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  181- 194  

See main project page

Proof read by Eleri Rowlands (May 2008)

Chapels below;

• (Continued) NEFYN
• MORFA
• BWLCHTOCYN (with translation)

• ABERSOCH
• NEBO (with translation)
• HEBRON (with translation)

• ABERDARON (with translation)
• CAPEL-HELYG (with translation)
• CHWILOG (with translation)

 

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Pages 181- 194

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(Continued) NEFYN

holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. H. T. Parry, Abersoch; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. E. W. Jones, Talysarn; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. W. Lloyd, Caergybi, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog. Ni chafodd Mr. Roberts ond tymor byr i lafurio yma, ond bu yn nodedig o barchus yn yr ysbaid hwnw. Bu farw Ebrill 14eg, 1872. Ni bu yr eglwys ond ychydig amser ar ol ei farwolaeth cyn rhoddi galwad i Mr. Edward James, Llanaelhaiarn, yr hwn a ddechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Awst, 1872, ac y mae ei weinidogaeth hyd yma wedi bod yn dra chymeradwy, a hyderwn fod oes hir o ddefnyddioldeb mawr o'i flaen.

Bu yma amryw o bersonau defnyddiol yn nglyn a'r achos o bryd i bryd, ond gan nad oes genym ond gwybodaeth anmherffaith am danynt, gwell i ni yma heb grybwyll enwau neb, rhag i ni adael ar ol rai llawn mor deilwng. Bu Mr. Thomas Ridge yma yn cadw ysgol yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Davies, a dywedir gan rai mai yma y dechreuodd bregethu; ond yn ol yr hysbysiaeth a dderbyniasom o Penarth, dywedir ei fod wedi pregethu ryw gymaint yno cyn gadael cartref, ond y mae yn sicr nad oedd wedi dyfod i fawr o gyhoeddusrwydd fel pregethwr pan y daeth i Nefyn.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL

RICHARD M. ROBERTS. Ganwyd ef yn Llanfaelog, Mon, yn y flwyddyn 1848. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod yn Maelog, lle hefyd y dechreuodd bregethu. Cafodd alwad o Nefyn a'r Morfa, ac urddwyd ef yno Ionawr 21ain, 1870. Awst 12fed, yr un flwyddyn, priododd a Miss Ellen Hughes, Glantraeth, Llanynghenedl, Mon. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth a'i fywyd cyhoeddus yn obeithiol, a chyfrifid ef gan bawb yn wr ieuangc crefyddol, ac yn bregethwr derbyniol a chymeradwy. Goddiweddwyd ef gan glefyd trwm, y Typhoid Fever, ac wedi cystudd byr, ond blin, yn yr hwn y collodd bob ymwybodaeth o hono ei hun, bu farw Ebrill 14eg, 1872. Yn ystod ei glefyd trwm ni ddiferodd gair anheilwng oddiwrtho, ac er holl ddyryswch ei feddwl, gyda phethau y weinidogaeth yr oedd yn barhaus. Cymerwyd ei gorph i'w wlad enedigol i'w gladdu, a rhoddwyd ef i orwedd yn mynwent y teulu yn Aberffraw. Dangosodd pobl Nefyn a'r Morfa eu parch iddo wrth gychwyn y corph oddiyno, a daeth lluaws o'i gydnabod yn Mon i gyfarfod ei angladd, ac i gael yr olwg ddiweddaf ar ei weddillion marwol yn disgyn i'r bedd. Yr oedd iddo barch mawr gan ei holl gydnabod, a theimlid hiraeth ar ei ol yn mysg ei frodyr yn nghyfundeb Lleyn ac Eifionydd, yn gystal ag yn yr eglwysi lle y llafuriodd.

  

MORFA

Translation on /big/wal/CAE/Nefyn/Hanes

Adeiladwyd y capel yma yn y flwyddyn 1862. Cafwyd tir gan T. D. Jones-Parry, Ysw., Madryn, yr aelod seneddol dros sir Gaernarfon, ar brydles o fil ond un o flynyddoedd. Costiodd 400p. Traddodwyd y bregeth gyntaf ynddo Tachwedd 12fed, 1862, gan Mr. Williams, Nefyn, a'r wythnos ganlynol ffurfiwyd eglwys yma o ddeugain o aelodau, gan mwyaf oll o Nefyn, a rhai o Ceidio. Galwyd y capel y Tabernacl. Gwnaed cryn ymdrech i dalu y ddyled pan codwyd ef, ac wedi hyny, ond y mae etto fwy

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na 200p. o ddyled yn aros, ond gwneir ymdrech i dalu 50p. ymaith eleni. Mae y lle yma o'r dechreuad mewn cysylltiad gweinidogaethol a Nefyn, ac felly y mae yn awr dan ofal Mr. James, ac y mae golwg siriol a gobeithiol ar yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa.

  

BWLCHTOCYN

(Llanengan parish)

Mae y lle hwn yn mhlwyf Llanengan, o fewn rhyw wyth milldir i Bwllheli. Yr oedd yma un gwr yn y plwyf o'r enw John Evans, o'r Cilan, yr hwn oedd yn aelod yn y Capel-newydd, ac yn yr adeg hono efe oedd yr unig Annibynwr yn y plwyf. Yn Gorphenaf, 1790,* daeth Mr. John Roberts, Llanbrynmair, y pryd hwnw yn wr ieuangc, at Mr. Benjamin Jones i Bwllheli, i'r ysgol, a bu yno hyd y Nadolig canlynol. Yn yr ysbaid hwnw bu ef ac un Owen Morris yn pregethu llawer yn Llanengan, ac yn yr adeg hono y penderfynwyd dechreu achos yma. Yn y flwyddyn 1796, adeiladwyd capel Bwlchtocyn, a bu y lle am dymor maith dan ofal Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli, yr hwn a ddeuai yma yn rheolaidd i weini yr ordinhadau, ond yr oedd yma bregethwyr eraill yn ei gynorthwyo. Un o'r rhai ffyddlonaf o honynt oedd Mr. John Jones, Brynllefrith, am yr hwn y bydd genym ychwaneg i'w ddyweyd yn nglyn a Nebo. Bu ef yma yn cadw ysgol am dymor. Yn y flwyddyn 1820, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Robert Owen, gwr ieuangc o ardal Llanfyllin, ac urddwyd ef yma Medi 12fed, 1820, a gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri W. Jones, Caernarfon; C. Jones, Dolgellau; D. Roberts, Bangor; W. Williams, Wern; J. Roberts, Llanbrynmair, a D. Morgan, Machynlleth. Bu Mr. Owen yma am bymtheng mlynedd, a bu mesur o lwyddiant ar ei weinidogaeth. Yn ei dymor ef yr ailadeiladwyd y capel. Symudodd oddiyma yn 1835 i Cwmafan, Morganwg, lle yr ydym eisioes wedi crybwyll am dano. Wedi bod am ychydig heb weinidog, rhoddodd yr eglwys yma a'r eglwys yn Abersoch alwad i Mr. Joseph Morris, yr hwn oedd yn weinidog yn Mhorthmadog, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Hydref, 1836. Llafuriodd Mr. Morris yma gyda diwydrwydd a ffyddlondeb mawr am lawer o flynyddoedd, ond ni chafodd yr hyfrydwch o weled llawer o lwyddiant ond ychydig yn adeg y diwygiad yn 1839, a'r flwyddyn ganlynol. Gan fod yr eglwysi yn weiniaid, a'i deulu yntau yn fawr, rhoddodd eu gofal i fyny yn y flwyddyn 1848, a chyn hir wedi hyny cymerodd ofal yr eglwys yn Nefyn. Yn y flwyddyn 1851, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Jones, yr hwn y flwyddyn cyn hyny a urddasid yn Nefyn, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Medi, y flwyddyn hono. Bu Mr. Jones yma yn dderbyniol a pharchus hyd fis Ebrill, 1864, pryd y darfu ei gysylltiad gweinidogaethol a'r lle. Wedi bod am flwyddyn neu ychwaneg yn dibynu ar weinidogaeth achlysurol, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Hugh Thomas Parry, Cerygengan, Llangristiolus, Mon, ond a fuasai am dymor yn fyfyriwr yn athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef Hydref 5ed, 1865. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. R. Hughes, Gwalchmai; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. T. Jones, Tabor;

* Yn Hanes Ymneillduaeth dywedir mai yn 1780 y bu hyn, ond nis gall hyny fod. Nid oedd Mr. John Roberts ond tair-ar-ddeg oed yn 1780, ac yn Hydref 1786, y derbyniwyd ef yn aelod, ac ni ddechreuodd bregethu hyd Ionawr 21ain, 1790.

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pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. W. Griffith, Caergybi, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog. Mae Mr. Parry yn parhau mewn cysylltiad a'r eglwysi yn Bwlchtocyn ac Abersoch, ond fod ei hir waeledd a'i wendid wedi ei gadw oddiwrthynt. Mae ardal Bwlchtocyn yn gynyddol, a llawer o ddyeithriaid yn cyrchu yma i'r gweithfeydd plwm sydd wedi eu hagor, ond Saeson ydynt gan mwyaf, ac nid yw eu dyfodiad yn un help i foesoldeb y lle. Mae yma gapel newydd hardd yn barod i'w agor, yn mesur 45 troedfedd wrth 30 troedfedd. Costia 600p., ond y mae "gan y bobl galon i weithio" er talu am dano. Mae yma achos cryf a llewyrchus, a llawer o bobl nodedig o garedig a chrefyddol. Bu H. Roberts, Marchros, a Robert Pritchard, Cim, yn arbenig yn golofnau yn yr eglwys hon, ac y mae eu hen gyfaill a'u cydlafurwr Evan Jones etto yn aros, a llawer o rai ieuengach a mawr ofal calon ganddynt am achos yr Arglwydd.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Jan 2011)

This place is in Llanengan parish, within about eight miles of  Pwllheli.  One man by the name John Evans, from Cilan, who was a member in Capel-newydd, and at that time was the only Independent in the parish.  In July of 1790,* Mr. John Roberts, Llanbrynmair, who was then a young man, came to Mr. Benjamin Jones in Pwllheli, at the school, and stayed there until the following Christmas.  During that time he and one Owen Morris preached a great deal in Llanengan, and at that time it was decided to start a cause here.  In 1796, Bwlchtocyn chapel was built.  The place was under the care of Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli who came here regularly to serve the ordinances for some time, but other preachers assisted him. One of the most faithful of them was Mr. John Jones, Brynllefrith, about whom we'll have more to say in connection with Nebo. He was running a school for a while here.  In 1820, a call was sent to Mr. Robert Owen, a young man from Llanfyllin, and he was ordained here on September 12th, 1820, and on that occasion Messrs W. Jones, Caernarfon; C. Jones, Dolgellau; D. Roberts, Bangor; W. Williams, Wern; J. Roberts, Llanbrynmair, and D. Morgan, Machynlleth officiated.  Mr. Owen stayed here for fifteen years, and there was a measure of success in his ministry.  It was during his term here that the chapel was built.  He moved from here in 1835 to Cwmafan, Glamorgan, where we have already mentioned him.  After the chapel had been without a minister for a while, this church and the church in Abersoch gave a call to Mr. Joseph Morris, who was a minister in Porthmadog, and he started his ministry here in October 1836.  Mr. Morris laboured here diligently and faithfully for many years, but he didn't have the pleasure of seeing much success, just a little during the revival of 1839, and the following year.  Since the churches were a drain, and his family was large, he gave up the care of them in 1848, and soon after that took over the care of a church in  Nefyn.  In 1851, a call was sent to Mr. David Jones, who had been ordained the previous year in Nefyn, and started his ministry here in September, that year.  Mr. Jones was here respected and acceptable until April, 1864, when he ended his ministry in the place.  After depending on occasional ministry for a year or so, a call was sent to Mr. Hugh Thomas Parry, Cerygengan, Llangristiolus, Anglesey, but he had another term to complete as a student in Bala college, and he was ordained on October 5th, 1865.  On that occasion Mr. R. Thomas, Bangor preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. R. Hughes, Gwalchmai; and the ordination prayer was given by Mr. T. Jones, Tabor;

* In Hanes Ymneillduaeth (The History of Non-Conformism) it is said that it was in 1780 that this happened, but this cannot be.  Mr. John Roberts would have been just thirteen years old in 1780, and in October 1786, he was accepted as a member, and did not start preaching until January 21st, 1790.

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Mr. W. Griffith, Holyhead, preached on the minister's duty, and Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog, preached about the duty of the church.  Mr. Parry continues his connection with the churches in  Bwlchtocyn and Abersoch, but his long ill-health and weakness have kept him away from them.  The area of Bwlchtocyn is increasing, and many strangers make their way here to the lead works that have opened, but they are mainly English people, and their arrival hasn't helped the moral tone of the place.  There is a fine, new chapel here ready to be opened, measuring 45 feet by 30 feet.  It cost £600, but the 'people have a heart to work' in order to pay for it.  There is, here, a strong and successful cause, with many notable, kind and religious people.  H. Roberts, Marchros, and Robert Pritchard, Cim, have been notable pillars in this church, and their old friend and co-worker Evan Jones is still here, along with many younger ones who have a great care for the Lord's cause

ABERSOCH

Translation on /big/wal/CAE/Llanengan/Hanes

Pentref porthladdol ydyw Abersoch, chwe' milldir i'r De o Bwllheli, yn ymyl St. Tudwell's Road, a chyfrifir ef yn un o'r lleoedd goreu i angori ar lanau Cymru. Mae yn mhlwyf Llanengan. Dechreuwyd pregethu yma mewn hen lofft, uwchben ystordy glo, tua'r flwyddyn 1810. Un o'r rhai cyntaf a fu yn pregethu yma oedd Mr. J. Jones, Brynllefrith, yr hwn yn wir a wnaeth fwy na neb arall yn sefydliad y rhan fwyaf o'r eglwysi yn y parth yma o'r wlad. Wedi sefydliad Mr. R. Owen yn Bwlchtocyn, cafwyd yma foddion yn fwy rheolaidd, ac ysgol agos bob Sabboth. Yn y flwyddyn 1831, adeiladwyd yma gapel, yn benaf trwy ymdrech Mr. Owen, a bu y lle dan ei ofal hyd nes yr ymadawodd a'r wlad. Mae yr eglwys yma wedi bod o'r dechreuad dan yr un weinidogaeth a Bwlchtocyn, ac felly y mae yn parhau, fel nad oes achos ail grybwyll eu henwau yma. Cafwyd yma adfywiadau lled rymus yn 1839, yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. J. Morris, ac wedi hyny drachefn yn 1860, yn amser gweinidogaeth Mr. D. Jones. Mae yma awydd cryf yn awr yn yr eglwys a'r ardal am gael capel newydd, ac y mae tua 200p. eisioes wedi eu haddaw i'r perwyl. Mae enwau yr hen ddiaconiaid Richard Williams, o'r Fach, a Hugh Roberts, Talybont, yn deilwng o gael eu coffâu, y rhai a fuont ffyddlawn i achos yr Arglwydd yn y lle, a theimlir hiraeth ar eu hol.

Magwyd yma ddau bregethwr, a'r ddau hyny yn ddau frawd, sef John C. Williams yr hwn sydd yn awr yn weinidog yn Corris; a Caleb Williams, yr hwn sydd yn fyfyriwr yn yr athrofa yn Nottingham. Mae Mr. David Jones, yr hwn a fu yn weinidog yma, yn bregethwr parchus gan yr eglwys, ac yn pregethu agos bob Sabboth yn rhai o eglwysi y wlad.

  

NEBO

(Rhiw parish)

Mae y lle hwn ar fynydd y Rhiw, heb fod yn mhell o Aberdaron. Dechreuwyd pregethu yma gan Mr. John Jones, ac adeiladwyd y capel yn y flwyddyn 1813. Nid oedd ond capel bychan, a'r achos ynddo yn wan. Urddwyd Mr. J. Jones i gyflawn waith y weinidogaeth yma Medi 2i1, 1820, ar ol bod yn pregethu am bum'-mlynedd-ar-hugain. Gweinyddwyd

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ar yr achlysur gan Meistri C. Jones, Dolgellau; D. Morgan, Machynlleth; W. Williams, Wern; D. Roberts, Pentir, ac eraill. Yr oedd John Jones wedi llafurio yn ddiwyd yma cyn hyny, a pharhaodd i lafurio ar ol hyny am saith mlynedd, nes y daliwyd ef gan glefyd trwm, ac ar ol pythefnos o gystudd, bu farw Medi 3ydd, 1827, yn 53 oed. Wedi bod am ychydig heb weinidog, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. William Morris, gwr ieuangc o Gydweli, sir Gaerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef yma Mawrth 20fed, 1828. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. E. Rowlands, Rhoslan; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan; dyrchafwyd yr urddweddi gan Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. T. Lewis, Pwllheli, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys gan Mr. J. Williams, Ffestiniog. Yr oedd Mr. Morris yn ddyn cryf o gorph, ac o ysbryd cynhyrfus, yr hyn a'i harweiniodd i ddiwedd poenus. Wedi llafurio yma am ddwy flynedd, goddiweddwyd ef gan anhwylder meddyliol, yr hwn a'i hanalluogodd i gyflawni ei weinidogaeth. Ymadawodd a'r wlad, a bu am dymor yn Ffraingc. Wedi ei ymadawiad, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Morgan, o Dowlais. Daeth yma yn Hydref, 1832, a bu yma am bedair blynedd. Yr oedd ymddiriedolwyr y capel oll ond un, sef John Jones, Nanhoron, wedi marw, a chafwyd tipyn o drafferth i gael y ty a'r ardd oedd yn eiddo i'r eglwys o'i afael, ond llwyddodd Mr. J. Morgan, gyda help Mr. D. Williams, cyfreithiwr, Pwllheli, i'w cael. Ymadawodd Mr. Morgan oddiyma yn 1836, ac aeth i Abererch. O gylch yr adeg yma daeth Mr. Morris yn ei ol, a bu yma hyd y flwyddyn 1838, pryd y symudodd i Abergwyli. Yr oedd Mr. Morris yn ddyn da a gweithgar, ac yn gyfaddas iawn i'r wlad hon, ond yn unig fod ei nervous system mor wan fel yr oedd unrhyw groes neu flinder yn ei yru yn mron yn wallgof. Bu Mr. Thomas Davies, Ffestiniog, yma am ychydig ar ol ymadawiad Mr. Morris, ond byr fu ei arosiad. Bu yma eraill yn aros dros ychydig, ond ni bu yma yr un gweinidog sefydlog hyd nes y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Owens, myfyriwr o athrofa y Bala. Urddwyd ef Mawrth 5ed a'r 6ed, 1845. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. J. Jones, Capel-helyg; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. R. P. Griffiths, Pwllheli; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. John Morgan, Nefyn; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. M. Jones, Bala, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog.*  Llafuriodd Mr. Owens yma am ddwy flynedd, ac yna symudodd i Nefyn. Wedi bod am ychydig amser heb weinidog, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas Thomas, o athrofa Ffrwdyfal, ac urddwyd ef Mai 23ain, 1849. Pregethwyd at natur eglwys gan Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; holwyd y gweinidog gan Mr. J. Owens, Nefyn; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. T. Griffith, Capel-helyg; pregethodd Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel, i'r gweinidog, a Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, i'r eglwysi.+ Bu Mr. Thomas yma yn llafurus a llwyddianus yn y weinidogaeth, trwy yr holl gylch eang, am bum' mlynedd, hyd nes y symudodd i Lanfair, gerllaw Llanbedr, sir Aberteifi, lle y mae etto. Wedi ei ymadawiad, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Henry Rees, Pentraeth, ond ni bu yma yn hir. Ar ol hyny cymerodd Mr. Joseph Morris ofal yr eglwysi hyn, a pharhaodd i gyrchu yma am rai blynyddoedd. Ymgymerodd Mr. Morris a bod yn arolygydd yr adeiladau ar ystad Madryn, eiddo Mr. Jones-Parry, yr aelod seneddol dros sir Gaernarfon, ac oblegid hyny bu raid iddo roddi i fyny ei ofal dros

* Dysgedydd, 1845. Tu dal. 122.           + Diwygiwr, 1849. Tu dal. 218.

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yr eglwysi hyn, ac ni bu arno ofal eglwysig er hyny, er ei fod yn pregethu bob Sabboth yn y lleoedd y byddo bwlch i'w gau, a hyny gyda derbyniad mawr. Yn 1859, daeth Mr. William Powell, genedigol o Llanelli, Brycheiniog, yma, a bu yn pregethu i'r eglwysi hyn am dymor, ond ni urddwyd ef yma; aeth i Nantglyn yn niwedd 1861, ac urddwyd ef yno y flwyddyn ganlynol, ac y mae yn awr yn Hubbard, Ohio, America. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1863, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Evan Lloyd, o Bentre-llyn-cymer, ac urddwyd ef Awst 12fed, y flwyddyn hono. Pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Jones, Capel-helyg; holwyd y gweinidog gan Mr. D. Jones, Abersoch; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. H. Ellis, Corwen, ac. ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. Joseph Morris, Madryn Lodge.*  Ni bu Mr. Lloyd byw ond tri-mis-ar-ddeg wedi ei urddo. Bu farw yn ddisymwth ar y ffordd, wrth ddychwelyd o'r capel, Medi 23ain, 1864. Yn fuan wedi marwolaeth Mr. Lloyd, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Howell R. Jones, aelod o Ddrwsycoed, ac urddwyd ef Mawrth 21ain, 1865. Gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri D. Jones, Capel-helyg; T. Jones, Tabor; R. Rowlands, Ceidio; E. W. Jones, Talysarn, a W. Ambrose, Porthmadog. Bu ef yma hyd wanwyn y flwyddyn 1870, pryd y symudodd i Bodedeyrn, Mon. Yn gynar yn y flwyddyn ganlynol, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Davies, o Dy'nygwndwn, sir Aberteifi, ac urddwyd ef Mehefin 13eg, 1871. Gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; E. Jones, Llwyncelyn, ac eraill.

Yr ydym wedi cysylltu urddiadau yr holl weinidogion a fu yn yr eglwysi yma a Nebo, am mai dyma yr eglwys hynaf yn y weinidogaeth hon, er fod Hebron ac Aberdaron yn yr un cylch, ac i rai o gyfarfodydd yr urddiadau gael eu cynal yn Hebron. Gwelir fod y gweinidogion yma wedi bod yn nodedig o symudol; a dichon nad oes un eglwys yn Nghymru a chynifer o weinidogion a phregethwyr wedi bod yn llafurio ynddi yn yr un ysbaid o amser ag sydd wedi bod yn yr eglwysi yn nghylch y weinidogaeth hon. Mae yn nghwr eithaf y wlad, fel mai nid hawdd ydyw cael neb a all ymgymodi a lle mor ddiarffordd; heblaw nad yw yn nodedig am ei helaethrwydd o gysuron bywyd. Nid yw cynnulleidfa Nebo ond bechan, ond y mae yma gapel cyfleus, yr hwn a ailadeiladwyd yn y flwyddyn 1857, ac y mae mynwent fechan yn nglyn ag ef.

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL

JOHN JONES.Ganwyd ef yn Brynllefrith, yn mhlwyf Llanarmon, yn mis Tachwedd, 1773. Yr oedd ei rieni yn bobl grefyddol, ac yn aelodau yn Nghapel-helyg, lle hefyd y derbyniwyd yntau yn aelod pan oedd yn ugain oed. Dygwyd ef i fyny yn wehydd, a bu yn dilyn ei alwedigaeth yn Mangor, ac Amlwch, a manau eraill am ysbaid chwe' blynedd. Ond wedi ei dderbyn yn aelod aeth i'r ysgol dan ofal ei weinidog, Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli, yr hwn cyn hir a'i hanogodd i ddechreu pregethu, ond yr oedd ei wyleidd-dra y fath fel yr ofnai anturio at y gorchwyl. O gylch yr amser hwnw daeth Mr. Azariah Shadrach trwy y wlad, ac aeth John Jones i'w hebrwng o Bwllheli i Bwlchtocyn, ac wedi deall pa fodd yr oedd pethau

* Dysgedydd, 1863. Tu dal. 397.

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yn bod, dywedodd Mr. Shadrach, y byddai raid iddo bregethu o'i flaen ef yn Bwlchtocyn y noson hono. Nid oedd wiw ymesgusodi - pregethu fu raid iddo, ac ni roddodd i fyny o hyny allan tra fu byw. Bu mewn lluaws mawr o fanau yn cadw ysgol, ac yn pregethu yn gynorthwyol, fel y byddai angen, am bum -mlynedd-ar-hugain. Rhoddwyd ysgol symudol Mr. Jones, o Gaerlleon, dan ei ofal, trwy garedigrwydd Dr. Lewis, Llanuwchllyn, a bu yn ei chadw yn Rhoslan, Capel-newydd, Bwlchtocyn, Llaniestyn, Nebo, a Hebron, a dichon mewn rhai manau eraill. Lleyn fu prif faes ei lafur, ac yr oedd ganddo, fel y gwelsom, y llaw flaenaf yn sefydliad amryw o'r achosion yno. Urddwyd ef yn Nebo, Medi 12fed, 1820.* Rhoddodd i fyny yr ysgol wedi ei urddiad, ac ymroddodd yn hollol i bregethu. Cymerodd dy yn mhentref Aberdaron, a phreswyliai yn un rhan o hono, a phregethai yn y rhan arall. Teithiodd gryn lawer trwy Dde a Gogledd, yn benaf i gasglu at y capeli a godwyd trwy ei lafur. Nid oedd yn ddoniol a phoblogaidd fel pregethwr, ond yr oedd mwyneidd-dra ei ysbryd, ei symledd dirodres, a'i fywyd diargyhoedd yn ei wneyd yn barchus gan bawb. Daliwyd ef gan glefyd trwm, ac wedi ychydig gystudd blin a chwerw, bu farw Medi 3ydd, 1827, yn 53 oed. Claddwyd ef yn mynwent capel Nebo, ac yn ngwasanaeth y claddedigaeth gweinyddwyd gan Meistri T. Lewis, Pwllheli; W. Davies, Nefyn, ac R. Owen, Llanengan. Ni bu erioed yn briod, fel nad oedd na gwraig na phlant i alaru ar ei ol; ond mae ei goffadwriaeth yn barchus gan lawer yn y wlad hyd y dydd hwn.

EVAN LLOYD. Ganwyd ef yn Mhentre-llyn-cymer, yn sir Ddinbych, Yn y flwyddyn 1823.  Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod o'r eglwys yn y Pentre pan oedd yn ieuangc, ac anogwyd ef cyn hir i ddechreu pregethu, a phan oedd tua thair-ar-hugain oed derbyniwyd ef i athrofa y Bala.  Ni bu yno yn hir, oblegid dychwelodd adref. Yn mhen amser ailymaflodd yn ei waith, a bu mewn amryw fanau yn cadw ysgol. Bu yn Llanbrynmair, ac yn y Main, sir Drefaldwyn, yn cadw ysgol, a phregethai yn rhywle bob Sabboth. Yn ngwanwyn y flwyddyn 1863, derbyniodd alwad gan yr eglwsi yn Nebo, Hebron, ac Aberdaron, ac urddwyd ef yno, a dechreuodd ymroddi o ddifrif i gyflawni y weinidogaeth. Ymddangosai ar lawer ystyr yn un cymwys i'r maes eang y llafuriai arno; ond byr iawn fu ei ddydd gwaith. Yr oedd yn dychwelyd adref o'r gyfeillach grefyddol yn Aberdaron nos y 23ain o Fedi, 1864, ac ar ei ffordd, galwodd gyda chyfaill, yr hwn a aeth i'w hebrwng ran o'r ffordd; ond cafwyd ef yn farw wedi myned yn mlaen tua dau can' llath yn mhellach na'r fan yr aeth ei gyfaill i'w hebrwng. Bu farw, fel y barnwyd ar y trengholiad, mewn eiliad, heb un ymdrech, o glefyd y galon, yn 42 oed. Claddwyd ef yn mynwent Hebron, yn ngwydd tyrfa luosog, ac amryw weinidogion o wahanol enwadau. Yr oedd Mr. Lloyd yn wr cryf o gorph, uwchlaw y cyffredin o daldra, ac yn ddyn synwyrol a deallgar, er nad oedd yn hyawdl fel pregethwr. Cyfrifid ef yn wr da a chrefyddol gan y rhai a'i hadwaenai oreu, ac am dymor byr ei weinidogaeth yr oedd yn barchus a chymeradwy gan bobl ei ofal.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (June 2012)

This place is on Rhiw mountain, not far from Aberdaron. Preaching was started here by Mr. John Jones, and the chapel was built in 1813. It was only a small chapel, and the cause in it was weak. Mr. J. Jones was ordained to the full work of the church on September 2nd, 1820, after he had been preaching for twenty five years. On the occasion

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Messrs C. Jones, Dolgellau; D. Morgan, Machynlleth; W. Williams, Wern; D. Roberts, Pentir, and others officiated. John Jones had laboured here diligently before that, and he continued to labour after that for seven years, until he was struck by a dreadful illness, and after a fortnight of afliction, he died on September 3rd, 1827, at 53 years old. Having been for a while without a minister, a call was sent to Mr. William Morris, a young man from Cydweli, Carmarthenshire, and he was ordained here on March 20th, 1828. On the occasion, Mr. E. Rowlands, Rhoslan preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; Mr. T. Lewis, Pwllheli, preached to the minister and Mr. J. Williams, Ffestiniog to the church. Mr. Morris was physically a strong man, and had an excitable spirit, which led him to a painful end. After labouring here for two years, he was struck down by a mental illness, which made him unable to fulfil his ministry. He left the country, and spent some time in France. After his departure, a call was sent to Mr. John Morgan, from Dowlais. He came here in October, 1832, and he stayed here for four years. All the chapel trustees except one, John Jones, Nanhoron, had died, and it caused quite a bit of trouble, trying to get the house and garden which was owned by the chapel back out of his possession, but Mr. J. Morgan, with the help of Mr. D. Williams, a solicitor from Pwllheli, succeeded. Mr. Morgan left here in 1836, and he went to Abererch. Around this time Mr. Morris came back, and he stayed here till 1838, when he moved to Abergwyli. Mr. Morris was a good, hard working man, and very suitable for this country, but his nervous system was so weak that any time anyone crossed him or if there was a worry it all almost sent him mad. Mr. Thomas Davies, Ffestiniog, was here for a while after Mr. Morris' departure, but his stay was short. Others stayed here for a short while, but there was no-one who settled until a call was sent to Mr. John Owens, a student from Bala college. He was ordained on March 5th and 6th, 1845. On the occasion Mr. J. Jones, Capel-helyg preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. R. P. Griffiths, Pwllheli; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. John Morgan, Nefyn; Mr. M. Jones, Bala, preached on the duty of the minister; and Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog preached on the duty of the churches.*  Mr. Owens laboured here for two years, and then he moved to Nefyn. Having been for a short while without a minister, a call was sent to Mr. Thomas Thomas, from Ffrwdyfal college, and he was ordained on Mai 23rd, 1849. Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. J. Owens, Nefyn; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. T. Griffith, Capel-helyg; Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel preached to the minister, and Mr. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, preached to the churches. + Mr. Thomas was here labouring successfully in his ministry, throughout the whole circuit for five years, until he moved to Llanfair, near Llanbedr, Ceredigion, where he still resides. After his departure, a call was sent to Mr. Henry Rees, Pentraeth, but he wasn't here long. After that Mr. Joseph Morris undertook the care of these churches, and he travelled here for some years. Mr. Morris took on the job of superintendant of the buildings on the Madryn estate, the property of Mr. Jones-Parry, the M.P. for Caernarfon, and as a result of this he had to give up his care for

* Dysgedydd, 1845. Page. 122.           + Diwygiwr, 1849. Page. 218.

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these churches, and he has never since had the care of a church, even though he preaches every Sunday in places where there is a need, and he is very acceptable to them. In 1859, Mr. William Powell came here. He was born in Llanelli, Breconshire, and he preached to these churches for a while, but he was never ordained here; he went to Nantglyn at the end of 1861, and was ordained there the following year, and he is now in Hubbard, Ohio, America. At the beginning of 1863, a call was sent to Mr. Evan Lloyd, from Pentre-llyn-cymer, and he was ordained on August 12th, that year. Mr. D. Jones, Capel-helyg preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked of the minister by Mr. D. Jones, Abersoch; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel; Mr. H. Ellis, Corwen, preached on the duty of the minister and Mr. Joseph Morris, Madryn Lodge, preached on the duty of the churches.*  Mr. Lloyd didn't live for more than thirteen months after his ordination. He died suddenly on the road, while returning from the chapel, on September 23rd, 1864. Soon after Mr. Lloyd's death, a call was sent to Mr. Howell R. Jones, a member from Drwsycoed, and he was ordained on March 21st, 1865. On the occasion Messrs D. Jones, Capel-helyg; T. Jones, Tabor; R. Rowlands, Ceidio; E. W. Jones, Talysarn, and W. Ambrose, Porthmadog officiated. He stayed until the spring of 1870, when he moved to Bodedern, Anglesey. Early in the next year, a call was sent to Mr. David Davies, from Dy'nygwndwn, Ceredigion, and he was ordained on June 13eg, 1871. On the occasion Messrs W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; E. Jones, Llwyncelyn, and others officiated.

We have contacted groups of all the ministers who have been in these churches and Nebo, as this is the oldest church in this ministry, even though Hebron and Aberdaron are in the same circuit, and some of the meetings of the ordinations in Hebron. These ministers had been notably mobile; and it is possible that there isn't one church in Wales that had had so many ministers and preachers having laboured here during the same time as they had been in the churches concerned in this ministry. It is in the furthest corner of the country, so that it isn't easy to find anyone who could cope with such a remote place; also it isn't notable for its excess of life's comfort. Nebo's congregation is only small, but there is here a convenient chapel, which was built in 1857, and it has a small cemetery.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

JOHN JONES. He was born in Brynllefrith, in the parish of Llanarmon, in November, 1773. His parents were religious people, and members in Capel-helyg, where he himself was accepted as a callow youth when he was twenty. He was brought up as a weaver, and he worked in Bangor, and Amlwch, and other places for a spell of six years. But once he had been accepted as a member he went to school under the care of the minister, Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli, who soon encouraged him to start preaching, but his humility was such that he was afraid to venture towards the goal. Around that time Mr. Azariah Shadrach was travelling around the country, and John Jones went to meet him to guide him from Pwllheli to Bwlchtocyn, and understanding how things stood

* Dysgedydd, 1863. Tu dal. 397.

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he told Mr. Shadrach, that he would have to preach in front of him in Bwlchtocyn that night. It would have been useless to make excuses - he would have to preach, and he never stopped from that day till the day he died. He ran schools in a multitude of places, and preached occasionally, as and when needed, for twenty five years. Mr. Jones, from Caerleon's mobile school was placed under his care, through the kindness of Dr. Lewis, Llanuwchllyn, and he ran it in Rhoslan, Capel-newydd, Bwlchtocyn, Llaniestyn, Nebo, and Hebron, and undoutedly in other areas.

His main area of work was Lleyn, and he had, as we saw, the upper hand in establishing the several causes there. He was ordained in Nebo, on September 12th, 1820.* he gave up the school after his ordination, and he devoted himself completely to preaching. He rented a house in Aberdaron village, and he lived in one part of it, and he preached in the other part. He travelled quite a lot through the south and north, mainly collecting towards the chapels that had been raised through his efforts. He wasn't amusing or popular as a preacher, but the pleasantness of his spirit, his modest simplicity, and his blameless life made him respected by all. He became ill, and after a bitter and harsh afliction, he died on September 3rd, 1827, at 53 years old. He was buried in the cemetery of Nebo chapel, and during the burial service Messrs T. Lewis, Pwllheli; W. Davies, Nefyn, and R. Owen, Llanengan officiated. He never married, so there was no wife or children to grieve over him; but his memory is respected by many in the country up till today.

EVAN LLOYD. He was born in Pentre-llyn-cymer, Denbighshire, in 1823.  He was accepted as a member of the church in Pentre when he was young, and very soon he was encouraged to start preaching, and when he was about twenty three he was accepted to study in Bala college.  He wasn't there long, because he returned home. In time he returned to work, and he ran schools in several places. He spent time in Llanbrynmair, and in Main, Montgomeryshire, running schools, and he would preach somewhere every Sunday. In the spring of 1863, he accepted a call from the churches in Nebo, Hebron, and Aberdaron, and he was ordained there, and he started dedicating himself seriously to completing the ministry. He appeared to be qualified in many ways for the broad field of his labour; but his working day was short. He was returning home from the religious fellowship in Aberdaron on the evening of the 23rd of September, 1864, and on his way he called with a friend, who walked along to meet him part of the way; but he found him dead after walking just two hundred yards. He died, as judged by the inquest, in a second, with no effort, from heart disease, at 42 years old. He was buried in Hebron cemetery, in the midst of a multitude of people, and several ministers from different denominations. Mr. Lloyd was, physically, a strong man, above normal height, and sensible and intelligent, even though he wasn't eloquent as a preacher. He was considered a good and religious man by those who knew him best, and for the short time of his ministry he was respected by the people under his care.

  

 

HEBRON

(Bryncroes parish)

Byddai Mr. John Jones, Nebo, yn pregethu yn lled gyson mewn ty anedd yn mhlwyf Llangwnadl, yr hwn a gofrestrwyd ganddo i'r perwyl.

* Gwneir camgymeriad yn y dyddiad yn hanes yr eglwys.

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Yn y flwyddyn 1822, adeiladodd gapel ar Roshirwaun, yn mhlwyf Bryncroes, yr hwn a alwyd Hebron. Mae y lle yma o'r dechreuad wedi bod dan yr un weinidogaeth a Nebo, ac ond edrych pwy fu yn llafurio yno gwelir hefyd pwy fu yn llafurio yma. Mae yma wlad boblogaidd o wlad amaethyddol, a gwrandawiad lluosog. Nis gall unrhyw ddyeithr-ddyn lai na chael ei daro a syndod i weled cynnulleidfa mor fawr mewn gwlad mor foel, ond nid yw nifer yr eglwys mewn un modd yn cyfateb i luosogrwydd y gynnulleidfa. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1833, yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. John Morgan, rhoddwyd darn at y capel, yr hyn a roddodd le i bedair-ar-hugain o eisteddleoedd yn ychwaneg, a thalwyd yr holl draul.

Yn y flwyddyn 1867, adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd, gwerth 350p., ac y mae mwy na haner ei ddyled eisioes wedi ei thalu. Mae yr achos yma yn awr mewn agwedd obeithiol, a gweinidogaeth Mr. Davies yn dra derbyniol.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Feb 2010)

Mr. John Jones, Nebo, preached quite regularly in a dwelling house in the parish of Llangwnadl, which was noted by him to this effect.

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In 1822, a chapel was built on Roshirwaun, in the parish of  Bryncroes, which was called Hebron.  This place has from the beginning been under the same ministry as Nebo, and if you look at who laboured there you will know who laboured here.  This is popular farming country, and there are numerous listeners.  No strange man can fail to be surprised to see such a large congregation in such a bare country, but the number in the church does not in any way compare with the multitude of the congregation.  At the beginning of 1833, during the term of Mr. John Morgan's ministry, a section was added to the chapel, which made room for twenty four extra seats, and the whole debt was paid.

In 1867, a new chapel was built, worth £350, and more than half the debt has already been paid.  This cause is now in a promising condition, and Mr. Davies' ministry is quite acceptable.

 

ABERDARON

Translation on  /big/wal/CAE/Aberdaron/Hanes

Mae y lle hwn ar derfyn eithaf sir Gaernarfon, ac ar lawer cyfrif y mae yn lle dyddorol iawn. Byddai Mr. Edmund Jones, Pontypool, yn dyfod yma bob tro y deuai i sir Gaernarfon, ac elai drosodd i Ynys Enlli. Adroddir am ymweliad Mr. R. Tibbot, Llanbrynmair, â'r lle, a'r anmharch a ddyoddefodd oblegid cynyg pregethu i'r trigolion. Ond ni wnaed un cynyg i gychwyn achos rheolaidd yma hyd nes yr urddwyd Mr. J. Jones yn Nebo, ac y cymerodd ef dy yma i fyw mewn un rhan o hono, a phregetha yn y rhan arall. Yn y flwyddyn 1829, ar ol sefydliad Mr. W. Morris yma, y cyfodwyd capel yn y lle, yr hwn a alwyd Cephas. Yr oedd yn gapel bychan tlws pan adeiladwyd ef, gwerth 160p., ond bu ei ddyled yn faich trwm yn hir. Gwan iawn yw yr achos wedi bod yma o'r dechreuad, ond y mae yma rai ffyddloniaid wedi bod yn "sefyll yn nhy yr Arglwydd y nos." Mae y lle o'r dechreuad o dan yr un weinidogaeth a Nebo a Hebron, ac felly y mae yn parhau.*

* Yr ydym yn ddyledus am lawer o ddefnyddiau hanes eglwysi Lleyn i Meistri J. Morgan, Penlan, sir Aberteifi; H. T. Parry, a D. Jones, Abersoch; R. Rowlands, Llanon, (Ceidio, gynt); W. Williams,Nefyn; J. H. Williams, Llaniestyn, ac eraill; ond gwel ein brodyr, ein bod, drwy ymchwiliad i hen gofnodion, wedi dyfod o hyd i lawer o.ddyddiadau nad anfonasant i ni, ac wedi cywiro rhai dyddiadau a anfonwyd i ni. Buasai yn dda genym, er hyny, fod ein dyddiadau i bob peth yn llawer cyflawnach. Mae gwerth hanes yn dibynu i fesur mawr ar ei fod yn.gywir a chyflawn yn ei ddyddiadau.

 

CAPEL-HELYG

(Llangybi parish)

Mae hanes yr eglwys hon am fwy na chant a haner o flynyddau agos yr un a hanes Pwllheli, fel nad rhaid i ni yma ail adrodd yr hyn a ddywedasom yno. Un eglwys ydoedd, mewn gwirionedd, yn addoli mewn dau le, a phan erlidid hi yn y naill, ffoai i'r llall. Yn ol llythyr Mr. Henry Maurice at Mr. Edward Terril, (nid Ferril, fel y camargraffwyd yn hanes Pwllheli), un eglwys ydoedd yn 1675, a dyma yr unig eglwys Ymneillduol oedd yn y sir, ac yr oedd yn cyfarfod yn gyffredin yn Llanarmon a Llangybi. Dywedir y byddai yr ychydig ffyddloniaid oedd yn glynu wrth yr

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Arglwydd yn cyfarfod a'u gilydd yn nghysgod craig mewn coedwig heb fod yn mhell o Gapel-helyg, pan na feiddient, gan ysbryd erledigaethus y dyddiau hyny, gyfarfod yn amlwg. Crybwyllasom yn hanes Pwllheli, fod Mr. Jeffrey Parry yn swyddog yn myddin Cromwell, ac yn bregethwr Ymneillduol, a sefydlodd trwy briodas, fel yr ymddengys, yn y wlad hon. Yr ydym eisioes wedi gweled ei enw fel un o'r tystion o ddieuogrwydd Mr. John Williams yn ngwyneb y cyhuddiadau maleisus a ddygid i'w erbyn. Ymddengys mai un o feibion ieuengaf Mr. Parry, o Posten, sir Henffordd, ydoedd. Yr oedd yn filwriad ar gatrawd o feirch-filwyr yn myddin Cromwell. Daeth i sir Gaernarfon a phriododd ferch ac etifeddes Hugh Hughes, o Gefnllanfair; a thrwy y briodas daeth i berchenogaeth Rhydolion, Wernfawr, a Chefnllanfair. Bu iddo fab, yr hwn a alwyd yn Love Parry, ac y mae yr enw hwnw wedi treiglo i lawr i'w ddisgynyddion, ac yn cael ei gadw gan Mr. Jones-Parry, marchog presenol sir Gaernarfon, yn y chweched genhedlaeth. Yn Rhydolion y bu Jeffrey Parry yn byw, a dywedir fod ei hen bulpud yno i'w weled yn amser Ieuan Lleyn; ac oddiwrth lythyr y Cadfridog John Jones at geidwad Castell Beaumaris, o'r hwn yr ydym eisioes wedi difynu, y mae yn hawdd gweled fod Jeffrey Parry yn wr crefyddol. Yr oedd y Cadfridog Jones yn enedigol o Faesygarnedd, yn sir Feirionydd, a chyfododd o sefyllfa isel i enwogrwydd mawr. Yr oedd yn Annibynwr o'r fath fanylaf, ac y mae yn rhaid fod ganddo ymddiried mawr yn Jeffrey Parry, fel gwr crefyddol, cyn y buasai yn gadael iddo i ranu yr arian a anfonai rhwng y rhai oedd "yn rhodio yn nghymdeithas yr efengyl" yn y sir, fel y barnai oreu. Mae yn debyg ei fod ef yn un o brif gynorthwywyr yr eglwys yn sir Gaernarfon yn yr adeg erledigaethus arni. Nid oes genym wybodaeth pa bryd y cyfaddaswyd ystafell wrth Ty-helyg at addoli, yr hwn ar ol hyny a alwyd y Capel-helyg. Nid yw yr enw i'w gael yn mysg y lleoedd a gofrestrwyd yn 1672, pan y caniataodd y brenin radd o ryddid. Gallwn gasglu yn lled sicr nad oedd yr ystafell wedi ei neillduo yn 1675, pan ysgrifenodd Mr. Henry Maurice at Mr. Terril, oblegid pe buasai gan y gynnulleidfa le sefydlog i gyfarfod, ni buasai angen dyweyd ei bod "yn cyfarfod yn gyffredin yn Llanarmon a Llangybi." Y casgliad naturiol ydyw ei bod y pryd hwnw heb babell sefydlog i wneyd ei chartref, ac mai wedi cael cysgod Deddf Goddefiad yr adeiladwyd yr ystafell wrth amaethdy Ty-helyg, fel yr adnabyddid ef yn nghofrestr y plwyf hyd y flwyddyn 1732, ac ni cheir yr enw Capel-helyg arno cyn y flwyddyn 1745.*  Nid oedd y capel cyntaf ond ystafell fechan with gefn y ty, yn mesur tua phum' llath a haner wrth bedair llath, ond yr oedd cael y lle fel yr ydoedd yn gaffaeliad gwerthfawr yn y dyddiau hyny, a buwyd yn addoli yma am dymor maith. Gellir meddwl i'r ystafell hon gael ei rhoddi am byth at wasanaeth yr achos yn y lle gan ryw gymwynaswr caredig nad yw ei enw wedi treiglo hyd atom ni, a dywedir fod yn perthyn iddi gwpan a dysgl arian wedi eu rhoddi at wasanaeth y cymundeb, a bod yma "ystafell y prophwyd" wedi ei threfnu gyda gwely, a bwrdd, ac ystol, er cyfleusdra y pregethwyr a ddeuai heibio, ond y mae y cwbl wedi myned ar goll er's llawer o amser. Tynwyd y mur ceryg oedd rhwng yr ystafell a'r ty i lawr mewn adeg ddiweddarach, fel y gellid gwneyd defnydd o'r ty hefyd at wasanaeth crefyddol, pan fyddai hyny yn angenrheidiol.

* Dysgedydd, 1862. Tu dal. 190. " Hanes eglwys Capel-helyg."

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Mewn "amseroedd blinion yr adeiladwyd y mur" yma, a thrwy "ymdrech mawr o helbulon" y gweithiodd yr "ychydig enwau" oedd yn y lle eu ffordd yn mlaen, nes y cafwyd ychydig seibiant dan aden Deddf Goddefiad. Dywed Robert Jones, awdwr Drych yr Amseroedd, am yr erlidiau creulawn a ddyoddefasant: - "Byddai gorfod arnynt yn fynych gadw eu cyfarfodydd yn y nos rhag cael eu haflonyddu gan yr erlidwyr. Anmherchid eu cyrph yn greulon, a llunid aneirif gelwyddau am danynt. Taflwyd rhyw nifer o honynt i garchar, yn nghyd a chymeryd eu meddianau. Ffiniwyd y Capel-helyg, yn mhlwyf Llangybi, ddwywaith i haner can' punt bob tro, a thalwyd y cyfan gan ychydig o bersonau ag oeddynt yn caru achos eu Harglwydd. Yr oedd yn yr amseroedd hyny wr tra chreulon yn byw yn y Plasnewydd, gerllaw Llandwrog, a elwid Hwlcyn Llwyd, ac o ran ei swydd yn ustus heddwch,* Anfonodd i ran o'r wlad a elwir Eifionydd, (ddeg neu bymtheng milldir o ffordd), i ruthro ar y trueiniaid gwirion heb un achos, ond eu bod yn addoli Duw, gan eu harwain, fel defaid i'r lladdfa, at balas yr ustus creulon, a'u dodi mewn dalfa o'r boreu hyd brydnawn. Digwyddodd i un o weision yr ustus ddyfod i'w gweled; atolygasant ar hwnw i fod mor garedig a myned drostynt at ei feistr, a dangos iddo nad oeddynt hwy yn gwrthod myned i garchar os oedd y gyfraith yn gofyn hyny, ond nad oedd un gyfraith i'w cadw yno i lewygu o newyn. Bu y gwas mor dirion a gwneyd eu harchiad; ond yn y fan, tra yr oedd y dyn yn dyweyd drostynt, ffromodd yr hen lew creulon yn erchyll, a dechreuodd ymwylltio, anmhwyllo, ac ymgynddeiriogi, nes y trengodd yn ddisymwyth yn farw yn y fan, a chafodd y praidd diniwed fyned yn rhydd o'r gwarchau, a dychwelyd yn siriol at eu teuluoedd mewn diolchgarwch." +

Llawer dyfais a wnaed gan y ffyddloniaid hyn i gyfarfod a'u gilydd er gwaethaf cynddaredd yr erledigaeth. Dyma un cynllun y cyfeiria awdwr y traethawd yn y Dysgedydd ato: - " Er mwyn gochel grym y gyfraith orthrymus hon, gwnaed dirgelfa yn Nghae'rtyddyn i'r eglwys ymgynnull iddi. Ty tô gwellt, a'r bargod yn ei gefn yn un a'r ddaear, oedd hen dy Cae'rtyddyn. Gwnaed rhyw fath o daflod uwchben y siamber ar ran o'r

* Mae gan y diweddar Eben Fardd sylw mewn beirniadaeth o'i eiddo ar draethawd ar "Hanes eglwys Capel-helyg," sydd yn werth ei osod ar gof a chadw. Cyhoeddwyd y traethawd hwnw mewn amryw rifynau o'r Dysgedydd am 1862. Dengys y traethawd of llafur dirfawr, ac y mae ynddo lawer o bethau o werth hanesyddol na buont yn gyhoeddedig o'r blaen; ac y mae ynddo rai camgymeriadau pwysig, y rhai a wneir gan yr awdwr wrth ddilyn eraill. Ceir yn nglyn ag ef ddau ddifyniad o feirniadaeth Eben Fardd, y rhai a ddengys fod Eben yn hynafiaethydd craff ac ymchwilgar yn gystal ag yn fardd. Dyma un o honynt yn nglyn a'r crybwylliad am yr ynad o'r Plasnewydd: - "Efallai y caniateir i mi sylwi fy mod yn methu a chael boddlonrwydd am enw yr ustus a ddywedir oedd yn byw yn Plasnewydd, Llandwrog, pan ffiniwyd y Capel-helyg, ac y dygwyd rhai o'r aelodau o'i flaen i'w cosbi am eu crefydd; gelwir ef Hwlcyn Llwyd; nis gellais i weled dim un o'r enw yn mysg achau Glynllifon a'u canghenau teuluaidd, ond yr Hwlcyn Llwyd oedd yn cadw Castell Caernarfon yn amser Owain Glyndwr, tua'r flwyddyn 1400, uwchlaw dau-cant-a-haner o flynyddoedd cyn yr amser y ffiniwyd Capel-helyg. Mae yn wir mai o'r Hwlcyn hwn yr oedd cangen y Plasnewydd yn deillio, ond Thomas Glynne oedd y penteulu yno tua'r amser y cyfeirir ato. Yr oedd yn sirydd Caernarfon y n 1627, a bu farw yn 1659. Enw ei fab oedd Griffith Glynne, a darfu y teulu o gylch yr amser yma trwy i'r etifeddiaeth "fyned ar y cogail," fel y byddai yr hen Gymry yn arfer dyweyd, hyny yw, disgyn i etifeddesau. Nid wyf yn amheu gwirionedd yr hanes am ffinio y Capel-helyg a dal aelodau yr eglwys a'u dwyn gerbron ryw ynad, fel y nodir, ond am gywirdeb enw yr ynad, yr wyf yn petruso ." - Dysgedydd, 1862. Tu dal. 270.

+Drych yr Amseroedd Tu dal. 11 a 12.

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ty, a thorwyd twll yn y tô yn nghefn y ty i fyned i'r ardd, trwy yr hwn y gallasai yr addolwyr ymwthio allan pe buasai i'r erlidwyr ddyfod i'r ty. Yr oedd y twll wedi ei gau gyda swp o wellt yn y fath fodd fel na wyddai neb oddiallan fod yno un. Elid i fyny iddi gydag ysgol, yr hon a dynid i fyny wedi i'r cyfeillion ymgynnull yn nghyd."

Ond daliodd yr eglwys yma ei thir er yr holl ystormydd, ac er nad oedd nifer yr aelodau ond ychydig, etto ni ddiffoddodd lamp Duw yn y lle. Bu yma rai personau o gryn enwogrwydd yn perthyn iddi yn ngwahanol gyfnodau ei hanes. Ryw bryd yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Daniel Phillips y daeth Francis Evans at grefydd, yr hwn a fu yn gristion gloyw, ac yn addurn i'w broffes. Ei weled ef yn darllen ac yn gweddio gyda'i deulu, a ddihunodd gydwybod William Pritchard, Glasfrynfawr, yr hwn a fu yn grefyddwr disglaer trwy ei oes. Ymddengys y byddai y tri brawd y cyfeiriasom atynt yn hanes Rhosymeirch, Howell, Harri, a Thomas, meibion Thomas Pritchard, Tygwyn, gerllaw Llangefni, yn arfer cyrchu yma mor foreu a'r flwyddyn 1730, os nad cyn hyny; a thrwyddynt hwy yr arweiniwyd William Pritchard i fyw i Blas Penmynydd, Mon. Mewn adeg ddiweddarach arferai dau ni dri ddyfod yma o Lanberis i gymundeb agos bob mis. Dywedai Dorothy Jones, Brynglas, Llanberis, wrth Mr. R. P. Griffiths, ddeugain mlynedd yn ol, yr arferai hi pan yn ieuangc ddyfod yr holl ffordd oddiyno yma i gymundeb, ac yr oedd hi ddeugain mlynedd yn ol yn bedwar-ugain-a-phedair-ar-ddeg, fel y gall fod mwy na chan' mlynedd er yr arferai hi gyrchu yma. Ni byddai gweinidog Pwllheli yn dyfod yma ond unwaith yn y mis i bregethu, ac i Bwllheli y disgwylid i bawb ddyfod i gael eu derbyn yn aelodau. Nid oedd nifer yr aelodau yma ond ychydig wedi cyfnod hir, ond yr oedd y maes yn cael ei esgeuluso oblegid y disgwylid i bawb fyned i Bwllheli, ond y boreu Sabboth y ceid pregeth yma. Dywedir nad oedd rhifedi yr aelodau yn 1789, pan sefydlodd Mr. B. Jones yma, ond tri-ar-ddeg, ac ychwanegir, nad oes sicrwydd am fwy na thri-ar-ddeg a ymunodd a'r eglwys yn ystod y saith-mlynedd-ar-hugain y bu cysylltiad rhyngddo a'r lle. Nid oedd etto yr un capel newydd wedi ei godi yma, ond parheid i addoli yn yr hen ystafell lle yr oeddynt wedi bod cyhyd, a'r hon bellach a adnabyddid trwy y wlad fel Capel-helyg. Ond teimlid anfantais o eisiau lle mwy cyfleus i addoli, ac aeth dau gyfaill selog at oruchwyliwr Syr Thomas Mostyn i ofyn am dir i adeiladu capel, yr hyn a ganiatawyd iddynt yn rhwydd, a rhoddodd iddynt gerig at ei godi, ac yn ychwanegol at hyny, rhoddodd bulpud a meingciau hen gapel eglwysig oedd ar yr ystad, o'r enw Capel-gallt-coed. Bu yr ardalwyr yn garedig mewn cludo defnyddiau, a chyfranu ychydig arian. Adeiladwyd ef yn 1814, pryd y symudwyd o'r hen ystafell iddo.

Y flwyddyn ganlynol rhoddodd Mr. Jones, Pwllheli, ofal y lle i fyny, ac felly datodwyd yr hen gysylltiad oedd wedi parhau er dechreuad yr achos. Yr oedd achos erbyn hyn wedi ei sefydlu yn Rhoslan, ac anogid y ddau le i uno a'u gilydd yn un weinidogaeth. Rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Edward Davies, o Lanrhiadr-yn-mochnant, ac urddwyd ef i'r weinidogaeth yn Rhoslan, Medi 26ain, 1816. Nid oedd yma ond pedwar-ar-ddeg o aelodau pan sefydlodd Mr. Davies yn weinidog, a phedwar o'r rhai hyny uwchlaw pedwar ugain oed, ac un o honynt yn ddall, ac nid oedd ond dau o honynt a weddiai yn gyhoeddus mewn cynnulleidfa, sef David Jones, Brynllefrith, ac Owen Morris, Sarnycorddi; ond llafuriodd Mr. Davies yma yn ddiwyd heb ddigaloni er mor isel yr ymddangosai pethau. Yn y

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flwyddyn 1821, pan oedd Mr. Davies oddicartref, bu farw O. Morris, a chladdwyd ef yn mynwent Pwllheli. Teimlodd Mr. Davies yn fawr pan glywodd, a'r peth cyntaf a ofynodd oedd, "Pwy a weddia trosof bellach?" Yr oedd yr hen bregethwr cynes John Thomas, Glynarthen, yn pregethu yma y noson hono, a chyn diwedd yr oedfa, torodd diwygiad nerthol allan, fel y dwysbigwyd llawer yn eu calonau. Ychwanegwyd deg-ar-hugain at yr eglwys fechan, a chafodd Mr. Davies lawer i weddio drosto yn lle yr un a gollodd. Yn fuan ar ol y diwygiad derbyniodd Mr. Davies alwad o Maentwrog a Thrawsfynydd, a symudodd yno yn Ebrill, 1822. Cyn pen dwy flynedd rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Evan Rowlands, myfyriwr o athrofa Neuaddlwyd, i fod yn weinidog i'r ddwy eglwys, ac urddwyd ef yma Ebrill 8fed, 1824. Pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. T. Lewis, Pwllheli; offrymwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. W. Hughes, Dinasmawddwy; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. T. Phillips, Neuaddlwyd, ac i'r eglwysi gan Mr. E. Davies, Penstryd. Bu Mr. Rowlands yma yn llafurio yn ddiwyd am bum' mlynedd, ond heb lwyddiant nodedig ar ei weinidogaeth. Yr oedd yn drai ar ol llanw y diwygiad. Symudodd i Ebenezer, Pontypool, lle y treuliodd weddill ei oes. Wedi ei ymadawiad torwyd y cysylltiad rhwng Capel-helyg a Rhoslan, ac unodd yr eglwys hon a'r eglwysi yn Llanaelhaiarn, Sardis, a Chwilog i roddi galwad i Mr. David Price, gwr ieuangc o Ebenezer, Llanddeiniolen. Urddwyd ef yma Hydref 30ain, 1829. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. W. Hughes, Saron; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwysi gan Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan. Yr oedd Mr. Price o ddawn poblogaidd, ac o dymer ennillgar, a daeth y gwrandawiad yn lluosocach yma nac yn unrhyw adeg flaenorol, ond digynydd hollol fu yr eglwys. Dywedir na dderbyniwyd yma ond dau am yr un-mlynedd-ar-ddeg cyntaf ar ol y diwygiad a fu yma yn y flwyddyn 1821, ac i'r ddau hyny wrthgilio! Blwyddyn a haner y bu Mr. Price yma. Symudodd i Ben-y-bont-fawr yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1830, lle cyrhaeddodd boblogrwydd nodedig fel pregethwr. Yn mhen ychydig gyda blwyddyn wedi ymadawiad Mr. Price, rhoddodd yr eglwys yma, a Sardis, a Chwilog alwad i Mr. James Jones, myfyriwr o athrofa Neuaddlwyd, ac urddwyd ef yma Hydref 4ydd, 1832. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. J. Griffith, Abererch; holwyd y gweinidog gan Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. T. Davies, Ffestiniog; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel. Yr oedd yr achos wedi disgyn yn bur isel pan ddechreuodd Mr. Jones ei weinidogaeth yma. Nid oedd yma ond tri-ar-hugain o aelodau, ond siriolodd yr achos yn fuan. Cyn pen chwe' mis yr oedd nifer yr aelodau wedi dyblu, a bu gweinidogaeth Mr. Jones yn fwy llwyddianus i luosogi yr eglwys na neb o'i ragflaenoriaid. Yr oedd yma ddyled ar y capel pan y sefydlodd yn y lle, ond llwyddwyd trwy gydymdrech i ddileu hono, ac yn y flwyddyn 1834, adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd hardd a chyfleus, yr hwn a gostiodd fwy na 180p., a gwnaed cryn ymdrech ar y pryd i gasglu gan yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa. Cafwyd yma adfywiad grymus yn y flwyddyn 1839, a'r flwyddyn ganlynol, ac yn ystod dwy flynedd derbyniwyd uwchlaw haner cant o aelodau newyddion. Yn mhen amser ar ol hyn, daeth rhyw annghydwelediad i mewn i fysg rhai o

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weinidogion y sir, ac yn anffodus aeth rhai yn yr eglwys hon i ymyraeth a'r cweryl, rhai i gymeryd ochr y naill, ac eraill i gymeryd ochr y lleill, a'r canlyniad fu i'r eglwys ymranu, ac i nifer o'r aelodau fyned allan, a buont am dymor yn cynal moddion ar wahan, a Mr. R. P. Griffiths, a rhai eraill o weinidogion a phregethwyr y sir, yn pregethu iddynt. Parodd yr amgylchiad yma lawer o flinder, a diau y gallesid ei ysgoi pe gwrandewsid ar gyngor y gwr doeth, i beidio "ymyraeth a chynen wrth fyned heibio." Ond daeth y pleidiau cyn hir at eu gilydd, a chyfanwyd y rhwyg, ond nid heb i'r achos ddyoddef i fesur ar y pryd, ond y mae teimladau erbyn hyn wedi eu llwyr iachau. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1844, derbyniodd Mr. Jones alwad o Abermaw, a symudodd yno. Bu yr eglwys ar ol hyny ysbaid tair blynedd heb weinidog, ond yr adeg hono ni bu yn segur a ddiffrwyth. Prynwyd y tir o dan y capel i fod yn rhydd-feddiant i'r eglwys, a thalwyd am dano. Yn nechreu Mai, 1848, cymerodd Mr. Thomas Griffiths, yr hwn a fuasai unwaith yn weinidog yn Rhydlydan, sir Ddinbych, ofal yr eglwys, a bu yma yn dderbyniol a llwyddianus am ddwy flynedd, ac yna symudodd i gymeryd gofal yr eglwysi yn Rhoslan, Tabor, a Llanystumdwy. Wedi bod ddwy flynedd heb weinidog, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Hugh Hughes (Tegai), a bu ef yma o fis Mawrth, 1853, hyd fis Mai, 1857. Er na bu llwyddiant mawr ar ei weinidogaeth, etto parhaodd yr eglwys mewn ysbryd gweithio. Adgyweiriwyd y capel, a phrynodd dri-chwarter erw o dir at fynwent. Yn Mehefin, 1859, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Jones, Brynllefrith, aelod o'r eglwys, a mab i un o'r hen ddiaconiaid, i fod yn weinidog. Urddwyd ef y dydd cyntaf o fis Gorphenaf ar ol hyny, ac y mae Mr. Jones yn parhau i lafurio yma gyda chymeradwyaeth a pharch. Edrychodd yr eglwys iddi ei hun am un i'w bugeilio, fel y mae ganddi "arweinydd o'r meibion a fagodd;" ac ynddi hi y cyflawnir yr addewid, "A'u pendefigion fydd o honynt eu hun, a'u llywiawdwyr a ddaw allan o'u mysg eu hunain." Talwyd holl ddyled y capel yn y flwyddyn 1868, ond teimlir fod angen am gapel newydd yma. Mae yr achos yn dal ei dir, ac yn ychwanegu cryfder yn raddol, ond y mae cynifer o ganghenau wedi myned allan oddiyma, ac nid yw poblogaeth yr ardal yn lluosog, fel nas gellir disgwyl yma gynnulleidfa luosog.

Heblaw y rhai y crybwyllasom eu henwau eisioes yn hanes yr eglwys, pan oedd mewn cysylltiad a Phwllheli, codwyd yma ddau bregethwr, sef Robert Jones, Cae'rmab, yr hwn sydd yn parhau yn bregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn yr eglwys, a David Jones, y gweinidog presenol; ac y mae yn dda genym ddeall fod yr achos yma, ar ol treigliad mwy na dau can' mlynedd arno, yn dwyn arwyddion amlwg fod yr "amddiffyn ar yr holl ogoniant."

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Sept 2010)

For more than a hundred and fifty years, the history of this church is almost the same as the history of Pwllheli, so that we do not have to repeat what we said about that church. It was one church, in fact, worshipping in two places, and when they were persecuted in one, they fled to the other.  According to Mr. Henry Maurice's letter to Mr. Edward Terril, (not Ferril, as was misprinted in the history of Pwllheli), it was one church in 1675, and this is the only non-conformist church in the county, and they generally had their meetings in Llanarmon and Llangybi.  It is said that the faithful few who adhered to

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the Lord met in the shadow of a rock in a forest not far from Capel-helyg, when they did not dare, because of the spirit of persecution in those days, to meet publicly.  We mentioned in the history of  Pwllheli, that Mr. Jeffrey Parry was the official in Cromwell's army, and was a Non-conformist preacher, and he settled after marriage, it appears, in this country.  We have already seen his name as one of the witnesses of the innocence of Mr. John Williams in the face of malicious accusations brought against him. It appears that he was one of Mr. Parry, of  Posten, Herefordshire's youngest sons.  He was a soldier in Cromwell's cavalry regiment.  He came to Caernarfonshire and married the daughter and heiress of Hugh Hughes, of Cefnllanfair; and through marriage came to own Rhydolion, Wernfawr, and Cefnllanfair.  He had a son, who was named Love Parry, and that name has lived on in his descendants, and is kept by Mr. Jones-Parry, the present knight for Caernarfon, in the sixth generation. Jeffrey Parry lived in Rhydolion, and it is said that his old pulpit was still to be seen in Ieuan Lleyn's time; and according to a letter from General John Jones to the keeper of Beaumaris Castle, whom we have already quoted, it is easy to see that Jeffrey Parry was a religious man.  General Jones who was born in Maesygarnedd, in Merionethshire, and came from a lowly situation to great fame.  He was a very meticulous Independent, and he must have had great trust in Jeffrey Parry, as a religious man, before he allowed him to divide the money he sent between those who "tread in the company of the gospel" in the county, as he saw fit.  It is apparent that he was one of the greatest supporters of the church in Caernarfonshire at a time when it was most persecuted.  We do not know when the room near Ty-helyg, which was later adapted for worship, was called Capel-helyg.  The name is not amongst the places registered in 1672, when the king allowed a measure of freedom. We can accept quite accurately that that room had not been set aside by 1675, when Mr. Henry Maurice wrote to Mr. Terril, because if the congregation had a settled place to meet, it would have been unnecessary to say that it "usually met in Llanarmon and Llangybi." It is a natural assumption that the church did not at the time have a settled building in which to make its home, and that once they had had the shelter of the Act of Tolerance the room near the farm at Ty-helyg was built, as it was known in the parish register until 1732, and that it was not called Capel-helyg until  1745.*  The first chapel was nothing but a small room at the back of the house, which measured about five and a half yards by four yards, but having even that was a valuable acquisition in those days, and they worshipped there for a long time. We could think that this room could have been given for ever in the service of the cause in the place by some kind benefactor that we know nothing about, and it is said that it has a cup and silver plate given for the communion service, and that there is a "prophet's room" arranged with a bed, a table, and a stool, for the convenience of the preacher who called by, but it was all lost a long time ago. Later the wall which separated the room and the house was pulled down, so that the house itself could also be used for religious services, when that was necessary.

* Dysgedydd, 1862. Page 190. " Hanes eglwys Capel-helyg."("The history of the church at Capel-helyg")

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This wall had been built in difficult times, and the few people there worked on through a miriad of troubles, until a little break was given by being able to rest under the wing of the Act of Tolerance.  Robert Jones, the author of 'Drych yr Amseroedd'(The Mirror of the Times), wrote about the cruel persecutions that people suffered: - "They would often have to hold their meetings at night in case they would be disturbed by persecuters.  Their bodies were disrespected cruelly, and countless lies were fashioned about them.  Some of them were thrown into prison, and their possessions confiscated.  Capel-helyg stood on the borders in the Llangybi parish, and had to pay fifty pounds twice every time, and it was paid by the few people that loved the cause of their Lord.  At that time a very cruel man lived in Plasnewydd, near Llandwrog, who was called Hwlcyn Llwyd, and he was a justice of the peace,* He sent out to a part of the land called Eifionydd, (ten or fifteen miles away), to pounce on the poor people without a reason, except that they were worshipping God, leading them, like lambs to the slaughter, to the cruel justice's palace, and putting them in jail from morning till afternoon. It happened that one of the magistrate's servants came to see them; they pleaded with him to be so kind as to go to his master on their behalf, and to show him that they did not refuse to go to prison if the law allowed that, but that no law said that they were to stay there and faint from hunger.  The servant was good enough to do as they asked; but just then, while the servant spoke their words to him, the old cruel lion fumed frightfully, and he started ranting, and raving, until he died suddenly on the spot, and the innocent flock was allowed to go free from their jail, and return thankfully and happily to their families." +

These faithful few used many devices in order to meet despite the fury of the persecution.  This is one plan the author of the Dysgedydd mentioned: - " In order to avoid the power of this oppressive law, a hiding place was made in Cae'rtyddyn in which  the church met.  Old Cae'rtyddyn house was a thatched house, with the eves behind it on a level with the ground. Some sort of gallery had been built above the chamber on part of the

* The late Eben Fardd mentions in a critical article on the  "History of Capel-helyg church," that is worth recording. That article was published in several volumes of the Dysgedydd paper in 1862.  The article indicates a great deal of work, and there are many facts in it that are historically valuable that had not been published before; and there are some important mistakes, made by the author while copying others.  There are two quotations from a criticism by Eben Fardd, which shows that Eben was a shrewd and investigative antiquary as well as being a bard.  This is one of them concerning the Justice from Plasnewydd: - "Perhaps I could be allowed to comment that I cannot be satisfied about the name of the justice who it is said lived in Plasnewydd, Llandwrog, when  Capel-helyg was bordered, and who had some of the members brought before him to be punished for their faith; he was called  Hwlcyn Llwyd; I cannot find anyone of that name amongst the records of Glynllifon and family branches, except the Hwlcyn Llwyd who was keeper of Caernarfon castle in the time of Owain Glyndwr, about the year1400, more than two hundred and fifty years before Capel-helyg was bordered.  It's true that the Plasnewydd branch is descended from this Hwlcyn, but it was Thomas Glynne that was the head of the family at the time that was mentioned.  He was the sheriff  of Caernarfon in 1627, and he died in 1659.  His son was Griffith Glynne, and the family name came to an end around this time as his daughters were his heirs. I do not doubt the truth of the story about the borders of Capel-helyg and catching the church members and being brought before some Justice as is noted, but I do doubt the accuracy of the Justice's name." - Dysgedydd, 1862. page. 270.

+"Drych yr Amseroedd" page. 11 and 12.

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house, and a hole had been cut in the roof at the back of the house in order to reach the garden, which the worshippers could use to squeeze through if the persecutors came to the house.  The hole was closed up using a bundle of straw so no-one outside knew it was there.  It was reached by ladder, which was drawn up once the friends were gathered together."

But the church here held on through all storms, and even though there were few members, yet God's lamp did not extinguish there. During various times in its history there were some people of some fame connected with the place.  Some time during the ministry of Mr. Daniel Phillips, Francis Evans found his faith. He was a shining example of a Christian.  It was seeing him and his family reading and praying, which awoke the conscience of  William Pritchard, Glasfrynfawr, who was a great religious man all his life.  It appears that the three brothers we mentioned in the history of  Rhosymeirch, Howell, Harri, and Thomas, the sons of  Thomas Pritchard, Tygwyn, near Llangefni, used to travel here as early as 1730, if not earlier; and through their influence William Pritchard was lead to live in Plas Penmynydd, Anglesey.  At a later time two or three used to come here from Llanberis to the communion nearly every month.  Dorothy Jones, Brynglas, Llanberis, told Mr. R. P. Griffiths, forty years ago, that when she was young she used to come all that way to the communion, and forty years ago she was ninety four, so that it was more than a hundred years ago that she used to travel here.  The minister of Pwllheli used to come here to preach once a month only, and it was expected that people should travel to Pwllheli to be accepted as members.  The membership here was few, but the work was being neglected because they were all expected to travel to Pwllheli, but a sermon was preached here on the Sunday.  It is said that the number of members in 1789, when Mr. B. Jones settled here, was just thirteen, and it is certain that there weren't more than another thirteen others who joined the church during the twenty seven years that he was connected to the church.  No new chapel was built here, but they continued to worship in the old room where they'd been for so long, which was by now known throughout the country as Capel-helyg.  But they felt they needed a more convenient place to worship, and two zealous friends went to see Sir Thomas Mostyn's overseer to ask for some land on which to build a chapel, which was granted to them easily, and they were given stone with which to build, and added to this, he gave them a pulpit and benches from the old church, called Capel-gallt-coed, which had stood on the estate.  The people of the area kindly carried materials, and donated some money.  It was built in 1814, when they moved out of the old room and into the new chapel.

The next year Mr. Jones, Pwllheli, gave up the care of the place, and so the connection which had lasted since the beginning of the cause was ended.  A cause had now been started in Rhoslan, and the two places were encouraged to unite under one ministry. A call was sent to Mr. Edward Davies, from Lanrhiadr-yn-mochnant, and he was ordained to the ministry in Rhoslan, September 26th, 1816.  There were just fourteen members here when Mr. Davies settled as minister, and four of those were more than eighty years old, and one was blind, and only two of them would pray publicly before a congregation. They were David Jones, Brynllefrith, and Owen Morris, Sarnycorddi.  But Mr. Davies laboured here diligently without losing heart even though circumstances looked bad.  In

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1821, when Mr. Davies was away from home, O. Morris died, and he was buried in Pwllheli cemetery.  Mr. Davies was very upset when he heard, and the first thing he asked was, "Who will pray for me now?"  The dear old preacher John Thomas, Glynarthen, was preaching here that night, and before the end of the service, a powerful revival broke out, so that many had their consciences pricked.  Thirty were added to the small church, and Mr. Davies had many people to pray for him in the place of the one who was lost.  Soon after the revival Mr. Davies accepted a call from Maentwrog and Trawsfynydd, and he moved there in April, 1822. Before two years had passed a call was sent to Mr. Evan Rowlands, a student from Neuaddlwyd college, to be the minister over the two churches, and he was ordained here on April 8th, 1824. Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. T. Lewis, Pwllheli; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. W. Hughes, Dinasmawddwy; Mr. T. Phillips, Neuaddlwyd preached to the minister, and Mr. E. Davies, Penstryd preached to the church.  Mr. Rowlands stayed here labouring diligently for five years, but had no notable success during his ministry.  It was like the ebb after the flow of the revival. He moved to Ebenezer, Pontypool, where he spent the rest of his life.  After he left, the connection between Capel-helyg and Rhoslan was broken, and this church joined the churches in Llanaelhaiarn, Sardis, and Chwilog to give a call to Mr. David Price, a young man from Ebenezer, Llanddeiniolen.  He was ordained here on October 30th, 1829.  On that occasion Mr. D. Griffiths, Talysarn preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. W. Hughes, Saron; Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel preached on the duty of the minister, and Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan preached about the duty of the churches.  Mr. Price had a talent for being popular, and had a winning way, and the listeners multiplied here more than at any other time, but the church did not grow.  It is said that no more than two were accepted during the eleven years after the revival that happened in  1821, and that those two backslid!  Mr. Price stayed here for a year and a half.  He moved to Pen-y-bont-fawr at the end of 1830, where he became very popular as a minister.  Within a year after Mr. Price left, the church, along with Sardis, and Chwilog gave a call to Mr. James Jones, a student from Neuaddlwyd college, and he was ordained here on October 4th, 1832.  On the occasion Mr. J. Griffith, Abererch preached on the nature of the church; the questions were asked by Mr. R. Owen, Llanengan; the ordination prayer was given by Mr. T. Davies, Ffestiniog; Mr. W. Davies, Nefyn preached to the minister, and Mr. D. Griffith, Bethel preached to the church.  The cause had floundered a great deal when Mr. Jones started his ministry here.  There were just twenty three members, but the cause cheered up quite soon.  Before six months were up the number of members had doubled, and Mr. Jones' ministry was more successful in multiplying the congregation than any of his predecessors.  The chapel had a debt when it was formed, but they settled the debt through working together, and in 1834, a fine new chapel, which cost more than £180 was built, and a great deal of effort was made at the time by the church and the congregation.  A powerful revival happened in 1839, and the following year, and within two years more than fifty new members were accepted.  Soon after this, a disagreement happened amongst some of

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the ministers of the county, and unfortunately some from this church interfered in the quarrel, some took one side, and others took the other side, and the result was that the church split, and several of the members left, and for a while held services elsewhere, and Mr. R. P. Griffiths, and other ministers and preachers in the county preached to them.  These circumstances caused a lot of upset, and undoubtedly it could have been avoided had the advice of the wise man had been listened to, not to "interfere in the battle." But the sides soon came together, and the split was healed, but not before the cause suffered to a great extent at the time, but feelings have by now been healed completely. Before the end of 1844, Mr. Jones accepted a call from Abermaw (Barmouth), and he moved there.  The church was for three years without a minister, but it was not unfruitful and idle during that time. A piece of land was bought below the chapel which was to be a free-hold for the church, and it was paid for.  At the beginning of May, 1848, Mr. Thomas Griffiths, who was once the minister in  Rhydlydan, Denbighshire, took the care of the church, and was acceptable and successful for two years, and then he moved to take charge of the churches in Rhoslan, Tabor, and Llanystumdwy.  After two years without a minister, a call was sent to Mr. Hugh Hughes (Tegai), and he was here from March, 1853, until May, 1857.  Even though there wasn't any great success to his ministry, yet the church continued in good spirit. The chapel was repaired, and three quarters of an acre of land was bought for a cemetery.  In June, 1859, a call was sent to Mr. David Jones, Brynllefrith, a member of the church, and the son of one of the old deacons, to be a minister.  He was ordained on the first day of July after that, and Mr. Jones continues to labour here with respect. The church looked to itself to find someone to shepherd them,  so they would have "a leader from the sons that were raised there;" and the promise was fulfilled, "And their princes will be of themselves, and their rulers will come from amongst themselves." The whole debt of the chapel was paid in 1868, but it was felt they should have a new chapel here.  The cause is still holding fast, and gradually increasing, but several branches have left, and the population of the area is not great, so that the congregations cannot be expected to be large.

Besides those whose names we mentioned before in the history of the church, when it was connected with Pwllheli, two preachers were raised here. They were Robert Jones, Cae'rmab, who is continues to be a respected lay preacher in the church, and David Jones, the present minister; and we are glad to understand that the cause here, after more than two hundred years, is showing obvious signs that the"the whole glory is saved."

  

CHWILOG

(Llanarmon parish)

Mae y lle hwn yn mhlwyf Llanarmon, o fewn dwy filldir i Gapel-helyg. Bu pregethu achlysurol dros amryw flynyddoedd mewn ty yr ochr arall i bentref Chwilog, a elwid Adwy-y-gwter, gerllaw Afonwen. Enw y preswylydd oedd Gabriel Roberts, ond adwaenid ei wraig fel Catrin Jones. Yr oedd hi yn aelod yn Nghapel-helyg. Y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd oedd y rhai a bregethasant gyntaf yno, ond symudasant hwy i gyfeiriad Llanystumdwy, a chychwynasant achos yn y Bontfechan. Gwahoddwyd Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli, i ddyfod i roddi ambell bregeth yn achlysurol yn nhy

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Gabriel Roberts, ond yr oedd mor gaeth i'w gylch cartrefol fel mai anfynych y gallai fyned yno.

"Y mae yr adroddiad am ddechreuad yr achos Annibynol yn Chwilog yn ein dwyn i gysylltiad ag enw un o ddynion hynotaf ei oes, sef John Thomas, Chwilog, neu Sion Wyn o Eifion. Gwelir yr enw yn britho dalenau y cyfrolau cyntaf o'r Seren Gomer a'r Dysgedydd. Y mae nai yr hen fardd  - y Parch. W. Jones, Porthmadog - wedi cyhoeddi cyfrol ddestlus, yn cynwys bywgraphiad o hono, a chasgliad o'i gyfansoddiadau, &c. Yr ydym yn teimlo nas gellir ysgrifenu hanes yr achos crefyddol yn Chwilog, heb ddwyn i mewn hanes un a roes enw i'r lle, ac a fu yn foddion i agor drws i'r arch Gynnulleidfaol.

Hir y cofir patriarch Chwilog,

Un o wir anwyliaid nef;

Collwyd oracl y gymydogaeth

Yn y dydd y collwyd ef:

Wedi claddu cenedlaethau,

Son am dano fydd drwy'r tir,

Ar dafodau traddodiadau

Bydd ei hanes yn byw'n hir.

"Ganwyd John Thomas yn y flwyddyn 1786, yn y ty lle y treuliodd ac y diweddodd ei oes, sef Tynewydd, Chwilog. Clywsom hen bobl, a'i hadwaenent ef o'i febyd, yn dyweyd fod rhyw brydferthwch a hawddgarwch yn mhell tuhwnt i'r cyffredin yn addurno ei wynebpryd. Ond wedi cael un-mlynedd-ar-bymtheg o iechyd a hoewder, daeth cyfnewidiad rhyfedd drosto, yr hyn a barodd iddo dreulio oes faith rhwng erchwynion ei wely. Ar ddiwrnod oer yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1800, aeth i roddi tro i lan y mor yn nghwmni un o'i gyfoedion. Ymdrodd yn rhy hir ar y traeth, ymaflodd awel oer y ddechreunos yn ei gyfansoddiad gyda'r fath lymder, fel y bu raid i'w gyfaill ei gario adref. Yn agos i'r man lle y saif station yr Afonwen yr oedd yn ymddifyru pan y troes y fantol ar ei gyfansoddiad, ac y trawrffurfiwyd y llangc cadarn yn eiddilyn efrydd dros weddill ei oes. Wedi ei ddwyn adref o lan y mor, ymaflodd llycheden angerddol ynddo; ac er na bu y clefyd hwnw i farwolaeth, gadawodd y llangc, druan, yn dra dinerth. Yn ystod yr wyth mlynedd dilynol, ni fwytaodd damaid o fara na chig--ar bosel yn unig y dibynai am gynaliaeth! Yn y flwyddyn 1810, cymerwyd ef drachefn gan glefyd poeth. Ychydig iawn oedd gobaith ei gyfeillion na'r meddygon am ei adferiad y tro hwnw; ond yr oedd gan Ragluniaeth ei bwriadau mewn perthynas i John Thomas. Nid oedd yr un clefyd a allasai ddryllio y 'llestr etholedig ' nes iddo orphen ei wasanaeth. Adferwyd ef, ac yr oedd ar ol yr ail wellâd hwnw yn gryfach nag o'r blaen; a daeth yn alluog i gymeryd ychydig o fara, a rhyw bethau eraill, nad oedd yn alluog i'w defnyddio yn ymborth cyn hyny. Bu marwolaeth ei rieni yn ergyd drom iddo. Yr oedd ei serch at ei fam bron yn ddiarebol. Nid oedd ganddo ef, druan, allu i fyned o amgylch i ysgwyd ymaith y gofid, drwy ymgymysgu â'r byd. Yno, mewn unigedd, y gorweddai, a 'gruddfanai megis colomen' am yr hon a fu yn gweini mor dyner iddo. Wedi iddo dreulio dwy-flynedd-ar-hugain ar ei wely, daeth yn alluog i godi a myned ychydig o amgylch. Galwyd sylw y cyhoedd ato drwy ymdrechiadau y gwr anrhydeddus sydd yn awr yn aelod dros sir Feirionydd yn y Senedd.* Pwrcaswyd cerbyd bychan, prydferth, a chyf-

* D. Williams, Ysw., Castelldeudraeth.

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leus iddo; a daeth yn alluog i gymeryd teithiau byrion i weled ei gyfeillion a'u preswylfodau. Bu yn Nhremadog, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Clynnog, Gaerwen, Bettwsfawr, &c. Cyfansoddodd Gywydd diolch i'w gymwynaswyr lluosog, am eu cydymdeimlad a'u cymhorth, yn yr hwn y mae yn darlunio ei deimladau yn effeithiol wrth gael golwg newydd ar natur. Gwelwyd ef mewn llawer o gyfarfodydd crefyddol cyhoeddus, a byddai yn alluog i gadw ei gydgynnulliad bron yn ddieithriad. Bu farw Gorphenaf 8fed, 1859, a chladdwyd ef y Mercher canlynol yn mynwent Penlan, Pwllheli.

" Wedi rhoddi brasddarluniad o amgylchiadau bywyd y brawd anwyl John Thomas, rhaid i ni gael goddefiad i ychwanegu am neillduolion eraill drwy ba rai y daeth i sylw y byd. Nid bod yn orweiddiog heb fwyta bara a'i gwnaeth yn Sion Wyn o Eifion, ond neillduolion llawer uwch. Dywed ei fywgraphydd,"Ceir hanes am lawer yn ymdrechwyr glew am ddysgeidiaeth, yn wyneb anhawsderau a thlodi; ond anaml y bu neb dan gymaint o anfanteision a'r athrylithgar John Thomas.' Y peth cyntaf a hudodd ei fryd oedd rheolau barddoniaeth, neu yn hytrach, deddfau cynghanedd D. ab Edmwnd.  Cyfansoddodd ddarnau cywir cyn bod yn ddwy-ar-bymtheg oed. Dechreuodd efrydu yr iaith Seisnig tua'r flwyddyn 1805, heb gymorth athraw na neb i'w gyfarwyddo. Hen forwr yn dygwydd dyfod heibio ar dro oedd y cyntaf a roes gyfleusdra iddo siarad yr iaith! Gollynged y darllenydd ei ddychymyg - portreaded iddo ei hun fachgen ieuangc cystuddiedig, heb allu symud o'i orweddle, heb glywed un iaith ond iaith ei fam, yn dechreu astudio estroniaith ddyrus heb gymhorth dysgedydd. Ond llwyddo a wnaeth mor bell a dyfod i ddeall yr iaith. Rhoes y wybodaeth hono yr allwedd yn ei law i fyned i mewn i drysorau y newyddiaduron, y misolion, &c., y rhai erbyn hyny a anfonwyd iddo o'r palasau cymydogol, ac a ddarllenwyd ganddo gydag awydd angerddol. Y mae ei lythyrau a'i ddarnau barddonol yn dangos ei fod wedi gorchfygu y rhwystrau.

"Ond nid ymfoddlonodd ar fod yn deall Cymraeg a Saesonaeg yn unig, mynodd hefyd ddysgu y Lladinaeg, y Groeg, a'r Ffrangcaeg yn weddol. Efrydodd rifyddiaeth yn ei holl ganghenau; ond Algebra a roddodd fwyaf o hyfrydwch iddo. Astudiodd forwriaeth, daearyddiaeth, seryddiaeth, &a., yn fanwl. Yr oedd yn deall rheolau cerddorddiaeth yn dda; yr oedd hefyd yn ganiedydd per. Yr oedd yn hanesydd rhagorol. Darllenodd holl ddadleuon y Senedd, ac yr oedd dynion cyhoeddus Ewrop mor adnabyddus iddo a'i gymydogion. Adroddai hanes y brwydrau mawrion a gwaedlyd a ymladdwyd yn ei ddydd, yn nghyda'r nifer a laddwyd ar bob tu. Yr oedd pob hysbysiadau o'r fath ar flaenau ei fysedd, fel y dywedir. Nid oedd raid iddo droi dalenau un llyfyr i ateb unrhyw ofyniad. Math o Wyddonadur mewn cnawd oedd John Thomas. Byddwn yn meddwl am dano pan yn troi dalenau yr Enquire within upon every thing.

"Yr oedd y gwely ar yr hwn y gorweddai Sion Wyn am gynifer o flynyddau, yn wrthddrych o ddyddordeb mawr yn y cymydogaethau, ac ni chyfrifid neb wedi ei berffeithio mewn darfreiniad os byddai heb weled y bardd a'i wely. Deuai hefyd lawer o ddyeithriaid i dalu ymweliad iddo. Yr oedd y ddau dalcen, ac un ochr, wedi eu llenwi â llyfrau; ac wrth ei ochr gorweddai offeryn, o'i gynlluniad ef ei hun, gyda'r hwn y gallai estyn unrhyw gyfrol a ewyllysiai ei defnyddio. Yr oedd ganddo astell (desk) fechan yn gorwedd o flaen ei wyneb, yr hon a ddefnyddiai i ddarllen ac

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (July 2010)

This place is in the parish of  Llanarmon, within two miles of Capel-helyg.  Occasional preaching took place there over several years in a house the other side of the village of Chwilog, called Adwy-y-gwter, near Afonwen.  The person who lived in the house was Gabriel Roberts, but his wife was known as Catrin Jones. She was a member in Capel-helyg.   The people who first preached there were Calvinist Methodists, but they moved in the direction of Llanystumdwy, and started a cause in Bontfechan.  Mr. B. Jones, Pwllheli, was invited to give an occasional sermon in the house of

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Gabriel Roberts, but he was so restricted to his home district that he often found it difficult to visit.

"The report on the beginning of the Independent cause in Chwilog connects it with the name of one of the most remarkable men of his era, that of  John Thomas, Chwilog, or Sion Wyn of Eifion.  We see the name speckled throughout the pages of the first volumes of  Seren Gomer and the Dysgedydd (newspapers). The nephew of the old bard  - the Rev. W. Jones, Porthmadog - has published a neat volume, containing a biography of his uncle, and a collection of his compositions, &c.  We feel that we cannot write the history of the religious cause in Chwilog, without bringing in the history of one who gave the place its name, and who was the means of opening the door to the Congregational ark.

Hir y cofir patriarch Chwilog,

• Chwilog's patriach will long be remembered,

Un o wir anwyliaid nef;

• One of heaven's true beloved;

Collwyd oracl y gymydogaeth

• The community's oracle is lost

Yn y dydd y collwyd ef:

• On the day he was lost:

Wedi claddu cenedlaethau,

• Once generations have been buried,

Son am dano fydd drwy'r tir,

• Word of him will continue throughout the land,

Ar dafodau traddodiadau

• On the tongues of traditions

Bydd ei hanes yn byw'n hir.

• His story will live for a long time.

"John Thomas was born in 1786, in the house where he lived and died, which was Tynewydd, Chwilog. We heard old people, who knew him from his childhood, saying that there was a beauty and amiability, far beyond the common in his countenance. But after being healthy and active for sixteen years,  a strange change came over him, which meant he spent the rest of his long life in his bed. On a cold day at the end of 1800, he went for a walk to the seaside in the company of one of his contemporaries.  He spent too long on the beach, it turned so cold in the early evening, that his friend had to carry him home.  Close to the spot where Afonwen station stands he started feeling better when all changed suddenly, and the strong young man was transformed into a feeble cripple for the rest of his life.  Once he was brought home from the seaside,  a deadly fever caught hold of him; and even though the illness did not lead to death, it left the young man, poor wretch, quite without energy.  During the next eight years, he ate no bread or meat - he lived on only posset! In 1810, he caught a fever.  His friends and doctors had little hope he would recover this time; but Providence had other intentions in connection with John Thomas.  There was no disease that could break the 'chosen vessel' until he finished his service.  He was healed, and after his second healing he was stronger than before; and was able to take a little bread, and some other things, that he wasn't able to eat before that.  The death of his parents was a great blow to him.  His love for his mother was legendary.  He, poor man, was unable to move around to shake off his grief, by mixing in the world.  There, in solitude, he'd lie,  'moaning like a dove' for one who had cared for him so gently.  When he had spent twenty two years on his bed, he was able to get up and move around a little. The public's attention was drawn to him by the honourable man who is now the member for Merionethshire in Parliament.*  A beautiful, handy small cart was obtained for him;

* D. Williams, Esq., Castelldeudraeth.

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and he was able to take short journeys to see friends and their dwellings. He went to Tremadog, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Clynnog, Gaerwen, Bettwsfawr, &c.  He composed  a Cywydd (a Welsh poem with a special metre) of thanks to his many kind friends, for their help and sympathy, in which he outlines his feelings effectively while viewing nature in a new way.  He was seen in many public religious meetings, and he was able to attend almost every one.  He died on July 8th, 1859, and was buried the following Wednesday in the Penlan cemetery in Pwllheli.

" Now that we've given an outline of the circumstances of the life of John Thomas, that dear brother, we must add the other special people through whom he came to the world's notice.  It was not being bedridden or unable to eat bread that made him Sion Wyn o Eifion, but characteristics of a much higher order.  His biographer said,"We hear stories of many brave people, in the face of difficulties and poverty; but not often do we see anyone under so many misfortunes as the talented John Thomas.' The rules of poetry were the first things to bring magic to his life, or, the laws of  the cynghanedd (metrical consonance - peculiar to Welsh) of Dafydd ab Edmwnd.  He composed accurate pieces before he was seventeen years old.  He started studying the English language around 1805, with no help from teachers nor anyone to advise him.  It was an old sailor who happened to come along on a walk that gave him his first opportunity to speak the language!  The reader must let his imagination flow - here is a portrait of an afflicted young man, who could not move from where he lay, who had not heard any language except his mother tongue, starting to study an exciting foreign language with no academic help. But he succeeded in order to understand the language. That knowledge gave him the key to enter the treasures of newspapers, the monthlies, &c., which by now were being sent to him from the neighbouring palaces, which were read by him with increasing excitement.  His letters and poetry indicate that he had conquered the difficulties.

"But he wasn't satisfied to understand Welsh and English only, he was determined to learn Latin, Greek, and French fairly well. He studied all aspects of mathematics; but it was Algebra that gave him the most pleasure. He studied sailing, geography, astronomy, &. in detail.  He understood the rules of music well; he was also a good singer.  He was an excellent historian.  He read all of Parliament's debates, and the public figures of  Europe were as familiar to him as his neighbours. He told stories of the great, bloody battles that were fought in his day, along with the number that had died on both sides. All the news of that kind was at his fingertips.  He did not have to turn the pages of any book to answer any question. John Thomas was a sort of Encyclopaedia in flesh. We will remember him when we turn the pages of the 'Enquire within upon every thing'.

"The bed on which Sion Wyn lay for so many years, was an object of great interest in the communities, and it was considered that no-one would be granted a privilege had he not seen the bard and his bed. Many strangers also paid him a visit.  The two gables, and one side, were full of books; and at his side lay an instrument, of his own design, with which he could reach any volume he needed to use.  He had a small desk lying in front of his face, which he used to read and

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write.  Considering his weak body, it appears to be close to a miracle that he could write and read such a lot.

" But despite all his brilliance as a bard, historian, and philosopher, it can be said without doubt that his superiorities as a Christian were equal to the others.  His religious history leads us to the beginning of the cause in Chwilog.  When he was about twenty years old, he was eager to preach in the house.  Some Wesleyan brothers were there from time to time, but the Rev. Benjamin Jones, Pwllheli, was the most blessed to him.  Under the influence of the sermons and discussions of  Mr. Jones, he changed his views about the order of grace, and he joined the Congregationalists as  a member of the church in Capel-helyg.  He and his relatives were quite worried when he joined a religion, because he had not eaten bread for eight years, and they were concerned that he would not be able to join in with the communion; but when the time came, he took the bread, ate it, and to everyone's surprise, it had no effect on him; and from that day on, he could eat bread in his daily diet.  We would have liked to spend some time discussing John Thomas as a religious man, and since the cause in Chwilog is the subject of our discourse, all we will say is, it seemed to those who knew him best, as one of the most perfect who came to their notice.  The Christian graces were obvious in all aspects of their characteristics.  Regular peaching took place in the house for twenty years.  Brothers often used to come from Capel-helyg to pray together, hold services, and to hold religious social meetings; and the honourable B. Jones came there every month to break bread while he lived.  The Rev. James Williams, late of Ty'nycoed, the brother of the patriarch from Troedrhiwdalar, stayed for a while in Rhoslan, but he wasn't ordained there.  We will be lead to mention him in more detail when the history of that church is dealt with.  He would often pay a visit to Tynewydd, and a great friendship was formed between him and  J. Thomas.  We saw the old bard's eyes fill with tears many times when talking about him, and in repeating some of his sayings, and when he moved away it upset him a great deal." *21*

This church united with Capel-helyg, and under the same ministry, until 1857, when Mr. H. Hughes (Tegai) gave up the care for the church in Capel-helyg, and confined his labour to this church and Abererch, and these two churches have been united in the ministry from then till now.  In 1861, a call was sent to Mr. Edward Morris, Rhosfawr, Anglesey, and he stayed here till he moved to  Penrhyndeudraeth in 1865.  Within two years a call was sent to Mr. William J. Richards, from Bala college, and he was ordained on  August l6th, 1867. Mr. W. Ambrose, Porthmadog preached on the nature of the church; the minister was questioned by Mr. E. Morris, Penrhyn; Mr. D. Roberts, Caernarfon prayed for blessings on the union; Mr. J. Peter, Bala preached to the minister, and Mr. T. Jones, Tabor preached to the churches.  Mr. Richards was here until 1870, when he moved to Penywern, Dowlais, and the two churches still have no minister.

For the first 25 years of its history,  the little church met at  Tynewydd, the home of John Thomas, but soon after the establishment of

*21* The above lengthy quotation comes from the Dysgedydd for 1868, page. 125, from the article on Chwilog - one of a series of articles that appeared on the Welsh Churches of Llyn and Eifionydd, prepared mainly for the press, as we understand, by Mr. Ambrose, Porthmadog.

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Mr. James Jones in the country, it was considered essential to gain a more convenient place, and John Thomas was by now able to go outside a little.  Syr Love Parry-Jones, M.P., the father of the present honourable member for the county, from Madryn gave them a piece of land, and Mr. Jones, the minister, undertook the heaviest part of the work in building the chapel, and it was opened on November 4th  and 5th, 1835.  They have worshipped in that chapel for close on thirty five years, but seeing the place increasing after the coming of the railway, and the congregations multiplying, it was decided to build a more extensive chapel. Mr. Jones-Parry, M.P., Madryn, gave a convenient site on which to build and a fine, quite extensive chapel was built, along with a house, which cost more than £700, but more than half of the debt has been paid already.  The chapel was opened on July 21st and 22nd, 1870, and on that occasion Messrs T. Rees, D.D., Swansea; W. Ambrose, Porthmadog; N. Stephens, Liverpool, and T. Davies, Llandilo preached.  Several remarkable people have been here from time to time, and the impression which John Thomas left on the area made the people generally search more for knowledge. Robert Jones, Chwilog; Dafydd Jones, from Garnedd; Cadben Watkin Williams, Tyddynmawr, and Cornelius Jones deserve a memorial as excellent men amongst the brothers.

Only one preacher was raised here.  Robert Jones, Tynewydd, has left for the Baptists many years ago. The present deacons of the church are Richard Owen, Frondeg; Robert Williams, Tyddynmawr, and Evan Jones, Plas.

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