Sabbath the old warm hearted Christian had received a mortal accident, when the wagon went over him close to Conway.

We do not know how much the building cost, but however much, all but £30 was paid off before Mr. Samuel died. The chapel was built with a lease of one hundred years, and 10s. of ground rent. Just fourteen years of the lease have passed, since the time of starting has been extended. The start date is now the 24th of October, 1850, rather than the 12th of May, 1825. Alongside the chapel there is a small place in which to bury, and several saints' bodies are resting there. The one who was first to be buried there was the son of the late Dr. A. Jones, Bangor, and there after this the Doctor himself was buried.

In 1856, Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, took over the care of the church, along with Carmel; and he continues to labour here. When the church was established the number who attended was sixty, but by now there are more than a hundred communing, and the community is not large. The chapel had a small debt when Mr. Stephen arrived, and once that was settled, a new more beautiful, bigger chapel was built. It was built in 1860. It cost more than £526., but the debt is dissolving quickly, and will soon be counted amongst the things of the past. There is here a small, hard working,  peaceful and generous church. Generally, about a pound a head is collected per year .

One preacher was raised here, he was Mr. Richard Roberts, who was educated in Bala college, and who is now a minister in  Gartside Street, Manchester.

BETHESDA

(Llanllechid parish)

Ymddengys mai yn nghymydogaeth Tregarth y pregethwyd yr efengyl gyntaf yn y cyffiniau yma; a hyny gan y Dr. George Lewis, o Gaernarfon, yn y flwyddyn 1788. Nid oedd un drws wedi agor i bregethu mewn unrhyw dy, y pryd hwn, yn y gymydogaeth; ac oherwydd hyny fe bregethodd y Dr. Lewis, ei bregeth gyntaf yno, oddiar ben un o'r ceryg mawrion oedd yn dygwydd bod mewn lle cyfleus yn nghanol yr ardal. Ac y mae rhai o'r hen bobl sydd yn y gymydogaeth yn dyweyd fod darnau o'r hen gareg yno etto; ac y mae ambell un ohonynt yn edrych yn barchus iawn ar ddarnau o'r hen faen cysegredig hwnw. Goddefodd Dr. Lewis gryn lawer oddiwrth anwybodaeth ac ysbryd erlidgar y trigolion yn ei

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ymdrech sefydlu achos yn yr ardal. Teflid tyweirch a cheryg ato, ac nid oedd un dirmyg yn ormod i'w daflu arno. Dywedir i un gwr o'r enw John Rowland, o'r Parc, ddyfod unwaith i'r oedfa ai logellau yn llawnion o geryg, gyda bwriad i'w taflu at y pregethwr; ond oedodd am ychydig i wrando cyn cyflawni ei fwriad. Lliniarodd hyny ei ysbryd, gollyngodd y ceryg i'r llawr, gwrandawodd yn astud, ac ar ol hyn dilynai bob moddion, a chyn hir ymunodd â'r frawdoliaeth yn y lle, a bu yn grefyddwr selog a thanllyd hyd ei fedd.

Yn fuan wedi dechreu pregethu yn yr ardal, tueddodd yr Arglwydd galon rhyw wraig weddw, o'r enw Elenor, i agor drws ei thy, i dderbyn y Dr. Lewis iddo i bregethu; a mawr oedd ei lawenydd pan glywodd fod drws wedi ei agor iddo yn Nhregarth. Wedi pregethu am ysbaid o amser yn nhy y wraig winweddol hon, fe amlhaodd y gwrandawyr mor fawr fel yr aeth y ty yn rhy fychan i'w cynwys. Ond pan oedd un babell yn myned yn rhy gyfyng, fe ofalodd rhagluniaeth y Nef am iddynt gael lle helaethach; ac felly hwy a symudasant i dy gwr o'r enw John Edwards, yn yr un gymydogaeth. Wedi bod yn y lle hwn yn llafurio am beth amser, o dan arwyddion amlwg o fendith Duw - fe ffurfiwyd eglwys yno. Enwau yr ychydig saint a ymffurfiammt yn eglwys yno yw y rhai canlynol: - Robert Williams, y Braich; Elias Jones, a Jane ei wraig, etto; Thomas Knowles, ac Eleanor ei wraig; Jane ac Eleanor Williams. Cochwillan; Thomas Williams, Wern; Judith Thomas, o'r un lle; William Griffith, a Chatherine ei wraig, o Trosyffordd; a William John Dafydd, o'r Hafotty; yr hwn oedd y cyntaf i dderbyn egwyddorion ymneillduaeth yn yr ardal, a'r Annibynwr preffesedig cyntaf a fu farw yn y gymydogaeth. Yn fuan wedi cychwyniad yr achos anfonodd Dr. Lewis un William Williams i'r ardal i bregethu ac i gadw ysgol ddyddiol, gan nad oedd un i'w chael yn y gymydogaeth. Bu gradd o lwyddiant ar ei lafur gyda'r pregethu, ond oherwydd difaterwch gollyngwyd yr ysgol i lawr, ac ymadawodd yntau â'r ardal. Ar ol i'r eglwys fechan weled gradd o lwyddiant ar ei dechreuad, fe daenodd cymylau aflwyddiant trosti yn fuan drachefn ; a goddefodd gryn lawer o anfanteision, oblegid gorfod symud ei phabell yn fynych.

Daeth Mr. W. Hughes i lafurio i Fangor a'r amgylchoedd, a bu yn dra ffyddlon gyda yr ychydig frodyr a chwiorydd, a chafwyd ail arwydd o fendith Duw ar eu hymdrechion. Ond yn lled fuan ar ol i Mr. Hughes ddechreu llafurio yn eu mysg fe orfu iddynt symud drachefn o dy John Edwards, Braich Talog; ac i'r lle yr aethant ond i dy William John Dafydd, Hafotty, yr ymneillduwr cyntaf yn yr ardal, sef, yr hwn y crybwyllasom am dano o'r blaen. A mawr fu yr achles a gafodd yr eglwys fechan o dan gronglwyd y gwr duwiol hwnw; yr hwn ydoedd fel ysgub blaenffrwyth Annibyniaeth yn y broydd hyn.

Trwy garedigrwydd a chydymgynghoriad rhai o'r enw Rebecca, Dorothy, a Griffith, o Bryncyl; yn nghyd ag un o'r enw Griffith Jones, o Gaerorion, fe lwyddwyd i gael benthyg hen ysgubor yn Nghaerorion iddynt gydymgyfarfod. Fe adgyweiriwyd yr ysgubor, ac fe'i gwnaed yn lle cyfleus iawn i bregethu ac i gadw cyfarfodydd crefyddol, a byddant yn y sgubor yr haf ac yn y ty y gauaf. Parhawyd i addoli yn yr ysgubor hon dan lawer o arwyddion o foddlonrwydd y Nef, hyd nes daeth Mr. Arthur Jones i Fangor. Rhoddodd Griffith Jones, Caerorion, er nad oedd yn aelod, ganiatad i adeiladu capel ar ei dir. Yr oedd ganddo lês ar y lle,

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ond nid oedd ond ber. Amlygai teulu y Penrhyn, y rhai oeddynt berchenogion y lle, wrthwynebiad mawr i godi capel, a bygythient dori y lês os gwneid. Ymgynghorwyd â chyfreithiwr, a chafwyd boddlonrwydd y gallesid codi yno ysgoldy, a chadw pob gwasanaeth ynddo, ond nad oedd i gael ei alw yn gapel. Dangosodd yr ardalwyr bob ffyddlondeb ar ei adeiladiad, fel nad oedd y draul arianol ond 35p. Agorwyd y capel Melefin 7fed, 1813, a phregethwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri J. Evans, Amlwch; D. Davies, Caernarfon; W. Jones, Salem; ac L. Powell, Llanrwst. *   Bu yr achos yma am dymor yn llewyrchus iawn. Dywedai y diweddar Mr. Griffith, Bethel, ei fod yn cofio adeg pan y gallai gael lle i'w anifail mewn mwy na dwsin o ffermydd yn yr ardal; ac yr oedd eu preswylwyr oll yn dal cysylltiad â'r gynnulleidfa yn Nghaerorion. Cyfodwyd cryn derfysg gan rai o'r aelodau yn erbyn Mr. Arthur Jones yn herwydd yr athrawiaeth a bregethai; ac aeth un o'r aelodau, John Jones, Llystyn, yr holl ffordd i Wrexham at Dr. Lewis i geisio ganddo heddychu y pleidiau. Cyn hir aeth Mr. Jones i Lundain, ac aeth amryw o'r aelodau at y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd; a bu hyny yn wanychiad mawr i'r achos.

Yn fuan wedi dechreu pregethu yn ysgubor Caerorion, dechreuwyd pregethu yn ardal Bethesda, er na elwid y lle y pryd hyny ar yr enw hwnw. Y lle cyntaf y pregethwyd ynddo yn yr ardal hon, oedd y Wern Afr; lle yr oedd Henry Dafydd ac Elizabeth Roberts yn byw. Ond yn fuan wedi i Mr. Hughes ddechreu pregethu yn y Wern Afr cyfododd erledigaeth drom arno ef a'r ychydig ddysgyblion oedd yno gyd ag ef; a gorfu arnynt symud i le o'r enw Pongc y Ty. Wedi bod am dalm o amser yn Mhongc y Ty, hwy a symudasant drachefn i le o'r enw Tros y Ffordd, ty William Griffith. Arferid pregethu ar ganol dydd unwaith bob pythefnos yn nhy William Griffith, Tros y Ffordd, am adeg fêr, am ei fod yn gyfleus i'r gloddfa; a bu llawer o weinidogion o'r De a'r Gog- ledd yn pregethu yno. Dywedir mai testyn cyntaf Mr. W. Hughes yn Tros y Ffordd oedd Esaiah lxii. 1, " Er mwyn Sion ni thawaf, ac er mwyn Jerusalem ni ostegaf." Yr oedd yma lawer o erlid cyn hyny, ond yr oedd y fath lewyrch gyda'r bregeth hono fel na bu yma erlid mwy. Aeth yr achos rhagddo dan weinidogaeth gweinidogion Bangor yn olynol --Meistri W. Hughes, D. Evans, A. Jones, a D. Roberts; ond nid oedd eto un eglwys wedi ei ffurfio yn y lleoedd hyn, oblegid yr oedd yr holl grefyddwyr yn myned i Gaerorion yn fisol i gymuno.

Fel yr oedd yr achos yn cryfhau ac yn sirioli yn Tros y Ffordd, penderfynwyd ffurfio eglwys yno; ac yn rhywle tua y flwyddyn 1813, mor agos ag y gallwn gael allan, y cymerodd hyny le. Wele yma restr o'r aelodau cyntaf a ymffurfiasant yn eglwys yn Tros y Ffordd; yr hon ydoedd gwreiddyn eglwys Bethesda - Morris Prichard, Ty Gwyrdd; William Roberts, Coed y Park; John William, y Weirglodd; William William, Wern Afr; John William, y Gors; John Moses, y Twr; John. Jones, Llystyn; Ellis William, Coed y Park; Robert Robert, Coed y Park; William Prichard, y Wern; Robert Thomas, Tai y Mynydd ; Richard Morris, Brynllwyd ; John Prichard Morris, Brynllwyd; Harry William, Ty Mwn; Hugh Jones, y Wern, Yr oedd Ysgol Sabbothol lewyrchus yn Nhros y Ffordd, a Griffith Williams (Gutyn Peris) a weithredai fel ysgrifenydd iddi.

* Evangelical Magazine, 1813. Tudal, 353.

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Yn mhen rhai blynyddoedd teimlwyd fod angen capel yma, ac adeiladwyd yma addoldy bychan syml yn y flwyddyn 1820, yn benaf trwy lafur Mr. D. Roberts. Nid oedd yma ar y pryd yr un pentref i alw y lle ar ei enw, ac oblegid hyny galwyd ef BETHESDA, ac y mae y capel wedi rhoddi enw i'r lle sydd erbyn hyn wedi dyfod yn dref boblog. Costiodd y capel cyntaf 318p. 1s. 4c., a thuag at y swm yna casglwyd 142p. 15s. 1½c. y tu allan i'r gymydogaeth, trwy lafur Mr. Roberts a Mr. Samuel. Nid oedd nifer yr aelodau yn symud o Dros y Ffordd i Bethesda ond pymtheg ar hugain, a nos Wener, Hydref 6ed, 1820, y cadwyd y gyfeillach grefyddol gyntaf ynddo. Adeiladwyd tai o'i gylch yn fuan, a daeth yn amlwg y deuai yn lle pwysig. Yn y flwyddyn 1822, gan ei fod wedi symud i Tynewydd, Pentir, i fyw, a chan fod maes ei lafur yn eangu, rhoddodd Mr. Roberts i fyny ofal yr eglwys yn Mangor, a chyfyngodd ei lafur i Bethesda, Caegwigin, a Chaerorion; ond byr wedi hyny fu ei arosiad, oblegid y flwyddyn ganlynol derbyniodd alwad o Ddinbych, a symudodd yno. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1823 rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Llewelyn Samuel, myfyriwr o Athrofa Neuaddlwyd, ac urddwyd ef Ionawr laf, 1824. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar Natur Eglwys gan Mr. D. Thomas, Penrhiwgaled. Holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. T. Jones, Moelfra. Dyrchafwyd yr urdd weddi gan Mr. W. Hughes, Saron. Pregethwyd ar Ddyledswydd y gweinidog, gan Mr. D. Davies, Aberteifi; ac ar Ddyledswydd yr EgIwys gan Mr. D. Roberts, Dinbych. *   Bu Mr. Samuel am yspaid o amser wedi ei urddiad heb weled llwyddiant, ond cyn pen pedair blynedd cafwyd y fath ychwanegiad, fel y bu raid helaethu y capel. Yr oedd nifer yr aelodau erbyn Tachwedd, 1829, wedi cynyddu i 152. Costiodd yr ail gapel, yr hwn a agorwyd yn 1830, 400p., heb gyfrif defnyddiau yr hen gapel. Aeth yr achos rhagddo a'r ol hyn gyda chyflymder mawr; ac yr oedd yr Eglwys yn nodedig am ei llafur, a'i gweithgarwch. Bu y blynyddoedd 1838 a 1839, yn flynyddoedd tra llewyrchus. Derbyniwyd mwy na dau cant o aelodau newyddion, yn ystod y ddwy flynedd. Yr oedd lês Caerorion, er's llawer o flynyddoedd cyn hyn, yn wir cyn ymadawiad Mr. D. Roberts, wedi rhedeg allan, a gwrthodwyd ar unrhyw delerau i adnewyddu y lês, a pharhau yr addoliad ynddo. Trowyd ef yn anedd-dy, ac felly y mae yn parhau hyd y dydd hwn. Wedi colli y capel parheid i gynal moddion crefyddol yn Moelyci, Perthi, Cerygllwydion, a lleoedd eraill, ond cyrchent i Bethesda yn rheolaidd i gymundeb, ac yn amlach na hyny. Y diaconiad cyntaf y mae genym sicrywydd am danynt fu i'r eglwys hon oedd Morris Pritchard a William Roberts, Coedyparc; a chafodd y ddau fyw i ddilyn yr achos o'i febyd nes dyfod i'w fawn gryfder.

Wedi yr ychwnnegiad mawr yn y flwyddyn 1839, penderfynwyd ad-helaethu y capel, a'i wneyd yn un o'r rhai eangaf yn Nghymru. Gan y gwelid y byddai y draul yn  fawr,  ac er mwyn sicrhau cydweithrediad cyffredinol, tynodd Mr. Samuel allan ymrwymiad, i'w arwyddo gan yr holl ddynion perthynol i'r eglwys, eu bod yn sefyll eu rhan o'r cyfrifoldeb cysylltiedig a'r anturiaeth. Mae y papyr hwnw yn awr ger ein bron. Rhoddodd Mr. Samuel ei enw yn gyntaf, ac y mae rhester faith yn ei ddilyn. Adeiladwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1840, ac aeth y draul yn 2,200p. 3s. 8c., ac yn yr amser hwnw ystyrid dwy fir o bunau yn draul aruthol; ond yn ystod y chwe' blynedd dilynol tynwyd y ddyled i lawer

* Dysgedydd, 1824. Tudal, 50.  

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i'r haner. Yn flaenorol i adeiladiad Bethesda y drydedd waith, yr oedd Carmel wedi ei godi, a nifer o'r aelodau wedi eu ffurfio yn Eglwys yno; ac yn mhen rhai blynyddoedd wedi hyny adeiladwyd Amana, ac aeth 45 o aelodau Bethesda yno. Llafuriodd Mr. Samuel gyda diwydrwydd a gofal mawr, a chyda llwyddiant anarferol. Daliwyd ef yn annisgwyliadwy gan angau Ebrill 2lain, 1855, wedi llafurio yma am yn agos i ddeng mlynedd ar hugain.

Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn hono, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Jones, B.A., myfyriwr o Athrofa Aberhonddu, an urddwyd ef Mehefin 15fed, 1856. Pregethwyd ar Natur Eglwys gan Mr. J. D. Williams, Caerdydd. Holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. J. Jones, Soar, Maesteg. Dyrchafwyd yr urdd weddi gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. E. Davies, Athraw Clarsurol, Aberhonddu, ac i'r Eglwys gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, a phregethodd Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor, i'r gynnulleidfa. Llafuriodd Mr. Jones yma yn egniol hyd ganol haf 1858, pryd y symudodd i Gaerdydd. Ar ol ymadawiad Mr Jones, bu yr eglwys am rai blynyddoedd heb weinidog, ond yn yr yspaid hwnw ni bu yn segur. Codwyd capel bychan yn Tynymaes, yr hwn a alwad yn Saron, yn 1860. Yn y flwyddyn 1862, rhoddodd alwad i Mr. Rowland Williams (Hwfa Mon), Brymbo; a dechreuodd yntau ei weinidogaeth yma cyn diwedd y flwyddyn hono. Bu yma yn dra llwyddianus dros amryw flynyddoedd. Yn nhymor ei weinidogaeth ef, y codwyd capel Treflys. Derbyniodd alwad o Fetter Lane, Llundain, a symudodd yno yn y flwyddyn 1867. Ar ol hyny bu yr eglwys hon am yn agos i bum inlynedd heb weinidog, ond yn y blynyddoedd hyny, ni laciodd yn ei gweithgarwch. Adeiladodd gapel newydd hardd, yn Carneddi Road, yr hwn a alwad Salem, a gollyngodd fwy na phedwar ugain o aelodau yno i ddechreu yr achos. Yn gynar yn y flwyddyn 1872, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Richard S. Williams, o'r Plough, Aherhonddu, i ddyfod yma yn weinidog, a chydsyniodd yntau a'r gwahoddiad, ac y mae yma yn llafurio gyda chymeradwyaeth mawr. Mae yr Eglwys yn awr ar ganol ad-drefnu ei haddoldy, trwy draul o 1,700p., a bydd ar ol hyny yn un o'r capeli harddaf a helaethaf yn Nghymru.

Mae yr Eglwys yma wedi bod yn garedig iawn i'r canghenau a ymadawsant a hi, trwy eu cynorthwyo i dalu eu dyledion; ac yn aml i gymeryd cyfran helaeth o ddyled y capeli, wrth eu gollwng allan. Mwynhaodd yr Eglwys ar adegau adfywiadau crefyddol grymus, ac y mae ychwanegiad graddol wedi bod at ei nifer trwy y blynyddoedd. Pan gofiom rifedi yr Eglwys, a bod yr elfen werinol mor gref ynddi, y mae ar y cyfan wedi bod yn, lled heddychol; er i awelon cryfion guru arni ar brydiau, ond daliwyd hi yn gyfau trwy y cwbl. Talwyd yma sylw mawr i gerddoliaeth, a dichon ar un adeg, fod yma ganu cynulleidfaol na cheid yn un man yn y Dywysagaeth ei gyffelyb. Bu yma lawer o bobl dda o bryd i bryd, y rhai y teindid eu bod yn golofnau yr achos yn y lle, a'r rhai y mae eu henwau yn berarogl yn yr ardal hyd y dydd hwn. William Williams Caerorion, a William Williams, Penygroes, oedd y diaconiaid cyntaf, hyd y gallwn gael allan; yn Nghaerorion, William Roberts, Coedyparc, a Morris Pritchard, oedd y diaconiaid cyntaf yn yr eglwys yma. Hen frawd cynes, hwyliog, oedd Morris Pritchard, ond yr oedd bob amser yn ofnus rhag myned o dan unrhyw gyfrifoldeb arianol, yn nglyn a'r achos. Yr oedd William Roberts yn wrol a hyderus, ac

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nid oedd byth yn petruso i gymeryd ei ran o'r baich, ac yn wastad i fyned o dan y pen trymaf. Ychwanegwyd at y diaconiaid John Pritchard Morris, John Parry, a John Pritchard, yr hwn sydd yn aros etto. Collwyd John Parry yn nghanol ei ddyddiau, a cholled fawr ydoedd. Yr oedd yn ddyn deallgar, pwllog, a gofalus am yr achos yn ei holl ranau, ac yr oedd yn eangach ei syniadau na'r rhan fwyaf o'i gydoeswyr. Gweithredodd fel ysgrifenydd i'r eglwys am flynyddoedd lawer, ac y mae y llyfrau cyfrifon a gadwodd yn profi ei fod yn gywir a threfnus yn y cwb1; a thalodd lawer o'i logell i bregethwyr, pan y teimlai nad oedd y swm a ganiatai yr Eglwys yn ddigon. Efe oedd ysgrifenydd yr eglwys pan adeiladwyd y capel yn 1840. Bu eraill yn ddiaconiaid ffyddlawn yn yr eglwys ar ol hyny, nas gallwn grybwyll eu henwau yma, a llawer yn ddefnyddiol a dylanwadol, er na ddyrchafwyd hwy i swydd yn yr eglwys. Y diaconlaid presenol ydyw John Pritchard, Griffith Rowland, David Griffith, William Roberts, Robert Williams, a William John Parry.

Cyfodwyd y personau canlynol i bregethu yn yr eglwys hon er ei chychwyniad :  -

• Morris Jones. Aeth ef at y Methodistiaid i'r Carneddi, yn adeg dadl y system newydd, a bu yn pregethu gyda hwy trwy ei oes. Yr oedd yn gymeriad tra nodedig, ac yn gymeradwy gan bawb. Darn o faen mynor heb ei gaboli ydoedd, ond yr hyn a gabolwyd arno gan râs.
• Henry Williams. Ymunodd yntau a'r Methodistiaidd yn y Felin hen, o gylch yr un adeg.
• Richard Thomas, Cerrig llwydion. Bu ef yn bregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn yr eglwys am flynyddoedd lawer.
• Hugh Mathew. Gwehydd tlawd ydoedd wrth ei alwedigaeth. Symudodd i ardal Ebenezer, ac wedi hyny i Felinheli, ac yr ydym eisioes wedi cyfeirio ato yn ynglyn â Siloh.
• William Williams. Daethai ef oddiwrth y Methodistiaid, a dychwelodd yn ol atynt. Y mae yn awr yn byw yn Bontnewydd, gerllaw Caernarfon.
• Joseph Morris. Urddwyd ef yn Mhorthmadog, ac y mae yn awr yn Lleyn, lle y mae wedi treulio y rhan fwyaf o'i oes.
• William Jones, Llystyn. Bu ef ar un adeg yn bregethwr poblogaidd gyda'r Methodistiaid. Daeth at yr Annibynwyr, ac yn mhell amser codwyd ef i bregethu. Cafodd ei urddo yn Nolyddelen. Ymfudodd i America, ac yno y daeth i'w ddiwedd.
• Robert Jones. Mae ef yn aros yma etto, ac yn adnabyddus trwy yr holl wlad.
• Richard Jones. Mab tý capel Bethesda ydoedd. Dechreuodd yn addawol. Bu yn Athrofa Swydd Lancaster, ond drysodd drwy ryw amgylchiadau, ac aeth i America, ac ni wyddom ragor o'i hanes.
• Luc Moses. Bu ef yn pregethu gyda'r Wesleyaid, ond y mae er's deng mlynedd ar hugain yn pregethu gyda'r Annibynwyr.
• William Dayies. Mae yn awr yn bregethwr cynnorthwyol yn nglyn â Salem.
• Owen Jones. Urddwyd ef yn weinidog yn nghapel bychan Nantybenglog.
• Robert Jones. Un genedigol o Drefriw. Aeth i rywle yn Lloegr.
• Samuel Jones. Ymfudodd i America, ac urddwyd ef yn Middle Granville.
• William Roberts. Addysgwyd ef yn Athrofa Caerfyrddin. Ymfudodd i America, ac urddwyd ef yn New York.

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• John Foulkes. Derbyniodd ei addysg yn Athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef yn Nhyddewi, lle y mae etto.
• William Williams. Bu yn efrydydd yn Athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef yn y Borth, Sir Aberteifi; ac yno y mae etto.
• Owen Jones. Addysgwyd ef yn Athrofa y Bala, a bu wedi hyny yn Mhrif Ysgol Glasgow. Urddwyd ef yn Ystalfera, Sir Forganwg, ac y mae yn awr yn Ebenezer, Sir Gaernarfon.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

LLEWELYN SAMUEL. " Mewn tyddyn bychan, o'r enw Cefncribwr, yn mhlwyf Llandudoch, Sir Benfro, y trigai Thomas Samuel ac Elizabeth ei wraig. Yr oedd iddynt wyth o blant, saith o feibion, ac un ferch. Ganwyd eu mab Llewelyn yn y flwyddyn 1789. ..........................................

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(293 *Yr ydym yn ddyledus am ddefnyddiau eglwys Bethesda, a'r canghenau a dorodd allan ohoni, i bapyr a ddarllenwyd gan Mr. R. Williams (Hwfa Mon) yn un o gyfarfodydd Chwarterol yr Undeb; ac i ysgrif helaeth a anfonwyd i ni gan Mr. R. S. Williams, Bethesda; ac i goflyfrau y diweddar Mr. John Parry, y rhai yn garedig a fenthycwyd i ni gan ei fab Mr. W. J. Parry, Bethesda. )

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Aug 2009)

It appears that the gospel was first preached in the Tregarth community in this vicinity; and that Dr. George Lewis, from Caernarfon, did this in 1788. No door had been opened for preaching in any house, at this time, in the community; and because of this Dr. Lewis preached his first sermon there, from the top of one of the great rocks that happened to be in a convenient place in the area.  And some of the old people in the community say that pieces of the old stones are still there; and some of them look very respectable on pieces of that holy rock. Dr. Lewis suffered a great deal from the ignorance and spirit of persecution of those that dwelt there in his

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efforts to establish a cause in the area.  Pieces of turf and stones were hurled at him, and there wasn't a scorn too much to throw at him.  It is said that one man by the name of John Rowland, from Parc, came once to the service with his pockets full of stones, with the intention of throwing them at the preacher; but he lingered for a short while to listen before completing his mission.  This soothed his spirit, he dropped the stones to the floor, he listened attentively, and after this he attended every service, and before long he joined the brotherhood in the place, and he was an ardent, religious and fiery man to the grave.

Soon after starting to preach in the area, the Lord inclined the heart of some widow by the name of Elenor, to open the door of her house, to accept Dr. Lewis there to preach; and he was joyful when he heard that a door had been opened to him in Tregarth. Having preached for a while in the house of this virtuous woman, the number of listeners increased so much that the house became too small to hold them.  But when one pavilion became too small, heaven's providence made sure they received a larger place; and so they moved to the house of a man called John Edwards, in the same community.  Having been in this place labouring for some time, under obvious blessings from God - a church was formed there. These are the names of the few saints who formed themselves into a church there: - Robert Williams, Braich; Elias Jones, and Jane his wife; Thomas Knowles, and Eleanor his wife; Jane and Eleanor Williams. Cochwillan; Thomas Williams, Wern;  Judith Thomas, from the same place; William Griffith, and Catherine his wife, from Trosyffordd; and William John Dafydd, from Hafotty; who was the first to accept the principles of non-conformism in the area, and the first professed Independents who died in the community.  Soon after starting the cause Dr. Lewis sent one William Williams to the area to preach and to establish a day school, since there wasn't one in the community.  His labour in preaching enjoyed a degree of success, but because of indifference the school was dropped, and he left the area. After the small church saw a degree of success at its beginning,  the clouds of failure soon spread over it ; and it suffered a great number of disadvantages, having had to move around so often.

Mr. W. Hughes came to labour in Bangor and the district, and he was quite faithful to the few brothers and sisters, and a second sign of God's blessing fell on their efforts. But soon after Mr. Hughes started labouring in their midst they had to move again from John Edwards' house, Braich Talog; and the place they went to was to the house of  William John Dafydd, Hafotty, the first non-conformist in the area, whom we mentioned before.  And the small church received a great refuge under the roof of that godly man; who was as a broom for the first fruits of Independence in these valleys.

Through the kindness and consultation of some called Rebecca, Dorothy, and Griffith, from Bryncyl; along with one called Griffith Jones, from Caerorion, an old barn was borrowed in Caerorion for them to meet. The barn was repaired, and made into a very comfortable place in which to preach and to hold religious meetings, and they used the barn in the summer and the house in the winter. They continued to worship in this barn under many signs of Heaven's favour, until Mr. Arthur Jones came to Bangor.  Griffith Jones, Caerorion, even though he wasn't a member, gave permission for a chapel to be built on his land.  He had a lease on the place,

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but this was a short one.  The Penrhyn family, who owned the place, showed great opposition towards the building of the chapel, and they threatened to break the lease if it was built.  They consulted a solicitor, and they were satisfied to allow a schoolroom to be built, and to hold every service there, but it was not to be called a chapel. The people of the area showed so much faithfulness to the building that the financial debt was only £35. The chapel was opened on June 7th, 1813, and Messrs J. Evans, Amlwch; D. Davies, Caernarfon; W. Jones, Salem; and L. Powell, Llanrwst, preached on the occasion. * The cause was here for a very successful period.  The late Mr. Griffith, Bethel, said that he remembered a time when he could find a place for his animal in more than a dozen farms in the area; and all their residents kept in touch with the congregation in Caerorion. A great difficulty arose amongst some of the members about Mr. Arthur Jones concerning the doctrine he preached; and one of the members, John Jones, Llystyn, came all the way from Wrexham to Dr. Lewis in order to keep the peace between them.  Before long Mr. Jones went to London, and many of the members went to the Calvinist Methodists; and this greatly weakened the cause.

Soon after starting to preach in the barn at Caerorion, preaching was started in the Bethesda area, even though that isn't what it was called at the time.  The first place that preaching started in this area, was the Wern Afr; where Henry Dafydd and Elizabeth Roberts lived. But soon after Mr. Hughes started preaching in the Wern Afr a strong persecution arose against him and the few disciples there with him; and they had to move to a place called Pongc y Ty. After being in Pongc y Ty for a while, they moved again to a place called Tros y Ffordd, the house of  William Griffith. Preaching had been taking place at midday once a fortnight in William Griffith's, Tros y Ffordd, for a short while, since it was handy for the mine; and many ministers from the South and the North had been preaching there. It is said that  Mr. W. Hughes' first text in Tros y Ffordd was Isaiah lxii. 1, " For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest." There was much persecution before this, but that sermon was so bright that there was never any more persecution. The cause succeeded under a succession of Bangor ministers -- Messrs W. Hughes, D. Evans, A. Jones, and D. Roberts; but no church had been formed in these places, because all the religious people went to Caerorion monthly to communion.

As the cause became stronger and more cheerful in Tros y Ffordd, it was decided to form a church there; and somewhere in the year 1813, as close as we can find, this took place.  Here is a list of the first members that formed a church in Tros y Ffordd; which was the root of the church in Bethesda - Morris Prichard, Ty Gwyrdd; William Roberts, Coed y Park;  John William, y Weirglodd;  William William, Wern Afr;  John William, y Gors;  John Moses, y Twr;  John Jones, Llystyn;  Ellis William, Coed y Park;  Robert Robert, Coed y Park;  William Prichard, y Wern;  Robert Thomas, Tai y Mynydd;  Richard Morris, Brynllwyd ;  John Prichard Morris, Brynllwyd;  Harry William, Ty Mwn;  Hugh Jones, y Wern.  There was a successful Sunday school in Tros y Ffordd, and Griffith Williams (Gutyn Peris) acted as its secretary.

* Evangelical Magazine, 1813. page, 353.

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Within some years it was felt that a chapel was needed here, and a small, simple house of worship was built here in 1820, mainly through the labour of Mr. D. Roberts. There wasn't at that time a village to name the chapel after, and because of that it was called BETHESDA, and that chapel gave its name to the place that has become by now a populous town. The first chapel cost £318. 1s. 4d., and £142. 15s. 1½d was collected outside the community, through the labour of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Samuel.  Only thirty five members moved from Dros y Ffordd to Bethesda, and on Friday evening, October 6th, 1820, the first religious fellowship meeting took place in it.  Houses were built around it very soon, and it became evident that it would become an important place. In 1822, since he had moved to  Tynewydd, Pentir, to live, and as his work increased, Mr. Roberts gave up the care of the church in Bangor, and confined his labour to  Bethesda, Caegwigin, and Caerorion; but his stay here was short, because the following year he accepted a call from Denbigh, and he moved there. Before the end of 1823 a call was sent out to Mr. Llewelyn Samuel, a student from Neuaddlwyd college and he was ordained on January 1st, 1824. On the occasion Mr. D. Thomas, Penrhiwgaled, preached on the Nature of the Church. The questions were asked by Mr. T. Jones, Moelfra. The ordination prayer was given by Mr. W. Hughes, Saron. Mr. D. Davies, Ceredigion, preached on the duty of the minister; and Mr. D. Roberts, Denbigh, on the duty of the church. *   Mr. Samuel did not see much success  for a while after his ordination, but before four years were out a great surge occurred so that they had to extend the chapel.  The number of members rose to 152 by November, 1829.  The second chapel, which was opened in 1830, cost £400, without counting the materials from the old chapel. After this the cause increased with great speed; and the church was notable for its labour, and its hard work. The years 1838 and 1839, were exceedingly successful years. More than two hundred new members were accepted during the two years. The lease on Caerorion had run out many years before this, actually even before  Mr. D. Roberts left, and they were refused on any terms to renew the lease, and continue to worship there. It was changed to a dwelling house, and it continues so till this day. After losing the chapel, religious services continued to be held in Moelyci, Perthi, Cerygllwydion, and other places, but they went to Bethesda regularly to communion, and sometimes more often than that. The first church deacons that we know of for sure were Morris Pritchard and William Roberts, Coedyparc; and the two lived to follow the  cause from infancy to full strength.

After the great addition in 1839, it was decided to extend the chapel, and make it one of the most extensive in Wales.  They realized that the debt would be a big one, and so that they could ensure general co-operation,  Mr. Samuel took out an agreement, to be signed by all the men belonging to the church, that they took their responsibility concerning the venture. We have that paper in front of us now. Mr. Samuel signed his name first, and there is a long list following him. It was built in 1840, and the debt was £2,200. 3s. 8d, and at that time two thousand pounds was considered a great debt; but during the following six years the debt was halved.

* Dysgedydd, 1824. page, 50.  

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Before rebuilding Bethesda for the third time, Carmel had been built, and several members had formed a church there; and within some years after that Amana was built, and 45 members from Bethesda went there.  Mr. Samuel laboured diligently with great care, and unusual success.  He was caught unexpectedly by death on April 2lst, 1855, having laboured here for close to thirty years.

Before the end of that year, a call was given to Mr. David Jones, B.A., a student from Brecon college, and he was ordained on June 15th, 1856. Mr. J. D. Williams, Cardiff, preached on the Nature of the Church. The questions were asked by Mr. J. Jones, Soar, Maesteg. The ordination prayer was given by Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Mr. E. Davies, Classics Professor, Brecon, preached to the minister and Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, preached to the church and Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor, preached to the congregation.  Mr. Jones laboured here energetically until the midsummer of 1858, when he moved to Cardiff.  After Mr Jones left, the church was, for some years without a minister, but they were not idle during that short time.  The small chapel of Tynymaes was built in 1860, and was called Saron, In 1862, a call was sent out to Mr. Rowland Williams (Hwfa Mon), Brymbo; and he started his ministry here before the end of that year. He was very successful over many years. During his term of office, Treflys chapel was built.  He accepted a call from Fetter Lane, London, and he moved there in 1867. After that this church had no minister for close on five years, but during those years, it did not stop working. A new grand chapel was built in Carneddi Road, which was called Salem, and more than eighty members were released there to begin the cause.  Early in 1872, a call was sent out to Mr. Richard S. Williams, from Plough, in Brecon, to come here as minister, and he accepted the invitation, and he is still labouring here with great commendation. The church is now in the middle of  reorganizing their house of worship, with a debt of £1,700, and, after that, it will be, one of the most beautiful and largest chapels in Wales.

The church here has been very kind to the branches that left it, by helping them to pay their debts; and often to take on itself a large portion of the debt of the chapels, by releasing them. The church, on occasion, enjoyed powerful religious revivals, and there have been gradual additions to their number over the years. When we remember the number of church members, and that the peasant element was so strong, it has on the whole been quite peaceful; even though strong breezes blow upon it at times, but it held true through it all.  There was a great emphasis on music, and possibly at the same time, there was congregational singing of a quality that wasn't heard anywhere else in the Principality. There were many good people here from time to time, those who were considered as pillars of the cause, and those whose names are as a fragrance in the area up to this day. William Williams Caerorion, and William Williams, Penygroes, were the first deacons, as far as we can make out; in Caerorion, William Roberts, Coedyparc, and Morris Pritchard, were the first deacons in this church. Morris Pritchard was a warm, jolly old brother, but was always wary about having financial responsibility, concerning the cause.  William Roberts was brave and confident, and

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never worried about taking his part of the burden, and always shouldered the heaviest part. John Pritchard Morris, John Parry, and John Pritchard, who are still here, were added to the deacons. John Parry was lost to the cause quite early and was a great loss.  He was an intelligent, careful and prudent man, who cared for the cause in all its parts, and could see the wider picture better than any of his contemporaries.  He worked as the secretary of the church for many years, and the accounts books he kept prove that they were correct and totally organised; and he paid ministers a lot from his own pocket, when he felt that the sum allowed by the church wasn't enough. He was the church secretary when the chapel was built in  1840. Others were faithful deacons in the church after that, whose names we cannot mention here, and many were useful and influential, even though they were not raised to a position in the church.  The present deacons are John Pritchard, Griffith Rowland, David Griffith, William Roberts, Robert Williams, and William John Parry.

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

• Morris Jones.  He went to the Methodists in Carneddi, at the time of the discussion about the new system, and preached with them all his life.
• Henry Williams.  He joined the Methodists in the old Felin (mill), about the same time.
• Richard Thomas.  Cerrig Llwydion. He was a respected lay preacher in the church for many years.
• Hugh Mathew. He was a poor weaver by profession. He moved to Ebenezer and Felinheli, and has already been mentioned in connection with Siloh.
• William Williams. He came from the Methodists, and returned to them. He now lives in Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon.
• Joseph Morris. He was ordained in Porthmadog, and he is now in  Lleyn.
• William Jones, Llystyn. He was, at one time, a popular preacher with the Methodists.  He came to the Independents, and after a while became a preacher. He was ordained in Dolyddelen. He emigrated to America.
• Robert Jones.  He remains here, and is well known throughout the country.
• Richard Jones.  He was the son of Bethesda chapel house. He was promising when he started out. He went to Lancaster college, but because of some unfortunate circumstances, he went to  America.
• Luc Moses.  He preached with the Wesleyans, but for about ten years has been preaching with the Independents.
• William Davies. He is now a lay preacher connected with Salem.
• Owen Jones.  He was ordained in the little Nantybenglog chapel.
• Robert Jones. One who was born in Trefriw. He went to England.
• Samuel Jones. He emigrated to America, and was ordained in  Middle Granville.
• William Roberts. He was educated in Carmarthen college. He emigrated to America, and was ordained in New York.

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• John Foulkes.  He was educated in Carmarthen college, and was ordained in St. David's, where he remains.
• William Williams. He was a student in Carmarthen college, and was ordained in Borth, Ceredigion; and remains there.
• Owen Jones. He was educated in Bala college, and went to Glasgow university. He was ordained in Ystalfera, Glamorgan, and is now in Ebenezer, Caernarfonshire.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not extracted fully)

LLEWELYN SAMUEL. " Thomas Samuel ac Elizabeth, his wife lived in a smallholding, called Cefncribwr, in the parish of  Llandudoch, Pembrokeshire. They had eight children, seven sons, and one daughter. Their son Llewelyn was born in 1789. ..........................................

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(293 *We are indebted to Mr. R. Williams (Hwfa Mon) for the documents on Bethesda church, and the branches which broke away from it, to a paper read by in one of the Quarterly meetings of the Union of Welsh Independents; and to an extensive essay which was sent to us by Mr. R. S. Williams, Bethesda; and to registers from the late Mr. John Parry, which were lent to us by his son Mr. W. J. Parry, Bethesda.)

  CONTINUED