Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

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

Caernarfonshire section (Vol 3) - Pages  293 - 306

Proof read by Yvonne John (May 2008)

Chapels below;

• (Continued) BETHESDA
• CARMEL (with translation)
• AMANA (with translation)
• TY'NYMAES (with translation)

• TREFLYS (with translation)
• SALEM (with translation)
• NANTYBENGLOG (with translation)
• BETHMAACA(with translation)

• BEULAH (with translation)
• BANGOR (SEISNIG)   (with translation)
• EBENEZER  (with translation)
• BOZRAH (with translation)

Pages 293 - 306

293

(Continued) BETHESDA

(Not extracted fully)  

CARMEL

(Llanllechid parish)

Mae y capel yma yn mhlwyf Llanllechid. Arferid pregethu mewn tai a chynal cyfarfodydd gweddio yn achlysurol, ac ysgol Sabbothol yn rheolaidd yma cyn codi capel. Yn y flwyddyn 1839, prynodd Mr. Samuel a William Roberts, Coedyparc, ddarn o dir mewn lle hynod gyfleus, a chodwyd capel arno, a thy da yn nglyn ag ef. Costiodd y cwb1 340p. Aeth pymtheng mlynedd heibio heb dalu dim o'r hawl. Yr oedd y lle mewn cysylltiad a Bethesda hyd derfyn gweinidogaeth Mr. Samuel, ond yn 1856 unodd yr eglwys hon a'r eglwys yn Bethlehem i roddi galwad i Mr. Edward Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, ac y mae y lle yn parhau o dan ei ofal. Rhifedi yr eglwys pan sefydlodd Mr. Stephen yma oedd 83, ond y mae erbyn hyn yn mhell uwchlaw 200. Yr oedd ychydig o egni wedi ei wneyd i dalu y ddyled ddwy flynedd cyn dyfodiad Mr. Stephen yma; ond wedi ei ddyfodiad ymroddwyd o ddifrif i'w dileu, ac yn mhen pedair blynedd yr oedd 200p. wedi ei dynu ymaith. Yn y flwyddyn 1860, ail adeiladwyd a helaethwyd y capel, a gwnaed ef yn dý eang a hardd. Aeth y draul yn 841p. 10s., ac yr oedd gweddill dyled yr hen gapel yn gwneyd y swm yn 977p. Rhoddwyd swm mawr o'r ddyled mewn clwb i'w dalu yn ol trwy gyfranau blynyddol, a thrwy y ffordd esmwyth yma y mae y ddyled yn toddi yn gyflym.

Mae yma eglwys unol a heddychol, a pharod i bob gweithred dda; ac y mae yma rai oedd gyda'r achos ar ei gychwyniad, wedi cael help gan Dduw, yn aros hyd y dydd hwn. Mantais fawr i'r eglwys hon fu datod ei chysylltiad a Bethesda, a'i thaflu ar ei hadnoddau ei hun, canys ar ol hyny y mae ei llwyddiant mwyaf wedi bod.

Codwyd i bregethu yn yr eglwys hon William H. Jones, yr hwn sydd yn awr yn fifyriwr yn athrofa y Bala.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

This chapel is in Llanllechid parish.  Preaching occurred in houses and prayer meetings were held occasionally, and a Sunday school regularly here before raising a chapel. In 1839, Mr. Samuel and William Roberts, Coedyparc, bought a piece of land in an extremely convenient place, and a chapel was built on it, and a fine house attached to it.  The whole lot cost £340.  Fifteen years went by without paying the debt.  The place had been connected to Bethesda until the end of  Mr. Samuel's ministry, but in 1856 this church united with the church in Bethlehem to send out a call to Mr. Edward Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, and the place remains under his care. The number in the church when Mr. Stephen was established here was 83, but by now it is well above 200.  A certain amount of effort had been made to pay the debt two years before Mr. Stephen came here; but after he arrived they seriously undertook to delete it, and within four years £200 had been removed.  In 1860, the chapel was rebuilt and extended, and it became a fine building.  The debt was now £841.10s, and the rest of the debt on the old chapel made it  £977.  A large amount of the debt was placed in a club to be paid back through annual portions, and in this smooth manner the debt is dissolving quickly.

There is, here, a united and peaceful church, which is ready for all good works; and there are some still there to this day being helped by God, who belonged to the cause from the beginning. The great advantage to this church was the release from being connected with  Bethesda, and being thrown on its own resources, since after that its greatest success came about.

William H. Jones was raised to preach in this church. He is now a student in Bala college.

AMANA

(Llandegai parish )

Y mae y capel hwn yn sefyll ar fynydel Llandegai, tua milldir a Bethesda. Yn y flwyddyn 1844, caniataodd Arglwydd Penrhyn roddi les ar ddarn o'r mynydd i'w weithwyr i adeiladu tai arno, ac yn fuan yr oedd ugeiniau o dai wedi cael eu hadeiladu yma. Nid oedd y mynydd ar y pryd ond lle gwyllt a diffrwyth, yn llawn o byllau a mawnogydd mawrion, heb ffordd i fyned iddo nac o hono. Yr oedd hyn yn ei gwneyd yn anghyfleus iawn, yn enwedig i wragedd a phlant fyned i Bethesda i addoli. Yn haf 1845, penderfynodd yr ychydig aelodau eglwysig oedd yn byw yn ............................

294

........... y lle, y rhai oedd wedi dyfod yma o Bethesda a manau eraill, adeiladu capel bychan, a gorphenwyd ef yn mis Rhagfyr. Aeth y draul i'w adeiladu yn 196p. 10s. 6c. Y personau fu fwyaf blaenllaw gyda'r gwaith oedd, John Williams, Wairglodd; Thomas Williams, Llwybrmain; Thomas Williams. Taiduon; Richard Jones, Morris Williams, Henry Roberts, a John Thomas, y Gefnan. Y mae llawer o honynt erbyn hyn wedi cael eu symud oddiwrth en gwaith at eu gwobr. Buont am ychydig o amser ar y cyntaf yn myned i Bethesda ar Sabbothau y cymundeb, ond nid hir y buont cyn cael eu sefydlu yn eglwys ar ei phen ei hun. Bu Mr. Samuel yn dyfod yma yn fisol am rai blynyddoedd i dori bara iddynt, a hyny yn rhad, i'r dyben iddynt allu yn well gael pregethwyr ar y Sabbothau eraill. Er mai ychydig oedd yr eglwys hon ar y cyntaf mewn rhif, y mae yn amlwg ei bod wedi bod yn ddiwyd gyda'r gwaith o gasglu, oblegid yr ydym yn gweled eu bod wedi llwyr ddileu y ddyled yn y flwyddyn 1848, a gwnaethant hyny heb gael dim cynorthwy o un lle arall.

Yn y flwyddyn 1851 rhoddasant alwad, mewn cysylltiad a Bethmaaca, i Mr. P. Howells, o athrofa y Bala. Cynaliwyd cyfarfod ei urddiad ar y 18fed a'r 19eg o Hydref. Pregethwyd dydd Sadwrn yn Amana, gan Mr. M. Jones, Bala, a boreu Sabboth yn Bethesda, o ran cyfleusdra y lle, gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, ar Natur Eglwys. Gofynwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, yr hwn hefyd a weddiodd am fendith y nefoedd ar yr undeb. Pregethwyd ar Ddyledswydd yr Eglwysi gan Mr. Ll. Samuel, ac i'r gweinidog gan Mr. M. Jones, Bala. Yn y prydnawn a'r hwyr, pregethwyd yn Bethesda ac Amana, a'r dydd Llun canlynol yn Bethmaaca, pan y pregethwyd gan yr un personau, yn nghyd a Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, a Mr. M. Lewis, Treffynon. Yn y flwyddyn 1853 yr oedd y capel wedi myned yn rhy fychan, gosodwyd darn wrtho a gwnaed ef gymaint arall ag yr oedd ar y cyntaf. Yr oedd y draul yn 214p. 9s. 4c. Yn y flwyddyn 1853 ymadawodd Mr. Howells oddiyma i Llanfyllin. Yn y flwyddyn 1856 rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. W. Griffiths, o athrofa Aberhonddu. Cynaliwyd cyfarfod yr urddiad Rhagfyr 20fed a'r 21ain, yr un flwyddyn. Yn y flwyddyn 1863 talwyd yr holl ddyled, ac yn y flwyddyn 1868 ailadeiladwyd y capel, yr hwn a gostiodd 600p. Y mae yn awr yn gapel hardd a chyfleus, a'r ddyled yn dyfod i lawr yn gyflym, fel nad oes yn aros arno yn awr ond tua 300p.

Codwyd yma bedwar o bregethwyr.

• Thomas Williams. Yr oedd yn bregethwr cynorthwyol. Yr oedd yn wr cadarn yn yr Ysgrythyrau, wedi astudio athrawiaethau crefydd yn dda. Yr oedd yn ymadroddwr rhwydd, ac yn hynod o afaelgar mewn gweddi. Cadwodd ei gymeriad yn ddysglaer hyd y diwedd. Dygodd dri o'i feibion i fyny i'r weinidogaeth. Cyfarfu a'i ddiwedd yn y chwarel yn mis Medi 1872, yn 67 oed.
• William Williams. Addysgwyd ef yn athrofa y Bala, ac y mae yn awr yn Nefyn.
• Thomas Williams. Cafodd yntau ei addysgu yn athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef yn Llanddeusant, Mon, lle y bu farw yn ieuangc.
• David Williams. Yn y Bala y derbyniodd yntau ei addysg athrofaol. Y mae yn awr yn Sion, Treffynon. Meibion i'r blaenaf a enwyd yw y tri olaf, felly cododd yr eglwys yma y tad a'i dri mab yn bregethwyr. *

* Llythyr Mr. W. Griffiths, Amana.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

This chapel stands on Llandegai mountain, about a mile from Bethesda.  In 1844, Lord Penrhyn allowed a lease on a piece of the mountain so that his workers could build houses on it, and soon there were scores of houses built here.  The mountain was, at the time, a wild, unfruitful place, full of mines and large peat bogs, with no access to it or from it.  This made it very inconvenient, especially for women and children to go to Bethesda to worship.  In the summer of 1845, the few church members who lived there decided, ............................

294

........... those who had come here from Bethesda and other places, to build a small chapel, which was finished in December. The cost for the building was £196. 10s. 6c.  Those who were most prominent in the work were,  John Williams, Wairglodd; Thomas Williams, Llwybrmain; Thomas Williams. Taiduon;  Richard Jones, Morris Williams, Henry Roberts, and John Thomas, Y Gefnan. Many of them have by now been removed from their work to their glory. They did at first go to Bethesda on communion Sundays, but it wasn't long before they were established as a church on their own.  Mr. Samuel came here monthly for some years to break the bread for them, for free, so that they could obtain preachers on the other Sundays. Even though they were few at the beginning, it is obvious that they were diligent with their collecting work, because we see that they had deleted the debt completely during 1848, and they did this with no help from anywhere else.

In 1851 they sent a call, along with Bethmaaca, to Mr. P. Howells, from Bala college.  The ordination meeting was held on 18th and 19th of October.  On the Saturday Mr. M. Jones, Bala preached in Amana, and on the Sunday morning in Bethesda, for convenience sake, Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog preached on the Nature of the Church.  The questions were asked by Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, and he also prayed for heaven's blessing on the union. Mr. Ll. Samuel preached on the duty of the churches, and Mr. M. Jones, Bala preached to the minister.  In the afternoon and evening, the preaching was held in Bethesda and Amana, and the following Monday in Bethmaaca, when the same persons preached, along with Mr. E. Stephen, Dwygyfylchi, and Mr. M. Lewis, Treffynon. In 1853 the chapel had become too small, a new part was added which made it twice as big as it was before.  The debt was £214p. 9s. 4d.  In 1853 Mr. Howells left here for Llanfyllin.  In 1856 a call was sent to Mr. W. Griffiths, from Brecon college.  The ordination meeting was held on December 20th and 21st, the same year.  In 1863 the whole debt was paid, and in 1868 the chapel was rebuilt, which cost £600.  It is now a fine, convenient chapel, and the debt is decreasing quickly, so that now there is only about £300 left.

Four preachers were raised here.

• Thomas Williams. He was a lay preacher.  Three of his sons were brought up to the ministry. He met his end in the quarry in September 1872, at 67 years old.
• William Williams. He was educated in Bala college, and he is now in Nefyn.
• Thomas Williams. He was educated in Bala college, and was ordained in Llanddeusant, Anglesey, where he died young.
• David Williams. He received his education in Bala college.  He is now in Sion, Holywell.  The last three were sons of the former, so this church raised the father and his three sons as preachers. *

* Mr. W. Griffiths, Amana's letter.

295

TY'NYMAES

(Llanllechid parish)

Mae pregethu wedi bod yn yr ardal yma er's llawer o flynyddau mewn gwahanol dai yn y gymydogaeth, Nid yw y boblogaeth yn lluosog, ond teimlid fod myned i lawr i Bethesda yn ormod o lafur. John Jones, Maescaradog, ac Ellis Jones, Pentre, fu a'r llaw blaenaf gyda chychwyn yr achos yma, a thrwy eu hymdrech hwy y llwyddwyd i gael tir at adeiladu capel gan Arglwydd Penrhyn. Yr enw a roddid ar Ellis Jones pan welid ef yn dyfod i'r swyddfa oedd, " dyn y capel," gan faint ei daerni am le i godi capel. Cafwyd tir o'r diwedd. Adeiladwyd y capel yn y flwyddyn 1860. Galwyd ef Saron. Costiodd 450p. Cymerodd eglwys Bethesda 400p. o'r ddyled, a gollyngodd bump a deugain o aelodau allan i ffurfio eglwys ynddo. Bu y lle hwn mewn cysylltiad ag eglwys Bethesda hyd Ebrill, 1869, pryd y cymerodd Mr. W. Nicholson ei gofal mewn cysylltiad a Threflys, ond wedi ei ymadawiad dychwelodd yr eglwys i gysylltiad a Bethesda, ac felly y mae yn parhau. Nid oes yma ond achos bychan, ac yn sefyllfa bresenol y boblogaeth nis gellir disgwyl yma eglwys a chynnulleidfa luosog.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

There has been preaching in this area for many years in different houses in the community.  The population is not numerous, but it is felt that going down to Bethesda is too much of a burden. John Jones, Maescaradog, and Ellis Jones, Pentre, were most prominent in starting the cause here, and through their efforts were successful in obtaining land from Lord Penrhyn to build a chapel. Ellis Jones was always called "dyn y capel," (the chapel man) when he was seen coming to the office, because of his eagerness for a place to build a chapel. Land was finally obtained. The chapel was built in 1860. It was called Saron. It cost £450.  Bethesda chapel took £400 of the debt, and forty five members dropped out in order to form a church there. This church was connected to Bethesda church until April 1869, when Mr. W. Nicholson took over the care along with Treflys, but after he left the church returned to its connection with Bethesda, and this is how it continues.  There is only a small cause here, and in the present situation, with such a small population, it will not expect a large congregation.

TREFLYS

Gyda chynydd y boblogaeth ar ochr y Gerlan a Threflys, barnai eglwys Bethesda y dylesid adeiladu yma gapel. Rhoddwyd darn o dir mewn lle cyfleus, yn rhad, gan Mr. David Roberts (Alawydd), ac adeiladwyd arno gapel gwerth 932p. 15s., ac agorwyd ef Chwefror 18fed, 1866. Aeth dau a deugain o aelodau o Bethesda yno i ffurfio eglwys; ac er mwyn eu rhyddhau yn hollol oddiwrth y baich, cymerodd eglwys Bethesda y ddyled arni ei hun. Bu yr eglwys mewn cysylltiad gweinidogaethol a Bethesda hyd Ebrill, 1869, pryd y rhoddodd, mewn cysylltiad a'r eglwys yn Saron, Ty'nymaes, alwad i Mr. William Nicholson, Rhoslan, i fod yn weinidog. Bu Mr. Nicholson yma yn llwyddianus iawn hyd y flwyddyn 1872, pryd y derbyniodd alwad o'r Groeslon, sir Forganwg, ac y symudodd yno.

Ail adeiladwyd y capel yn y flwyddyn 1871, ac agorwyd ef yn nglyn a chymanfa y Pasg, 1872. Rhoddodd Arglwydd Penrhyn ddarn o dir ar les yn front y capel er mwyn cael gwell mynedfa ato; a rhoddodd 35p. er cau oddiamgylch iddo. Mae yn gapel prydferth a chyfleus. Costiodd 1100p., o'r hyn y mae 700p. yn aros, ond y mae yma eglwys egniol a gweithgar, fel na bydd y baich yn hir heb ei symud; ac y mae yma olwg addawol am achos cryf a blagurog.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

With the increase in the population on the Gerlan and Treflys side,  Bethesda church felt that a chapel should be built here. Mr. David Roberts (Alawydd), supplied a piece of land in a convenient place, cheaply, and a chapel worth £932. 15s, was built on it. It was opened on February 18th, 1866.  Forty two of Bethesda's members went there to form a church; and in order to release them completely from the burden, Bethesda took the debt upon itself.  The church was connected ministerially with Bethesda until April, 1869, when, in connection with the church in Saron, Ty'nymaes, the church gave Mr. William Nicholson, Rhoslan, a call to be their minister.  Mr. Nicholson was very successful here until 1872, when he accepted a call from Groeslon, Glamorganshire, and he moved there.

The chapel was rebuilt in 1871, and was opened during the Easter Gymanfa (singing festival) in 1872. Lord Penrhyn leased a piece of land in front of the chapel in order to build a better access to it; and gave £35 for a field around it.  It is a beautiful, convenient chapel. It cost £1,100, of which £700 remains, but the church is energetic and hard working, so that the burden won't remain for long; and there is a promising outlook for a strong, budding cause

SALEM

(Llanllechid parish )

Adeiladwyd y capel hwn gan eglwys Bethesda, yn y flwyddyn 1870. Saif mewn lle a elwir Carneddi Road, o fewn ryw chwarter milldir i Bethesda. Mae yn gapel eang, yn cynwys lle i 650 i eistedd. Costiodd 1657p. Agorwyd ef yn nglyn a chyfarfod chwarterol yr undeb y Sabboth a'r Llun cyntaf o'r flwyddyn 1871. Aeth pedwar-a-phedwar-ugain allan o Bethesda yma i ymffurfio yn eglwys, a chymerodd y fam eglwys 1033p. o'r ddyled. Mae y lle o'r dechreuad mewn cysylltiad a Bethesda, ac felly y mae yn parhau dan weinidogaeth Mr. Williams.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

This chapel was built by Bethesda church, in 1870.  It stands in a place called Carneddi Road, within about a quarter of a mile of  Bethesda.  It is a large chapel, containing room for 650 to sit. It cost £1,657.  It was opened during the quarterly meeting of the union on the first Sunday and Monday of 1871.  Eighty four left Bethesda in order to form a church, and the mother church took responsibility for £1,033 of the debt. From the beginning the place has been connected to Bethesda, and so it continues under the ministry of Mr. Williams.

296

NANTYBENGLOG

(Llanllechid parish)

Mae y lle hwn ar y ffordd o Bethesda i Gapel Curig. Nid oes yma ond ychydig amaethdai gwasgaredig. Arferid pregethu mewn gwahanol leoedd yn y Nantuchaf, er's haner cant neu driugain mlynedd yn ol, gan Meistri A. Jones a D. Roberts, Bangor; J. Roberts, Capel Garmon, ac eraill. Tybir mai Richard Jones, Bodesi, oedd yr Annibynwr cyntaf yn y Nant. Yr oedd ef yn aelod yn Bethesda. O gylch y flwyddyn 1827, daeth Mr. Robert Morris, o Fangor, i bregethu i'r Helyg, hen dý ar fin y ffordd, a galwodd gyfeillach ar ol, ac arosodd dau ynddi, a derbyniwyd hwy yn Bethesda. Cynhelid y moddion yn Bodesi - ysgol Sabbothol a chyfarfod gweddi, a deuai brodyr o Bethesda i fyny i'w cynorthwyo. John Pritchard, Tyhen, oedd un o'r rhai ffyddlonaf i ddyfod yma. Anfynych y deuai neb i bregethu. Byddent yn myned yn fisol i Bethesda i gymundeb er pellder a gerwinder y ffordd. Yr oedd Mr. Owen Jones, Talywaun, a'i briod, yn arfer myned yn rheolaidd bob mis i Bethesda, pellder o naw milldir; ac oblegid yr anhawsder i gael pregethwr, anogwyd Mr. Owen Jones gan y cyfeillion i bregethu iddynt, a dechreuodd ar y gorchwyl gyda chaniatad eglwys Bethesda, tua'r flwyddyn 1848, ac y mae wedi parhau o wasanaeth mawr i'r achos. Er mwyn cyfleustra yr ardal, symudwyd y moddion o Bodesi i Bryn Ogwen, a chymerasant ystafell dan ardreth o bunt y flwyddyn. Teimlid fod angen gwell lle, a chynygiwyd cael capel bychan cydrhwng y Methodistiaid a'r Annibynwyr, ond ni ddaeth hyny oddiamgylch. Yn y flwyddyn 1853, codwyd capel bychan a thy yn nglyn ag ef, ar y brif-ffordd rhwng Llyn Ogwen a Chapel Curig, ac agorwyd ef Hydref 8fed a'r 9fed, yn y flwyddyn hono. Yn niwedd y flwyddyn hono cafwyd y cymundeb cyntaf yn y lle, a ffurfiwyd yr ychydig aelodau yma yn eglwys, ond ystyrient eu hunain fel cangen o Bethesda. O herwydd yr anhawsder i gael gweinidogion i ddyfod yma, a bod yr eglwys fechan oblegid hyny weithiau yn hir heb gymundeb, penderfynwyd ganddi i roddi galwad i Mr. Owen Jones, Tanywaun, i fod yn weinidog, ac urddwyd ef yma yn y flwyddyn 1864. Gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri R. Williams, Bethesda; W. Griffith, Amana; E. Stephen, Tanymarian, ac R. Thomas, Bangor. Mae Mr. Jones yn parhau i ofalu am yr achos, er nad yw y gydnabyddiaeth arianol a dderbynia am ei lafur prin yn werth ei grybwyll; ond y mae yn cael yr hyfrydwch o deimlo ei fod yn cael gwasanaethu achos yr Arglwydd mewn ardal anghysbell y buasai yn anhawdd iddynt trwy un ffordd arall fwynhau gweinidogaeth yr efengyl.

Yn mysg ffyddloniaid yr achos yma a'i gychwynwyr dylid crybwyll enwau Richard Jones, Bodesi, John Thomas, Glanllugwy, a William Roberts, Tal-llyn, Ogwen. Nid yn aml y byddai yr un o'r tri yn eisiau mewn cyfarfod gweddi, nac yn yr ysgol. Un o honynt hwy o'i logell ei hun a fyddai yn rhoddi chwech neu swllt yn llaw y rhai a ddeuai yma i bregethu, ac yn Bodesi, am dymor hir, yr oedd lletty i'r pregethwyr. Cafodd Richard Jones fyw i oedran teg, a siriolwyd ef yn ei hen ddyddiau wrth weled achos yr Arglwydd yn myned rhagddo.*

* Llythyr Mr. O. Jones, Talywaun.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

This place is on the road between Bethesda and Capel Curig. There are only a few scattered farms.  Messrs A. Jones and D. Roberts, Bangor; J. Roberts, Capel Garmon and others used to preach in different places in Nantuchaf, fifty or sixty years ago. It is supposed that Richard Jones, Bodesi, was the first Independent in the Nant.  He was a member in Bethesda. Around the year 1827, Mr. Robert Morris, of Bangor, came to preach in the Helyg, an old house on the roadside, and he called a fellowship meeting afterwards, and two stayed, and were accepted in Bethesda. The services were held in Bodesi - a Sunday school and a prayer meeting, and brothers came from Bethesda to support them. John Pritchard, Tyhen, was one of the most faithful to come here.  Preachers came here infrequently.  They would go to Bethesda on a monthly basis to communion even though it was far away and the way was rough. Mr. Owen Jones, Talywaun, and his wife, used to go to Bethesda  regularly every month, a distance of nine miles; and because of the inconvenience of finding a preacher, Mr. Owen Jones was encouraged by friends to preach to them, and he started the task with the permission of Bethesda church, about the year 1848, and has continued to be of great service to the cause.  For the convenience of the area, the services were moved from Bodesi to Bryn Ogwen, and a room was rented for a pound a year.  It was felt that a better place was needed, and it was suggested that the Methodists and the Independents should have a small chapel between them, but this did not come about.  In 1853, a small chapel was built along with a chapel house, on the main road between Ogwen Lake and Capel Curig, and it was opened on October 8th and 9th, in that year.  At the end of that year the first communion was held in the place, and the few members were formed into a church, but they considered themselves to be a branch of Bethesda. Because of the difficulty in persuading ministers to come here, and because of that the small church didn't have communion for a long while sometimes, they decided to give a call to Mr. Owen Jones, Tanywaun, to be a minister, and he was ordained here in 1864. On the occasion Messers R. Williams, Bethesda; W. Griffith, Amana; E. Stephen, Tanymarian, ac R. Thomas, Bangor officiated.  Mr. Jones continues to care for the cause, even though the financial recognition he accepts for his labour is hardly worth mentioning; but he has the joy of feeling that he serves the cause of the Lord in an outlying area, which would be difficult for them to enjoy the ministry of the gospel in any other way.

Amongst the faithful to the cause and its instigators here we should mention Richard Jones, Bodesi, John Thomas, Glanllugwy, and William Roberts, Tal-llyn, Ogwen.  They weren't often missing from prayer meetings, nor the school.  One of them, from his own pocket would put sixpence or a shilling into the hands of those who came to preach, and in Bodesi, for a long time, supplied lodgings to the preachers.  Richard Jones lived to a good age, and he rejoiced in his old age to see the cause of the Lord succeeding.*

* Mr. O. Jones, Talywaun's letter.

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BETHMAACA

(Bangor parish)

Y mae y capel hwn yn sefyll yn ymyl y ffordd sydd yn arwain o Fangor i Dre'rgarth, mewn pentref bychan a elwir Glasinfryn, tua dwy filldir oddiwrth y cyntaf. Yn y flwyddyn 1836 cymerodd Dr. A. Jones lease ar ddarn o dir, gan Rowland Parry, Melin, Glasinfryn, am bedair ar bymtheg a phedwar ugain o flynyddoedd, â hawl i'w hadnewyddu am bedair ar bymtheg a phedwar ugain o flynyddoedd yn mhellach, ar yr amod i'r Eglwys dalu 5p., neu lai, i'r person fyddo yn berchenog arno ar y pryd. Arglwydd Penrhyn ydyw ei berchenog yn bresenol. Yn mis Awst, yn yr un flwyddyn, gosodwyd i lawr y gareg sylfaen, a phregethodd Dr. Jones arni a galwodd ei enw yn Bethmaaca. Gorphenwyd ei adeiladu tua diwedd y flwyddyn hono, mor bell a gosod tô, drysau, a ffenestri arno. Ni osodwyd oddi fewn iddo ond pulpud yn unig. Yr oedd llawr y capel yn llawn tomenydd o bridd, a cheryg mawrion, y rhai a wasanaethent yn lle eisteddleoedd, i'r rhai oedd yn dyfod iddo i wrando, ac felly y bu am oddeutu dwy flynedd. Ond y peth oedd yn hynodi y capel hwn yn fwy na dim arall oedd, fod Dr. Jones wedi gosod delw fawr ar ei ben, ar lun dyn, â llyfr yn ei law; ac yr oedd hwnw wedi ei wneyd o alcam, neu ddefnydd cyffelyb, ac ar wynt cryf, byddai yn troi oddi amgylch, ac yn gwneyd y fath dwrw, nes aflonyddu y pregethwr a'r gynnulleidfa. Dywedir mai tynu sylw yr ardalwyr at y capel oedd amcan Dr. Jones pan yn gosod y fath ddelw ar ei ben. Dywedai wrth un, pan yn ymddyddan ac ef am y peth, "Pobl rhyfedd sydd yn yr ardal acw' pan welant hwn ar ben y capel, ânt iddo yn lluoedd i wrando." Ond camsyniodd yn fawr gyda golwg ar hyny, oblegid ychydig iawn fu yn myned iddo, am lawer o flynyddoedd, i wrando. Byddai Dr. Jones ei hun yn dyfod yma weithiau i bregethu, a phryd arall byddai yn anfon rhai o'r pregethwyr cynorthwyol oedd ganddo yn Mangor; ond gorfu iddynt hwy ddychwelyd adref lawer nos Sul heb gael cymaint ag un i'w gwrando. Tebyg mai yr achos o'u difaterwch i ddyfod i wrando yr Efengyl oedd hyn, nid oedd y pentref ond newydd gael ei adeiladu, a'i breswylwyr wedi dyfod yno i fyw o wahanol ardaloedd, ac nid oedd dim llai na phump o dafarnau ynddo ar y pryd. Yr oedd dynion yn dyfod yma o Fangor a Bethesda ar y Suliau i yfed diodydd meddwol. Ychydig o duedd sydd mewn dynion sydd yn byw mewn lleoedd o'r fath i wrando yr Efengyl.

Yr oedd yr Annibynwyr wedi bod yn cynal moddion crefyddol yn yr ardal hon uginiau o flynyddoedd cyn adeiladu y capel hwn. Y mae genym hanes fod Meistri W. Hughes, D. Evans, Bangor, A. Jones, D.D., a D. Roberts, yn arfer pregethu mewn gwanhanol dai yn y gymydogaeth, megys Brynhowar, ac yn nhai William Roberts a Thomas Williams, Waenwen. Bu hefyd rai o Caerorion, ac eraill o Fangor, yn cyfarfod a'u gilydd yn y lle i gynal Ysgol Sul. Yr oedd gan lawer yn y gymydogaeth hon y pryd hwnw barch mawr i grefydd ac i weision Crist. Dywedir am Edward Williams, Brynhowar, pan glywodd y newydd fod Mr. W. Hughes wedi cael a'i ddal a'i ddirwyo yn Llanrwst am bregethu yr Efengy1, a'i fod wedi dychwelyd adref, iddo fyned i Fangor cyn dydd, a galwai wrth ffenestr Mr. Hughes, a gofynai, " A gawsoch eich dirwyo, Mr. Hughes?" "Do." "A ddarfu i chwi dalu.?" Talodd un arall

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yn fy lle i aros i mi gael amser." " A fynwch chwi fenthyg arian genyf fi?" "Diolch yn fawr i chwi am eich cynyg." " Dyna ddigon, âf yn union i'w hymofyn;" felly, efe a aeth ac a ddygodd yr arian yn ei law ei hun i Mr. Hughes heb eisieu na phapyr na meichiau.

Ond rhyw fodd neu gilydd collodd yr Annibynwyr eu gafael ar yr ardal, ac aeth i afael y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, a phan godwyd capel Caerhun darfu am yr achos Annibynol yn y lle. Pan adeiladwyd y capel hwn nid oedd cymaint ac un aelod yn perthyn iddo. Yr oedd rhai yn y pentref yn awyddus am gael Ysgol Sabbothol, er nad oeddynt yn aelodau crefyddol, a chodasant un. Cynalient hi o dý i dý, ni fynent fyned a hi ar y cyntaf i'r capel. Byddent yn dechreu yr Ysgol trwy ganu a darllen penod, ond gan fod eu tai yn anghyfleus i'w chynal aeth Robert Jones a Hugh Griffith i Fangor, at Dr. Jones, i geisio benthyg capel. Cawsant ef gyda phob parodrwydd, a rhoddodd hefyd iddynt Destamentau a llyfrau eraill at wasanaeth yr Ysgol yn rhad ac am ddim. Wedi dechreu cynal yr Ysgol yn y capel, yr oedd dyn ieuangc, hynod o grefyddol, yn arfer d'od atynt bob Sabboth o Fangor o'r enw Ebenezer Griffiths, i'w cynorthwyo; yr hwn a fu o fendith fawr i'r Ysgol yn ei chychwyniad. Tua diwedd y flwyddyn 1837 daeth Mr. George Rhydero yma. Bu yn cadw ysgol ddyddiol yn y capel ac yn pregethu ynddo ar y Sabboth. Gwnaeth lawer o les er sefydlu yr achos yma, er nad oedd cysylltiad gweinidogaethol rhyngddo a'r lle. Ni bu yma ond tua blwyddyn. Tua'r flwyddyn 1838 daeth Mr. William Jones, yr hwn oedd yn byw ar y pryd yn Bethesda, a chymerodd y capel dan ardreth gan Dr. A. Jones am 5p. yn y flwyddyn, a chododd 30p. i osod eisteddleoedd ynddo. Bu Mr. W. Jones yn dra llwyddianus yma, casglodd gynulleidfa dda, a derbyniwyd amryw yn aelodau eglwysig. Yn y flwyddyn 1839 yr ydym yn cael yr enwau canlynol ar lyfr yr eglwys, Griffith Williams, William Roberts, Owen Roberts, Thomas Williams, Robert Jones, a John Jones. Ymadawodd oddi yma i Dolyddelen, pryd y cymerwyd ei gofal gan Mr. Jonathan Davies, Llanaelhaiarn; ond ni bu yma ond tua blwyddyn. Yn y cyfnod hwn methodd yr Eglwys a thalu y rhent i Dr. Jones, ac y mae yn debyg fod hyny wedi cymeryd lle yn fwy oddiar ddiffyg ymdrech nac o ddiffyg gallu, a'r canlyniad fu i Dr. Jones roddi Robert Roberts, Bryngwernedog, yr hwn oedd wedi bod yn talu ddiweddaf iddo am y capel, yn llaw y gyfraith wladol, a gorfodwyd ef i'w thalu. Gan nad oedd Robert Roberts ond gweithiwr wrth ei ddiwrnod gwaith, a chanddo deulu lluosog i ofalu am dano, cydymdeimlwyd ag ef, a chasglodd yr arian yn fuan yn y gymydogaeth. Tynodd hyn gwmwl nid bychan ar yr achos yn y lle. Yn y flwyddyn 1842 gwerthodd Dr. Jones y capel, a phrynwyd ef gan Mr. Samuel, Bethesda, am 100p., yr oedd hefyd y 30p. oedd Mr. W. Jones wedi ei godi at osod eisteddleoedd ynddo yn aros heb eu talu. Cyflwynodd Mr. Samuel y capel i'r Eglwys, ac yr oedd eu dyled yn 130p. Yn yr adeg yma darfu i Mr. Samuel anog y rhai oedd yn addoli yn Llainantalgai a Moelyci, ac yn myned i Bethesda yn fisol, i ymuno â'r eglwys yn Bethmaaca, a darfu i amryw gydsynio, sef John Parry, Thomas Hughes, Ellis Williams, Hugh Jones, Thomas Thomas, John Williams, ac eraill. Bu Mr. Samuel yn dyfod yma yn fisol am ychydig o amser, ac fe fu hyn yn adgyfnerthiad mawr i'r achos yn y lle. Yn y flwyddyn 1845 rhoddodd yr Eglwys hon, mewn cysylltiad â Bethel, Bangor, alwad i Mr. Mathew Lewis.

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Bu Mr. Lewis yma hyd y flwyddyn 1850, pryd y symudodd i Dreffynon. Yn y flwyddyn 1851 rhoddasant alwad i Mr. P. Howells, o Athrofa y Bala. Urddwyd ef Hydref 18fed a'r 19eg. Bu Mr. Howells yma yn llafurio mewn ffyddlondeb a llwyddiant hyd tua'r flwyddyn 1855, pryd y symudiald i Lanfyllin. Yn 1856 rhoddasant alwad i Mr. William Griffith, o Athrofa Aberhonddu. Urddwyd ef Rhagfyr 2lain y flwyddyn hono. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar Natur eglwys gan Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor, holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. D. Jones, B.A., Bethesda, dyrchafwyd yr urdd weddi gan Mr. T. Edwards Ebenezer, pregethwyd ar Ddyledswydd y Gweinidog gan Mr. D. Griffiths, Bethel, ac i'r Eglwysi gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog.

Yn y flwyddyn 1865 ail-adeiladwyd y capel, ac yr oedd y draul yn 350p. Er nad ydyw yr Eglwys hon ond ychydig mewn nifer, y mae ganddynt galon i weithio, nid oes yn aros o'r ddyled ond 35p.

Codwyd y personau canlynol yma i bregethu :-

• Hugh Hughes (Tegai). Yma y dechreuodd bregethu gyda'r Annibynwyr.
• John H. Jones. Dygwyd ef i fynu yn Athrofa Aberhonddau, ac y mae yn awr yn Ystalyfera.
• G. Roberts. Dygwyd ef i fynu yn Athrofa y Bala, ac y mae yn awr yn Pentir.
• John Williams. Bu yn pregethu  am rai blynyddoedd. Rhoddodd y gwaith o bregethu i fynu yn hollol o hono ei hun, ac yn groes i ddymuniad yr Eglwys, am ei fod yn credu, meddai, mai yn y set yr oedd ei le, ac nid yn y pulpud. Yr oedd yn ddyn o alluoedd cryfion, yn llawn o synwyr cyffredin, yn hynod mewn ffraethineb. Yr oedd wedi casglu gwybodaeth eang, ac yr oedd ei dduwioldeb yn amlwg i bawb. Bu yn ffyddlon fel diacon hyd derfyn ei oes. Bu farw yn dawel, gan bwyso ar ei Waredwr, pan nad oedd ond 48 mlwydd oed.
• William Thomas. Cafodd ei atal gan aflechyd i fyned yn mlaen gyda'r gwaith, ond y mae yn parhau yn ffyddlon gyda'r achos.*

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2009)

This chapel stands on the roadside that leads from Bangor to Tre'rgarth, in a small village called Glasinfryn, about two miles from the first.  In 1836 Dr. A. Jones took a lease on a piece of land, from  Rowland Parry, Melin, Glasinfryn, for ninety nine years, with the right to renew for ninety nine more years, on condition that the church pays £5, or less, to the person who owned it at the time. It now belongs to Lord Penrhyn. The foundation stone was laid in August, in the same year, and Dr. Jones preached on it and called it  Bethmaaca. Building finished about the end of the year, as far raising the roof, doors, and windows.  Nothing was put into it but a pulpit. The floor of the chapel was covered with mounds of soil, and big stones, which served as places to sit, for those who came to listen, and this continued for about two years.  But what distinguished this chapel more than anything else was, that Dr. Jones had erected an image on top of it, in the form of a man, with a book in his hand; which had been made of tinplate, or something similar, and when it was very windy, it would spin round, and make such a noise, until it disturbed the preacher and the congregation. It is said that Dr. Jones' purpose in placing such an image there, was to draw the attention of the inhabitants.  He told one person, when he discussed it with him, "There are strange people in that area when they see this on top of the chapel, they go there in their multitudes to listen." But he was greatly mistaken about that, because few attended there in order to listen, for many years. Dr. Jones himself came here to preach sometimes, and other times he would send some of the lay preachers he had in Bangor; but they had to return home many a Sunday having not had one to listen. It is likely that the cause of their apathy was this, the village had recently been built, and the inhabitants had come there from different districts, and there were no fewer than five pubs there at that time.  Men came here from Bangor and Bethesda on Sundays to drink alcohol.  Men who live in such places have little tendency to listen to the gospel.

The Independents had been holding religious meetings in this area for scores of years before building this chapel. We have reports that  Messers W. Hughes, D. Evans, Bangor, A. Jones, D.D., and D. Roberts, used to preach in different houses in the community, such as Brynhowar, and in the houses of  William Roberts and Thomas Williams, Waenwen.  Some from Caerorion, and other from Bangor, would meet in the place to hold a Sunday school.  Many in this community had a great respect for religion and to the servants of  Christ.  It is said of Edward Williams, Brynhowar, when he heard the news that Mr. W. Hughes had been caught and fined in Llanrwst for preaching the gospel, and that he had returned home, that he went to Bangor before dawn, and called out at Mr. Hughes' window, and asked, " Were you fined, Mr. Hughes?" "Yes." "Did you pay?" "Another paid

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in my place so I would have time." "Would you borrow money from me?" "Yes, thank you for your offer." " That's enough, I will go directly to fetch it;" so, he went and took the money in his own hand to Mr. Hughes without asking for a receipt nor surety.

But somehow or other the Independents lost their hold on the area, and the Calvinist Methodists took hold, and when Caerhun chapel was built, the Independent cause died out in the place.  When this chapel was built it didn't have one member.  Some in the village were eager to have a Sunday school, even though they weren't religious members, so they started one.  They held it from house to house, and at first they weren't willing to take it to the chapel. They would start the school by singing and reading a chapter, and since their houses were inconvenient to hold it there Robert Jones and Hugh Griffith went to Bangor, to Dr. Jones, to try to borrow a chapel. They obtained it willingly, and he gave them testaments and other books for the service of the school for free. After starting to hold the school in the chapel, there was a young man, remarkably religious, who used to come to them every Sunday to help them. He was from Bangor and was called Ebenezer Griffiths; he was a great blessing to the school from its inception. Around the end of 1837 Mr. George Rhydero came here. He held a day school in the chapel and preached in it on the Sunday. He did much good to establish the cause here, even though there was no ministerial connection between him and the place. He was here only about a year. Around 1838 Mr. William Jones, who lived at the time in Bethesda, came here and rented the chapel from Dr. A. Jones for £5 a year, and was charged £30 to place seating in it. Mr. W. Jones was quite successful here, he collected a good congregation, and accepted several church members. In 1839 we find the following names on the church book, Griffith Williams, William Roberts, Owen Roberts, Thomas Williams, Robert Jones, and John Jones. He left here for  Dolyddelen, when Mr. Jonathan Davies, Llanaelhaiarn took over the care; but he was here for only a year. During this period the church failed to pay the rent due to Dr. Jones, and it is apparent that this took place more as a result of a lack of effort rather than a lack of ability, and the result was that Dr. Jones put Robert Roberts, Bryngwernedog, who had last paid him for the chapel, in the hands of the law, and he had to pay. Since Robert Roberts was only a worker at his daily work, and had a large family to care for, sympathy was felt for him, and the community soon collected the money for him. This clouded the cause within the community. In 1842 Dr. Jones sold the chapel, and Mr. Samuel, Bethesda, bought it for £100, there was also the £30 that Mr. W. Jones had charged for placing the seating in it still outstanding. Mr. Samuel presented the chapel to the church, and the debt was £130.  During this period Mr. Samuel encouraged those who worshipped in Llainantalgai and Moelyci, and went to Bethesda monthly, to unite with the church in Bethmaaca, and several agreed, such as John Parry, Thomas Hughes, Ellis Williams, Hugh Jones, Thomas Thomas, John Williams, and others. Mr. Samuel came here monthly for a while, and this reinforced the cause in the place. In 1845 this church, along with Bethel, Bangor, sent out a call to Mr. Mathew Lewis.

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Mr. Lewis was here until 1850, when he moved to Holywell. In  1851 a call was given to Mr. P. Howells, from Bala college. He was ordained on October 18th and 19th. Mr. Howells laboured here faithfully and successfully until 1855, when he moved to Llanfyllin. In 1856 a call was sent to Mr. William Griffith, from Brecon college. He was ordained on December 2lst that year. On the occasion Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor preached on the Nature of the church, the questions were asked by Mr. D. Jones, B.A., Bethesda, the ordination prayer was given by Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, Mr. D. Griffiths, Bethel preached on the duty of the minister, and Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog preached to the churches.

In 1865 the chapel was rebuilt, and the debt was £350. Even though this is a small church in number, they have a heart to work, and only £35 remains of the debt.

The following persons were raised to preach here :-

• Hugh Hughes (Tegai).  This is where he started preaching with the Independents.
• John H. Jones. He was educated in Brecon college, and is now in  Ystalyfera.
• G. Roberts. He was educated in Bala college, and is now in Pentir.
• John Williams. He preached for some years. He gave up the work voluntarily, since he said he thought his place was in the seat and not in the pulpit. He was faithful as a deacon for the rest of his life. He died quietly when only 48 years old.
• William Thomas. He was unable, because of ill health, to continue his work, but he continues to be faithful to the cause.*

BEULAH

(Bangor parish)

Mae y capel hwn o fewn llai na dwy filldir i Fangor, ar ochr yr hen ffordd i Gaernarfon. Dechreuwyd pregethu yn yr ardal gan Dr. A. Jones a'r pregethwyr a'i cynorthwyai, mewn ty bychan a elwir yr Henglawdd, heb fod yn mhell o ben pont Menai. Lle bychan digon dined yw Hen-glawdd, a llawer a ddirmygwyd arno, ond yr oedd llawer o bobl dda yn cyfarfod yma i addoli, a chafwyd yno gyfarfedydd a hir gofir. Mae yr ysgrifenydd yn teimlo yn gynes iawn at y lle, oblegid mai yno y gwnaeth y cynyg cyntaf erioed ar bregethu yn gyhoeddus; ac y mae ganddo barch dwfn i'r ychydig ffyddloniaid oedd yno ar y pryd yn dal ei freichiau. Aelodau yn Mangor oeddynt agos oll, oddigerth dau neu dri o aelodau Siloh a ddeuai yno atynt. Y prif offeryn i gael capel yn yr ardal oedd Miss Jane Williams, merch yr Antelope; merch ieuange dra chrefyddol oedd, ac yn aelod yn Mangor, ond a fu farw cyn hir wedi codi y capel. Casglodd lawer er talu dyled y capel. Cafodd help Mr. A. Timmins, a rhoddodd Mr. Griffith, Bethel, a Dr. Jones, Bangor, iddynt bob cefnogaeth. Sicrhawyd darn o dir, ac adeiladwyd capel arno yn y flwyddyn 1842, yr

*Llythyr Mr. W. Griffith, Amana.

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hwn a alwyd Beulah. Egwan fu yr achos yma am lawer o flynyddoedd, ac nid oedd neb neillduol i fwrw golwg drosto. Rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Phillip G. Thomas i fod yn weinidog, yma, ac yn Llanfairyborth; ac urddwyd ef Ebrill 22ain, 1851. Pregethwyd ar Natur Eglwys gan Mr. R. P. Griffith, Pwllheli; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. W. Thomas, Beaumaris; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. A. Timmins, aelod a phregethwr cynorthwyol yn yr eglwys; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. D. James, Rhosymeirch. Yr oedd Mr. Thomas wedi llafurio yma er's blwvddyn yn flaenorol, a bu yma hyd y flwyddyn 1857, pryd y symudodd i Pennorth, gerllaw Aberhonddu. Ni bu yma neb ar ol hyny yn gofalu yn uniongyrchol am y lle hyd y flwyddyn 1864, pryd y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Williams, Pentraeth, ac y mae yn parhau i fwrw golwg drostynt. Mae yr achos er hyny wedi llwyddo yn fawr. Ail adeiladwyd a helaethwyd y capel, a gwnaed ef yn dy tra chyfleus; ac agorwyd ef Sul a Llun y Pasg, 1872, ac y mae ynddo gynnulleidfa dda, a'r achos yn ei holl ranau yn myned rhagddo yn llwyddianus.

Codwyd yma un pregethwr, sef Richard Jones, yr hwn sydd wedi symud oddiyma yn ddiweddar i Siloh, Aberpwll.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Feb 2010)

This chapel is within less than two miles of Bangor, on the side of the old road to Caernarfon.  Preaching started in the area when Dr. A. Jones and the preachers who supported him, preached in a small house called Henglawdd, not far from the end of Menai bridge.  Henglawdd is a small, quite unassuming place, and many have contempt for it, but many good people met here to worship, and there were long to be remembered services held here. The secretary has very warm feelings about the place, because it is here that he made his very first attempt at public preaching; and he has a very deep respect for the faithful few who were there at the time supporting him.  They were all members from Bangor, apart from two or three members of Siloh who came to them. Miss Jane Williams was the main instrument in getting a chapel in the area. She was a daughter of the Antelope; a young, quite religious woman, and a member in Bangor, but who died soon after the chapel was built.  She collected a great deal to pay the chapel's debt.  She had help from Mr. A. Timmins, and Mr. Griffith, Bethel, and Dr. Jones, Bangor gave them every support. A piece of land was ensured, and the chapel was built on it in 1842, and

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was called Beulah.  This cause was feeble for many years, and there was no-one to watch over it. A call was given to Mr. Phillip G. Thomas to be their minister, here, and in Llanfairyborth; and he was ordained on April 22nd, 1851. Mr. R. P. Griffith, Pwllheli preached on the Nature of the Church; the questions were asked by Mr. W. Thomas, Beaumaris; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. A. Timmins, a member and lay preacher in the church; Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer preached to the minister, and Mr. D. James, Rhosymeirch to the church. Mr. Thomas had laboured here for a year before this, and he stayed here until 1857, when he moved to Pennorth, near Brecon. There was no-one here caring specifically for the place until 1864, when a call went out to Mr. David Williams, Pentraeth, and he continues to watch over them. Despite all this the cause has been greatly successful.  The chapel was re-built and extended, and it was made into a convenient place. It was opened on Easter Sunday and Monday, 1872. There is a good congregation, and the cause in all its parts is successful.

One minister was raised here, this is Richard Jones, who has moved from here lately for Siloh, Aberpwll.

BANGOR (SEISNIG)

Arferai Dr. Arthur Jones bregethu Seisnig am un-ar-ddeg bob boreu Sabboth trwy y blynyddau, ac yr oedd ychydig niter o Saeson yn aelodau yn y lle, i'r rhai y gweinyddai y cymundeb bob mis. Fel yr oedd y ddinas yn cynyddu, a'r dyfodiaid o Loegr yn lluosogi, teimlid nad oedd hyny o wasanaeth Seisnig oedd yn Ebenezer yn cyfateb i'w hangen. Dechreuwyd addoli yn y Rechabite Hall yn y flwyddyn 1846. Y prif offeryn i hyny oedd Mr. Daniel Williams, Garth, yr hwn a ddaethai yma o Lundain. Er mai Cymro o sir Aberteifi ydoedd, etto, gyda'r Saeson yr oedd wedi arfer addoli y rhan fwyaf o'i oes. Yr oedd yn wr haelionus iawn, a thrwy ei ymdrech ef yn benaf y codwyd capel Seisnig yn Upper Bangor. Mae yma gynnulleidfa lled dda, yn enwedig yn y tymor haf, ac y mae amryw o bersonau cyfrifol yn y byd yn perthyn iddi.Bu yma un Mr. William Creed yn weinidog am rai blynyddoedd. Daeth Mr. John Lewis, o Galway, yma wedi hyny, ond byr fu ei arosiad; symudodd i Tenby, lle y mae etto. Y gweinidog presenol ydyw Mr. J. C. Bedolfe. Colled fawr i gynhaliaeth yr achos a gafwyd yn marwolaeth Mr. Daniel Williams; ond y mae ty helaeth a roddwyd ganddo i'r gweinidog i fyw yn feddiant i'r eglwys yn y lle, ac felly yn help parhaol i'r achos.   

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2010)

Dr. Arthur Jones used to preach in English at eleven o'clock every Sunday morning all through the years, and a few English people, to whom he administered communion every month were members there.  As the city grew, and the newcomers from England multiplied, it was felt that the English service that existed in Ebenezer did not answer their needs.  The Rechabite Hall was used for worship in 1846.  The main protagonist for this was Mr. Daniel Williams, Garth, who had come here from London.  Even though he was a Welshman from Cardiganshire, he used to worship with the English for most of his life.  He was a very generous man, and it was through his efforts mainly that the English chapel was built in Upper Bangor. There is quite a good congregation here, especially during the summer time, and there are several responsible people of the world who are members.  There was one Mr. William Creed who was the minister for some years.  Mr. John Lewis, came from Galway, after that, but he was here a short time only; he moved to  Tenby, where he still resides.  The present minister is Mr. J. C. Bedolfe.  The death of Mr. Daniel Williams was a great loss to the cause; but he gave a large house for the minister to live in to the church in the place, and so was a continuing help to the cause.   

EBENEZER

(Llanddeiniolen parish)

Mae y lle hwn yn nghwr uchaf plwyf Llanddeiniolen, ac o fewn saith milldir i Gaernarfon. Mae yn y rhan hono o'r plwyf a elwir Gwaengynfi. Yr Annibynwr cyntaf a bregethodd yr efengyl yn y rhanbarth yrna o'r wlad oedd yr efengylwr llafurus William Hughes, Brynbeddau. Daeth y gwr da hwnw i bregethu i'r gymydogaeth hon trwy ffordd lled hynod. Darfu i un John Jones, Tanybefan, (tafarn Ab Ifan medd rhai) anafu ei droed yn chwarel Dinorwig, a thrwy nad oedd meddyg y perthyn i'r

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chwarel y pryd hyny, bu raid i Mr. Jones fyned at feddyg i dref Caernarfon. Syrthiodd ei goelbren i lettya yno gyda merch ynghyfraith i'r hybarch Mr. Hughes. Byddai yr hen wr yn galw yn aml yn y ty, ac yn darllen penod ac yn myned i weddi gyda'r claf. Wedi i Mr. Jones wella a dychwelyd gartref i Tanybefan, aeth Mr. Hughes yno i ymweled a'r teulu a phregethu. Felly, gwelir mai yr hyn a eilw dynion yn ddamwain fu yn foddion i arwain yr efengylwr o'r Brynbeddau i gyhoeddi "y newyddion da o lawenydd mawr" i drigolion cwr uchaf plwyf Llanddeiniolen. Mor rhyfedd yw gweithredoedd yr Arglwydd! " Ei ffordd Ef sydd yn y mor !" Oherwydd oedran a phellder ffordd dymunodd Mr. W. Hughes ar Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel, i ymgymeryd a'r gorchwyl o sefydlu achos yn y lle, yr hyn a wnaeth yn ewyllysgar. Yr oedd Mr. Griffith y pryd hwnw yn wr ieuangc, llawn yni a bywiogrwydd crefyddol, a'i ddawn yn swynol dros ben. Llwyddodd i gael lle i bregethu yn nhy Sian Edwards, yn Glanrhyd, ac enillodd yn fuan sylw a pharch y trigolion. Ar ddiwedd cyfarfod lled wlithog, penderfynodd alw " seiat' ar ol, yr hyn oedd mor ddyeithr yn y wlad fel na wyddai llawer beth yn y byd ydoedd. I'r dosbarth hwnw y perthynai Sian Edwards, gwraig y ty. Teimlai yn anfoddlon i fyned allan o'i thy, ac yr oedd yn ofni y " seiat." Yn y benbleth bu mor ffodus a chofio am y simdde fawr, a neidiodd i ben y pentan i ymguddio yn nghysgod y fantell. Teimlai yr hen wreigen syml yn falch ei bod yn y ty, yn ddigon agos i glywed a gweled pob peth, ac etto allan o'r seiat. Parai ymddygiad Sian Edward ddifyrwch mawr i'r pregethwr bob tro, ond yr oedd ei ddifyrwch yn llawer mwy un noson pan neidiodd Sian Yn ei chlocsiau i lawr oddiar ben y pentan i ymuno a'r eglwys, gan ddywedyd wrth ddisgyn, " Os peth fel hyn yw seiat, mi ddo' ina' iddi hi-- dyma'r lle brafia welis i 'rio'd." Ar ol cychwyn drwy bregethu, cynai cyfeillachau ac ysgol Sabbothol yn Glanrhyd, llwyddodd Mr. Griffith i gael lle i adeiladu capel a thir claddu gan Mr. William Griffith, Caeau-uchaf, ar les, ac wedi hyny prynwyd y tir i fod yn feddiant i'r eglwys. Adeiladwyd capel bychan yn mesur 30 troedfedd wrth 27 troedfedd, a galwyd ei enw yn Ebenezer. Agorwyd y capel Mehefin laf, 1823. Pregethwyd y boreu am ddeg, gan Meistri W. Hughes, Saron, a D. Roberts, Bangor. Am ddau, pregethodd Meistri J. Evans, Amlwch, a J. Ridge, Penygroes. Rhagfyr 21ain, yr un flwyddyn, y cadwyd yma y cymundeb cyntaf. Yn raddol lluosogodd yr aneddau yn ei ymyl yn bentref, yr hwn a alwyd ar enw y capel, yn Ebenezer, yr un modd a Bethel a Bethesda. Bu, ac y mae etto, ymdrech i newid yr enwau Hebraeg. Myn yr Eglwyswyr alw Bethesda yn Glanogwen, ac Ebenezer yn Llandinorwig. Nid ydym erioed wedi syrthio mewn cariad a'r drefn o alw addoldai ac ardaloedd yn Nghymru wrth enwau Ysgrythyrol; etto nid ydym yn gweled yr enillir dim wrth fyned i'r drafferth o newid yr enwau sydd eisioes ar dai addoliad; a lle mae ardaloedd wedi eu galw ar eu hol, ystyriwn y dylai Ymneillduwyr lynu er gwell ac er gwaeth wrth yr enwan Hebraeg. Mae enw pentref poblogaidd Ebenezer yn dangos fod capel yr Annibynwyr wedi ei adeiladu yno pan oedd ef etto and yn ei fabandod. Ac y mae yr efengyl a gyhoeddir ynddo o Sabboth i Sabboth wedi rhoddi delw annileadwy ar feddyliau a chymeriadau y trigolion. Yn ol tystiolaeth Mr. Griffith, Bethel, defnyddiau lled gyffredin a gafodd i ddechreu yr achos, yr oedd amryw o honynt wedi eu bwrw allan o'r seiat gan y Methodistiaid. Yn ystod tua deng mlynedd ei weinidogaeth yn y lle, byddai y

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nifer luosocaf o honynt allan yn amlach o lawer nag i mewn, a buont allan oll gyda'n gilydd dair gwaith. Nid ydym yn synu cymaint at hyny wrth gymeryd i ystyriaeth eu harferion boreuol, eu hanwybodaeth yn mhethau crefydd, a'u hefergoeledd. Y rheol yr amser hwnw oedd, treulio dydd yr Arglwydd i orphwyso neu chwareu. Tair camp fawr y gymydogaeth oedd cocyn saethu, curo bandi, a choetio. Nid oeddynt yn meddwl am ddysgu darllen ac ysgrifenu. Yr oedd y cyffredin yn foddlon ar fod yr offeiriad yn gallu gwneuthur hyny drostynt. Yr oedd gan wrachod a dynion hysbys ddylanwad mawr arnynt, ac yr oedd eu coel yn gryf mewn ofergoeledd a swyngyfaredd. *

Llafuriodd Mr. Griffith yma am ddeng mlynedd yn ngwyneb llawer o ddigalondid, ac heb weled ond ychydig lwyddiant; ac oblegid fod maes ei lafur yn rhy eang rhoddodd yr eglwys yma i fyny, gan ddymino arnynt edrych allan am weinidog iddynt eu hunain. Rhoddasant alwad i Mr. Thomas Edwards, myfyriwr o athrofa Neuaddlwyd, ac urddwyd ef yma Gorphenaf 2i1, 1832. Gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri D. Jones, Waunfawr; Ll. Samuel, Bethesda; D. James, Rhosymeirch; D Griffith, Bethel; I. Jones, Groeslon; H. Rees, Pentraeth, a J. Breese, Liverpool. Nid oedd nifer yr aelodau pan sefydlodd Mr. Edwards yma ond pedwar-ar-hugain, a'r rhai hyny oll yn dlodion, a phum' swllt y mis oedd y cwbl a allasent addaw at ei gynhaliaeth. Cafodd gryn drafferthon yn nechreuad ei weinidogaeth oddiwrth y bobl afreolaidd a roddedd boen i'w ragflaenydd, ond nid ymollyngodd yn ei ysbryd, ond ymaflodd yn ei waith fel dyn o ddifrif. Agorodd ysgol ddyddiol, a bu hyny o ychydig help iddo at ei gynhaliaeth, heblaw rhoddi iddo afael gref ar serchiadau y to ieuangc yn yr ardal. Dygai rhai o'r gynnulleidfa iddo ymborth i'w letty er gwneyd i fyny am fychander yr arian a delid iddo; ac arferai y diacon roddi pric yn mharddu y simdde er gwneyd croes ddu ar gyfer enwau y cyfranwyr. "Mae peth fel hyn yn swnio yn ddigrif yn Ebenezer yn 1872, onid yw ?  Ar ddechreu gweinidogaeth Mr. Edwards, ystyrid hi yn wastraff i ddefnyddio canwyllau cyffredin yn y cyfarfodydd wythnosol yn Ebenezer. Y canwyllau brwyn yn unig oedd mewn bri, a mawr yr helbul fyddai i gadw tan yn mhen y frwynen tra parhai cyfarfod. Peth cyffredin fyddai i was y ganwyll ei hanghofio yn swn gweddi afaelgar a thoddedig, ac iddi fyned yn dywyllwch haner nos ar ganol yr addoliad, a rhaid oedd................................

*Er prawf o ofergoeledd yr ardal cymerer yr engraifft a ganlyn, allan o draethawd a elwir "Golygfa o ben y Wyddfa," wedi ei ysgrifenu gan Mr. T. Johns, Llanelli, ac a ymddangosodd yn y "Beirniad," am Gorphenaf, 1868.
"Yn y cae gerllaw capel Ebenezer, yr oedd ffynon a elwid 'Ffynon Chwerthin.' yn yr hon y gwelid llawer o gyrc a phinau. Dyna offerynau tair gwrach y gymydogaeth i gosbi troseddwyr, a thynu eiddo oddiar eu cymydogion ofergoelus. Rhoddai rhieni y gorchymynion caethaf i'r plant i gadw yn mhell oddiwrth Ffynon Chwerthin. Cymerid y fath ofal i argraffu ofn y gwrachod ar eu meddyliau, fel na cheid digon o feiddgarwch yn y glaslanc mwyaf direidus i osod bys yn y pwll gwaharddedig. Dywedir i aml un dewr ddynesu at y ffynon gyda'r bwriad i anfarwoli ei hun drwy gymeryd allan o honi gelfi dewiniaeth. Drwy fod y ffynon yn nghanol siglen, yr oedd yn anmhosibl myned ati heb gynyrchu dwfrgylch ar ei gwyneb, neu beri iddi chwerthin, yn ol chwedl yr ardalwyr, yr hyn beth a briodolid heb radd o amheuaeth, i'r gwrachod a'r 'hen fechgyn duon' oedd yn rawym iddynt. Mor fuan ag y gwelid y diwr yn bublio, gwelwai y wyneb a churai y gliniau yn nghyd o dan ddylanwad ofn; ac O! mor falch a diolchgar y byddai y pechaduriaid hyn i gael eu hunain yn mhell oddiwrthi drachefn, a deall hyd sicrwydd fod pob aelod yn ei le, y 'synwyran heb eu dyrysu, 'a'u traed yn hytrach na'u penau ar terra firma. Fel y gellid disgwyl, bu farw ofergoeledd pan bregethwyd yr efengyl gyda chysondeb yn y gymydogaeth, a chofleidiodd dwy o'r swynesau grefydd rai blynyddau cyn eu marw, a buont ddefnyddiol gyda'r achos."

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........................aros am oleuni i ddyfod oddiallan, canys nid oedd goruchwyliaeth y matches wedi dechreu y pryd hwnw. Ar ol i'r ddamwain olaf o'r natur hono ddygwydd, aeth un brawd selog dros ogoniant yr achos y dydd Sadwrn canlynol i'r siop i dref Caernarfon - pellder o saith milldir, yn unswydd i brynu clymaid o ganwyllau gwer, yr hyn fu yn ddechreu cyfnod newydd ar oleuo addoldy Esgob Ebenezer. Clywsom ddywedyd lawer gwaith mai cyfnod profedigaethus dros ben ar yr 'Hen Weinidog,' oedd yr un y dygwyd yr offeryn cerdd cyntaf i'r capel, am fod llawer o'r bobl oreu yn barnu ei fod yn bechod mawr. Modd bynag, mynai y cantorion gael bass viol i'w cynorthwyo. Tra y chwareuid y bass viol, rhedai rhai hen bererinion y tu allan i'r drws, a dychwelent i'w lleoedd erbyn y weddi a'r bregeth. Clywsom adrodd un o deulu y set fawr yn dechreu penill o dan y pwlpud, ac erbyn ei orphen, yr oedd wedi cyrhaedd y lobby. Gyrai ei ben gyda chil y drws i fewn i ail roddi y ddwy linell olaf allan, ond gyda ei fod yn gorphen, tynai ef yn ol yn chwimwth, i gael diangc o olwg, os nid o swn yr offeryn. Ar ddiwedd y mawl, troai pob un ei wyneb tua y drws i edrych am y gweddiwr, yr hwn a ddeuai yn mlaen yn hamddenol, ac anerchai orsedd gras mor ddifrifol a phe na buasai dim allan o le, oddigerth i'r bass viol ruthro i'w feddwl, yr hyn a gynhyrfai ryw nwyd santaidd ynddo, a throai i achwyn arno yn dost wrth ei Dad nefol." Aeth rhai blynyddoedd heibio heb i Mr. Edwards weled ryw lwyddiant mawr ar ei weinidogaeth; ond yn y flwyddyn 1837, torodd diwygiad grymus allan, pryd yr ychwanegwyd llawer o bobl i'r Arglwydd. Rhoddwyd gwedd newydd hollol ar yr achos yn y cyfnod hwnw; aeth yr hen gapel yn rhy gyfyng i'r gynnulleidfa, ac yn y flwyddyn 1843, helaethwyd y capel, a rhoddwyd oriel o'i amgylch. Parhaodd yr achos i fyned rhagddo ar ol hyn, er iddo weled gwahanol dymhorau, ac i rai ystormydd lled gryfion guro arno, etto daliodd ei dir. Talwyd y ddyled yn raddol, fel erbyn 1856, yr oedd yr oll wedi ei dileu. Penderfynwyd cael capel newydd. Cynlluniwyd ef gan Mr. Thomas, Glandwr, a chodwyd capel eang gweith 800p , ac agorwvd ef Mai 22ain, 1859. Ofnai Mr. Edwards y byddai y capel newydd yn rhy fawr, ac na cheid cynnulleidfa i'w lenwi; ond pan ydoedd yn y pryder yna, ar noson cyfarfod diolchgarwch am y cynhauaf yn Maepelah, hen gapel y Methodistiaid, lle yr oeddynt yn addoli tra yr oedd eu capel ar lawr, torodd diwygiad grymus allan. Daeth tri o'r cymeriadau caletaf i'r gyfeillach, a chanlynodd tyrfa fawr ar eu hol, fel na bu mwy bryder yn meddwl Mr. Edwards na lenwid y capel newydd." Parhaodd yr achos i fyned rhagddo mewn llwyddiant. Gwaelodd iechyd Mr. Edwards, a bu farw Gorphenaf 25ain, 1863, yn 62 oed.

Llai na blwyddyn y bu yr eglwys heb weinidog, canys rhoisant alwad i Mr. Thomas Johns, myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu, ac urddwyd ef yma Hydref 6ed, 1864. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar Natur Eglwys gan Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor. Holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. R. Williams, Bethesda. Dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. J.Griffith Llanymddyfri ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. E. Jones, Llangadog. Yr oedd Mr. Johns yn llawer mwy gwrol a diofn na'i ragflaenydd, ac oblegid hyny ni phetrusai draethu ei farn ar bob mater gwladol ac eglwysig, a pharodd ei ysbryd penderfynol i rai oedd wedi cael cryn lawer o'u ffordd cyn hyny dynu eu traed atynt. Bu llwyddiant lled gyson ar ei lafur yma, er na chafwyd yn y tymor hwnw ddiwygiad grymus. Derbyniodd ugeiniau o aelodau newyddion, bedydd-

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iodd ganoedd o blant, a gwelodd gladdu rhai o ragorolion y ddaear. Derbyniodd alwad o Capel Als, Llanelli, a symudodd yno, lle y mae etto. Traddododd ei bregeth ymadawol yn Ebenezer, Medi 26ain, 1869. Cynhaliwyd yma gyfarfod ymadawol y nos Lun canlynol, pryd y cyflwynwyd set o lestri tê arian i Mrs. Johns. Y flwyddyn ganlynol rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Owen Jones, Ystalfera, sir Forganwg, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Hydref, 1870, ac y mae yn parhau i lafurio yma gyda derbyniad a chymeradwyaeth mawr.

Er nad yw yr eglwys hon yn hen, etto y mae llawer o wahanol amgylchiadau wedi ei chyfarfod, a rhai cymeriadau nodedig wedi bod ynddi. Nis gallwn yma ond prin grybwyll enwau ychydig o honynt. Heblaw Sian Edward, yr hon a agorodd ei thy i dderbyn yr efengyl, a William Griffith, Caeau-uchaf, yr hwn a roddodd dir i adeiladu capel arno, enwir David Jones, Bwlchuchaf, fel un o'r rhai ffyddlonaf gyda'r achos yn ei gychwyniad. John Owen, Glanyrafon, oedd un o'r rhai yr oedd yr achos yn gorphwys yn ddwfn ar ei feddwl. Robert Jones, Bronygadair, oedd ddyn o deimladau cryfion, er yn hollol anllythrenog. Evan Williams, Ty'r Capal, a fu o lawer o ymgeledd i'r achos yn ei wendid. William Jones, yr hwn a adnabyddid fel " yr hen Gristion," oedd yn uchel ei barch gan bawb, ac yr oedd ei ddywediadau yn y cyfeillachau bob amser i'r pwynt. Hugh Williams, Bryndu, oedd ddyn o athrylith uwchlaw y cyffredin, a hir gofir ei weddiau a'i areithiau. David Jones, yr hwn a ddaeth yma o Leyn, a fu o lawer o wasanaeth yma gyda'r canu, hyd nes yr ymfadodd i America. Griffith Parry Owen oedd yn Annibynwr trwyadl. David Davies, athraw ysgol Frytanaidd Deiniolen, a fu o help mawr i'r achos dros yspaid ei dymor byr; cafodd Mr. Edwards ynddo un o'r cefnogwyr ffyddlonaf, a gwnaeth lawer iawn er diwygio trefniadau casglyddol yr eglwys. Talodd ei gyfeillion eu teyrnged o barch iddo trwy osod colofn hardd ar ei fedd. John Williams, Ty'nyclwt, a fu yn ddiacon yma am 32 o flynyddoedd. Bu yn gyfnerthiad mawr i'r achos yn mhob ystyr. Gwr cadarn ydoedd mewn athrawiaeth, a manwl mewn dysgyblaeth. Diamheu fod yma lawer eraill wedi bod yn ffyddlon i achos yr Arglwydd er na chyrhaeddodd eu henwau hyd atom ni, ond y maent wedi myned i dderbyn eu gwobr. Diaconiaid presenol yr eglwys ydynt Griffith Williams, Cringae; Rowland Hughes, Ebenezer; William Roberts, Llwyncogan; Morris Jones, Post Office; Richard Evans, Penygolwg; Hugh Jones a John Evans Ebenezer; Pierce Roberts, Tanybraich, ac Evan Jones, Ebenezer.

Cyfodwyd y personau canlynol i bregethu yn yr eglwys hon.

• David Price (Dewi Dinorwig). Mae yn awr yn America. Mae yn adnabyddus iawn yn y wlad hon fel "Price Penybontfawr" a " Price Dinbych" wedi hyny.
• Robert Jones. Urddwyd ef yn Nghorwen. Yr ydym eisioes wedi crybwyll am dano yn nglyn a Ceri, sir Drefaldwyn.
• William Hughes, Ffestiniog. Nid ydym yn gwybod ychwaneg am dano.
• Owen Owens. Yr oedd wedi bod yn pregethu gyda'r Wesleyaid, ond yma y dechreuodd gyda'r Annibynwyr. Urddwyd ef yn Llanwrtyd, a symudodd i Brynmenyn; ac y mae yn awr yn America.
• Rowland Hughes. Mae yn parhau yn yr eglwys fel diacon a phregethwr cynorthwyol.
• David J. Rowlands. Bu am dymor yn athrofa Aberhonddu, ond nid yw yn pregethu er's blynyddau

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• Thomas Closs Davies. Bu yn athrofa y Bala. Mae yn awr yn America.
• Richard Trevor Jones. Bu am dymor yn athrofa y Bala. Mae yn awr yn Pantteg, sir Forganwg.
• William Williams. Daeth ef oddiwrth y Wesleyaid, ac y mae yn awr yn bregethwr cynorthwyol yn yr eglwys.*

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

THOMAS EDWARDS. Ganwyd ef yn Tanyparc, Crwys, gerllaw Abertawy, yn y flwyddyn 1801.................................................

*Yr ydym yn ddyledus am ddefnyddiau hanes Ebeneser yn benaf i Mr. Johns, Llanelli, yr hwn, gydag ysgrifenu llawer ei hun, yn garedig a anfonodd i ni lythyr a dderbyniodd oddiwrth Mr. R. Hughes, Ebenezer, gyda rhai cofnodion allan o "Hanes Gwaengyfni," gan D. M. Jones, Clwtybont. Anfonwyd i ni hefyd gan Mr. G. Jones, Ebenezer, ysgrif o eiddo Mr. O. Jones, Galltyfoel, o'r hon y cawsom rai crybwyllion.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (April 2013)

This place is in the upper corner of the parish of Llanddeiniolen not seven miles from Caernarfon. It is in that part of the parish which is called Gwaengwynfi. The first 'Independent' to preach the gospel in this part of the land was the hard-working evangelist William Hughes, Brynbeddau. This good man came to preach to this community in quite a strange manner. It happened that one John Jones, Tanybefan (the Tavern of ab Ifan some say) injured his foot in the Dinorwig quarry, and as there was no resident doctor

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at the quarry in those days, Mr. Jones had to go to a doctor in Caernarfon town. His lot fell to lodging with the daughter-in-law of the Venerable Mr. Hughes. The old man often called at the house to read a chapter and to pray with the sick. When Mr. Jones improved and went home to Tanybefan, Mr. Hughes went there to visit him and the family and to preach. So it can be seen that what men term an 'accident' can be the means of leading the evangelists from Brynbeddau to announce 'glad tidings of great joy' to the residents of the upper corner of Llanddeinolen parish. How mysterious are the works of the Lord! "his way is in the sea" (literal translation despite research) "Because of his age and the distance, Mr. Hughes asked Mr. D. Griffiths, Bethel, to undertake the task of establishing the cause in this place, which he did willingly. Mr. Griffiths was a young man at this time, full of energy and lively religious spirit - so charming and talented. He managed to get a place to preach in the home of Sian Edwards, in Glanrhyd, and so won the attention and respect of the local community. At the end of a particularly emotional session, he decided to call a 'Seiat' or 'Fellowship Meeting'. This was such an unusual thing in the country that few knew what on earth it was all about. Sian Edwards, the housewife, fell in this category. She was unwilling to leave the house, and at the same time feared the 'seiat'. Fortunately, in this quandary, she remembered the big chimney and leapt up onto the hearth and hid in the shadow of the mantle. The simple old dear felt proud to be in the house, close enough to see and hear all that went on, yet being outside the 'seiat'! The preacher always found Sian Edwards behaviour amusing, but it was even more amusing one night when Sian, in her clogs, leapt down from the chimney breast saying, as she descended, - 'If this is what a Seiat is, then I will enter it too - this is the nicest place I have ever seen". After making a start through preaching, establishing fellowships and a Sunday School in Glanrhyd, Mr. Griffith managed to get a lease of land from Mr. William Griffith, Caeau-uchaf, on which to build a chapel and a burial ground, and later the land was bought in the name of the church. A small chapel was built measuring 30 feet by 27 feet and they named it Ebenezer. The chapel was opened on June 1st, 1823. In the morning at 10, Messrs W. Hughes, Saron, and D. Roberts, Bangor preached. At two (p.m.) preaching from Messrs. J. Evans, Amlwch, and J. Ridge, Penygroes. On 21st December, the same year (1823) the first communion was held here. By degrees the number of dwellings nearby increased to become a village that was named Ebenezer after the chapel, in the same manner as Bethel and Bethesda. Then, as now, there are efforts to change the Hebrew names. The churchmen want to change Bethesda to Glanogwen and Ebenezer to Llandinorwig. We have never been enamoured with the trend to name places of worship and districts in Wales after place names in the Scriptures; however we cannot see that there is anything to gain from changing long established names of houses of worship, and districts named after them. We consider the non-conformists, for better or worse, should stick to the Hebrew names. The name of the well populated Ebenezer village shows that the Independent chapel was built in it when it, itself, was in its infancy, and that the Gospel preached there from Sabbath to Sabbath has stamped an indelible image on the mind and character of the inhabitants. From the testimony of Mr. Griffiths, Bethel, fairly ordinary standards were adopted for starting up the cause, several of them having been rejected from the Seiat by the Methodists. In about ten years of his ministry in the place,

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most of them were 'out' more than they were 'in' and there were three total revisions. We are not so surprised at this, bearing in mind their morning pursuits, their ignorance of religious matters and their superstition. The order of the day at that time was to spend the Lord's Day relaxing or at play. The three main games in the neighbourhood were Cocyn Saethu (according to Emma Lyle, the curator at St Fagans, this is probably 'shooting at a target' or 'cock fighting')), Curo Bandi (a popular game similar to hockey), Choetio (quoits - similar to throwing horseshoes). They gave no thought to learning to read or write. The ordinary folk were content that the priest could do such things on their behalf. Witches and famous men had great influence over them, and there was strong belief in supersitition and sorcery.*

Mr. Griffith laboured here for ten years in the face of much disappointment and, seeing only a little success and because the field of his labour was too wide, he gave up this church asking them to seek a minister for themselves. They sent the call to a Mr. Thomas Edwards, a student of the Neuaddlwyd College (near Ffos-y-ffin, Aberaeron ) and he was ordained here on the 2nd July 1832. This occasion was ministered by Messrs D. Jones, Waunfawr; Ll. Samuel, Bethesda; D. James, Rhosymeirch; D. Griffith, Bethel; I. Jones, Groeslon; H. Rees, Pentraeth; and J. Breese, Liverpool. There were not many church members here when Mr. Edwards started, only twenty four in fact, and all of them poor. Five shillings a month was all that they could afford to contribute towards his maintenance. At the start of his ministry he had great problems with the unruly faction which had caused his predecessor such pain, but he never lost his spirit and tackled the work like a man of mettle. He opened a Day school and that helped a little with his maintenance and, besides, gave him a strong hold on the affections of the youth of the parish. Some of his congregation would bring food to his lodging in an attempt to compensate for the lack of money which they could pay him. The deacon would poke a stick into the chimney soot and use it to mark a black cross against the names of such contributors. Things like this sound strange in the Ebenezer of 1872 don't they? At the beginning of Mr. Edwards ministry it was deemed wasteful to use proper candles for lighting the weekly meetings. Candles made of reeds (rushes) were commonly used and it could be quite a business to keep the flame going at the tip of the candle for the duration of the whole meeting. Often, when a prayer was particularly moving or melting, the 'candle lad' would forget his duty and it went 'midnight-dark' in mid-worship ........

** As proof of the supersitition in the district take the example that follows from the essay named, "View from the top of Snowdon", written by Mr. T. Johns, Llanelli, which was published in the "Beirniad"(Judge), July 1868. "In the field near Ebenezer Chapel there was a well named "The Laughter Well". In this were to be seen many 'gyrc a phinau' (Emma Lyle of St. Fagans museum has not seen this term before). These were the instruments of three witches of the neighbourhood to punish offenders and take possessions from their superstitious neighbours. The parents gave their children the strictest commands to keep well away from the Laughter Well. The greatest care was taken to impress the fear of the witches on their minds so that one wouldn't find enough daring in even the most mischievous youth to place a finger in the forbidden pool. It was said that often a brave one would approach the well with the intention of immortalizing himself by removing from it the tools of witchcraft. As the well was in the middle of a swamp, it was impossible to get to it without producing a whirlpool on the surface of the water, or making the well laugh, according to the  tales of the locals, which was attributed without a degree of doubt to the witches and the old black boys who were bound to them. As soon as the water was seen to bubble, the face paled and the knees shook under the influence of fear; and oh so glad and thankful would these sinners be to find themselves well away from it again and realize with certainty that each limb was in its place, their senses unconfused and their feet rather than their heads on terra-firma. As would be expected, supersitition died when the gospel was preached with regularity in the neighbourhood and two of the sorceresses embraced religion some years before their death and were useful to the cause".

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...........so it would remain until a fresh light was brought in from outside because the 'supervision' of matches had not yet started at that time. After the latest of such accidents, one brother, zealous in the glory of the cause, went the next Saturday to Caernarfon town, seven miles away, solely to buy a bundle of tallow candles. This was the start of a new era of lighting for the place of worship of Bishop Ebenezer. We often heard it said that one of the greatest tribulations of the 'Old Minister' was the time when the first musical instrument was admitted to the chapel because many of the best people judged it to be a grievous sin. The singers however, managed to get a bass viol (the ancestor of the modern cello) to support them. Whilst the bass viol played, some old pilgrims rushed outside to return only for the prayer and sermon. We heard tell of one deacon who started to read the verse under the pulpit and, by the time it was finished he had reached the lobby (foyer). He put his head round the door to repeat the last two lines; this done he withdrew nimbly to escape from the sight if not the sound of the instrument. At the end of the praise, all turned their faces to the door in order to see who had come to lead the prayer (the supplicator) who came forward in a leisurely manner and addressed the throne of grace so seriously and there seemed to be nothing out of place until an intense vision of the bass viol rushed into his mind. This seemed to stir some holy passion in him and he turned and denounce it (the bass viol) to his heavenly Father.Some years went by without Mr. Edwards seeing much success with his ministry, but in 1837 a strong religious revival broke out when many people were gathered to the Lord. The cause received a total facelift in that period and the old chapel became too small for the congregation. It was extended in 1843 and a gallery added. The cause continued to prosper after this despite experiencing different seasons and being buffeted by powerful storms, it still held its ground. The debt was paid by installments and all had been repaid by May 1856. It was then decided to have a new chapel. Designed by Mr. Thomas, Glandwr, a spacious chapel was built at a cost of £800 and opened on 22nd May 1859. Mr. Edwards feared it would be too large and that they would never find a congregation large enough to fill it. Whilst he was in this anxious state, on the night of a harvest festival at Macpelah (the old Methodist chapel where they were worshipping whilst their new chapel was being built) a strong revival broke out. Three of the hardest local characters turned up at the 'Fellowship' closely followed by a huge crowd, such that there was no more anxiety in Mr. Edwards' mind that the new chapel would not be filled". The cause continued to succeed. Mr. Edwards' health deteriorated and he died on 25th July, 1863 at the age of 62.

The church was without a minister for less than a year since they sent the call to Mr. Thomas Johns, a student at Brecon College, and he was ordained here on the 6th October 1864. On this occasion Mr. J. Thomas, Bangor, preached on the Nature of the Church. Mr. R. Williams, Bethel, asked the questions and the ordination prayer was raised by Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Mr. J. Griffith, Llandovery, preached to the minister and Mr. E. Jones, Llangadog to the church. Mr. Johns was braver and more fearless than his predecessors and because of this never hesitated to give his views on any matter, civil or spiritual. This determined spirit was of considerable concern to those who had had things very much their own way in the past. His labours here earned consistent success although there was no strong revival that season. He received scores of new members, baptised

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hundreds of children and saw the funerals of many who had excelled on this earth. He accepted a call from Capel Als, Llanelli, and has remained there ever since. He delivered his farewell sermon at Ebenezer on the 26th September, 1869. A farewell meeting was held the following Monday evening when Mrs. Johns was presented with a silver tea-set. The following year the call was sent to Mr. Owens Jones, Ystalyfera, Glamorgan, who started his ministry here in October 1870 and continues to labour here to wide acceptance and approval.

Even though this is not an old church it has met several different challenges and held some notable characters. Here, we can only mention a few of them. Besides Sian Edwards who opened her house to receive the gospel and William Griffith, Caeau-uchaf who gave land upon which to build a chapel, we name David Jones, Bwlchuchaf, as one of the most faithful to the cause at the beginning. John Owen, Glanrafon was one of those who felt the cause resting deeply in his mind. Robert Jones, Bronygadair was a man of strong feelings despite being completely illiterate. Evan Williams, Ty'r Capal who gave much support to the cause when it was at its weakest. William Jones, known as "The Old Christian" was held in great respect by all, and his utterances at the "Fellowship" were always to the point. Hugh Williams, Bryndu, was scholarly above the average, and his prayers and speeches will long be remembered. David Jones who came here from Lleyn (the peninsula to the west of Pwllheli) was of great service to the singing until he emigrated to America. Griffith Parry Owen was a thorough 'Independent'. David Davies, a teacher at the British School, Deiniolen, was of great help to the cause for the short time he was with us. Mr. Edwards found in him one of his most loyal supporters who played an important part in revising the financial systems of the church. His colleagues paid tribute to him by placing a beautiful column on his grave. John Williams, Ty'n y clwt who had been a deacon here for 32 years. He was a tower of strength to the cause in all respects. He was a man firm in doctrine and exacting in discipline. Without doubt there are many others who were faithful to the Lord's cause, who, although their names have not reached us, have gone on to receive their reward. The present deacons are Griffith Williams, Cringae; Rowland Hughes, Ebenezer; William Roberts, Llwyncogan; Morris Jones, Post Office; Richard Evans, Penygolwg; Hugh Jones and John Evans, Ebenezer; Pierce Roberts, Tanybraich; and Evan Jones, Ebenezer.

The following persons were raised to preach at this church -

• David Price (Dewi Dinorwig). He is now in America. He is very well known in this country as "Price Penybontfawr" and "Price Dinbych" after that.
• Robert Jones. He was ordained at Corwen. We have mentioned him before in connection with Ceri, Montgomeryshire.
• William Hughes, Ffestiniog. We know no more about him.
• Owen Owens. He had been preaching with the 'Wesleyans', but he started here with the 'Independents'. Ordained in Llanwrtyd, he moved to Brynmenyn, and is now in America.
• Rowland Hughes continues as a deacon in the church and a support preacher.
• David J. Rowlands. He was for a time at Brecon College but has not preached for years.

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• David Closs Davies. Was in Bala College and is now in America.
• Richard Trevor Jones. For some time at Bala College, now in Pantteg, Glamorganshire.
• William Williams. He came from the 'Wesleyans' and is presently a lay preacher in the church.*

Biographical Notes (not extracted fully)

THOMAS EDWARDS. He was born in Tanyparc, Crwys, near Swansea, in 1801............

*We are particularly indebted to Mr. Johns,Llanelli, for the rights to many of his own writings, together with a letter he had received from Mr. R. Hughes, Ebenezer, with some notes from "Hanes Gwaengyfni" (The History of Gwaengyfni) by Mr. D.M. Jones, Clwtybont. Mr. G. Jones, Ebenezer, also sent some writing by Mr. O. Jones, Galltyfoel. From all these we gleaned information.

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BOZRAH

(Llanddeiniolen parish)

Saif yr addoldy hwn oddeutu milldir a haner islaw i Ebenezer, ar y ffordd i Gaernarfon, mewn pentref bychan gwledig o'r enw Penisarwaun. Yn y flywddyn 1811 yr adeiladwyd y capel ac y sefydlwyd yr eglwys Annibynol yma. Cynhelid gwasanaeth crefyddol beth amser cyn hyny mewn ty anedd yn y lle. Daeth yr ysgol Sabbothol yn flodeuog, ac ar-

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Jan 2010)

This house of worship stands about a mile and a half below Ebenezer, on the road to Caernarfon, in a little country village by the name of Penisarwaun.  The chapel was built and established as an Independent church in 1811.  A religious service was held some time before this in a dwelling house in the area.  The Sunday school flourished, and the

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(Continued) BOZRAH

signs are that the congregation is increasing. Even though this is a small place, and the population is thin on the ground, there is always a united, zealous, hard working little church in Bozrah. The first chapel cost around £200.  Soon after the opening the level of pay of the quarry workers in the area was reduced, and some of the workers left the district until the rest felt that the debt was weighing too heavily on them.  This caused Mr. Edwards to turn his attention away from home to seek help elsewhere.  His collection book is before us, and we see that he visited many churches in the south on behalf of Bozrah chapel, and returned with the means deleting a large percentage of the debt.  Mr. Edwards was always very careful and put every effort into securing success for Bozrah,  which he managed to do to a great extent,  because in 1860,  we see that the chapel had been repaired.  Four or five yards was added to its length, and the whole of the inside was renovated.  This cost close on £200, but by now only £20 of it has not been paid back.  There were here some deserving of being remembered.  One was Richard Evans, Waunrythallt, and his family.  He was one of the first deacons of  Bozrah.  There was no-one more faithful and zealous.  Whether in his house or anywhere else he would always be happy to do something for the cause.  A host of ministers of Jesus received such a lot of pure kindness at his hearth.  He gave generously towards religion, and the lovely fragrance of his life continues. Griffith Jones, Groeslon,  was also a deacon of pure character, and life who gave himself fully to their service.*

This place has always been connected with Ebenezer, and so it continues.

 * Mr. O. Jones, Ebenezer's letter.

CONTINUED