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Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

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(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

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

These 8 chapel histories were extracted by Gareth Morgan from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Feb 2008)  - no translations

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

Proof reading by David Rowlands (March / April 2008)

TAIBACH

(Margam parish)

(Vol 2, p 143)

Mae y pentref poblog hwn yn mhlwyf Margam, tua milldir i'r de o Aberafan. Yr oedd Mr. Hugh Owen wedi dechreu pregethu, ac wedi bwriadu cychwyn achos Annibynol yma, yn y flwyddyn 1821, cyn fod gan un enwad arall achos yn y lle, ond o herwydd camddealldwriaeth rhyngddo ef a Mr. Llewellyn, goruchwyliwr Mr. Talbot, perchenog yr holl blwyf, gwrthodwyd tir i'r Annibynwyr i adeiladu capel yn y lle hyd o fewn un-flynedd-ar-bymtheg yn ol. Yr oedd yr ychydig Annibynwyr a breswylient yn y lle hwn yn myned i Gapel Seion, Cwmafan i gymuno yn amser Mr. H. Owen, ac wedi hyny i'r Tabernacl, Aberafan; ond ni bu yr achos yno ond gwywlyd ac ar drancedigaeth nes i Mr. Evans, Castellnedd, gymeryd ei ofal yn 1837; o hyny allan parhaodd i ychwanegu nerth o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. Yn 1841, derbyniodd Mr. Evans chwech o breswylwyr Taibach yn aelodau yn y Tabernacl, Aberafan, a pharhaodd i dderbyn rhai o'r lle hwn yn feunyddiol nes oeddynt erbyn y flwyddyn 1852 wedi myned yn ddigon lluosog i gadw cyfeillach grefyddol iddynt eu hunain. Cynhaliwyd y gyfeillach gyntaf yn nhy John Williams, Groeswen, tad Mr. Robert Williams, Morfa, Mynwy, Ebrill laf, 1852. Y rhif oedd yn bresenol y noson hono ydoedd un-ar-ddeg. Parhawyd i gynal y gyfeillach a chyfarfodydd gweddio, ac ar y 9fed o Ebrill, 1854, dechreuwyd Ysgol Sabbothol yn rhif 13, Constant Row. Ar yr 21ain o Fai, yn yr un flwyddyn, corpholwyd yma eglwys, cynwysedig o 23 o aelodau, y rhai a gawsant ollyngdod o eglwys y Wern, Aberafan. Ar ffurfiad yr eglwys, gweddiodd Mr. John Phillips, Aberafan, a phregethodd Mr. Evans, Castellnedd, a gweinyddodd yr ordinhad o Swper yr Arglwydd. Gweinyddodd Evan Enoch, un o ddiaconiaid eglwys y Wern, fel diacon ar yr achlysur. Wedi cael eglwys yn y lle yr oedd yn rhaid cael moddion crefyddol yn fwy rheolaidd nag o'r blaen, ac felly cydunwyd i dderbyn gwasanaeth Mr. John Steadman fel gweinidog. Y peth nesaf oedd edrych am le i adeiladu capel, ac nid bychan y drafferth a gafwyd cyn ei gael, o herwydd fod Mr. Llewellyn, goruchwyliwr Mr. Talbot yn gosod pob rhwystr a fedrai ar y ffordd. O'r diwedd llwyddodd Mr. Steadman i gael gan Mr. Vivian, perchenog y gwaith yn y lle, a Mr. Gray, ei oruchwyliwr, i ddylanwadu ar Mr. Talbot i roddi tir, ac ar yr 28ain o Ragfyr, 1855, gosodwyd y gareg sylfaen i lawr. Gan fod y tywydd yn nyfnder y ganaf yn anghyfaddas at adeiladu, ni ddechreuwyd ar y gwaith cyn Mawrth, 1856. Yr oedd Mr. Vivian a'i feibion wedi addaw 65p. at y draul, a'r bobl wedi casglu ychydig at hyny. Yn y mis canlynol, ataliwyd y gwaith i fyned yn mlaen gan oruchwyliwr Mr. Talbot, o herwydd fod arian yn ddyledus i gyfaill iddo oddiwrth gynnulleidfa yn Nghwmafan, nes y buasai yr arian hyny wedi eu talu. Bu hyny drachefn yn rhwystr am gryn lawer o amser. Ar ol llawer o drafferth cafwyd y ffordd yn rhydd i orphen y gwaith, a chafodd y capel ei agor Ebrill 3ydd a'r 4ydd, 1861. Gweinyddwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri O. Owens, Brynmenyn; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; D. Rees, Llanelli; J. Thomas, Bryn; Job Jones, Aberafan; J. Davies, Cwmaman; J. Mathews, Castellnedd, ac eraill. Costiodd y capel ychydig dros 600p. Mae yn addoldy hardd a chyfleus, yn mesur 52 troedfedd wrth 38. Rhif yr aelodau pan agorwyd y capel oedd 70, a'r Ysgol Sabbothol yn 140. Aeth pethau yn mlaen yn ddymunol iawn am ychydig amser ar ol hyn; cynyddodd y gynnulleidfa a'r eglwys, a thalwyd cryn gyfran o'r ddyled, ond tua 1864, aeth pethau yn annymunol rhwng Mr. Steadman a rhai o'r aelodau, fel y lleihaodd y gynnulleidfa, ac y taflwyd y cwbl i ddyryswch. Yn 1866, rhoddodd Mr. Steadman y lle i fyny o herwydd henaint a methiant, a rhoddwyd galwad unfrydol i Mr. John Stephens, Siloh, sir Gaernarfon, yr hwn a ddechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn 1867. Erbyn hyn yr oedd yr achos drachefn yn dechreu cyfodi ei ben uwchlaw y dwfr. Bu Mr. Stephens yn llwyddianus a chysnrus yma am tua dwy flynedd; llanwyd y capel o wrandawyr, a lluosogodd yr eglwys yn fawr. Ond tua dwy flynedd yn ol, cyfociodd trallod tost drachefn. Yrnrysonodd y glowyr a'u meistriaid; gwasgarwyd ugeiniau o honynt o'r ardal, a daeth Saeson i'w gwaith. Gan mai glowyr oedd y rhan fwyaf o aelodau yr eglwys hon, bu yr amgylchiad gofidus hwn yn niweidiol iawn i'r achos, ac mae yn debyg y dyoddefa oddiwrtho am flynyddau etto. Gan fod yr eglwys wedi myned yn rhy wan i gynal gweinidog, ac nad oes un argoel i bethau wellhau yma yn fuan, gorfu i Mr. Stephens wneyd ei feddwl i fyny i ymadael, ac yn Hydref 1871, symudodd oddiyma i Brynteg, Casllwchwr. Felly mae yr eglwys hon yn bresenol heb weinidog, ac y mae yn debyg o fod yn analluog i gynal un nes y ceir adfywiad ar y gweithiau ac ar grefydd. Hyderwn y ceir pob un o'r ddau yn fuan. Gwelir oddiwrth yr hanes blaenorol nad oes nemawr o achos o'i oed wedi bod mewn mwy o helbulon na hwn, ond y mae wedi cael ei gadw yn fyw ynddynt oll. Dylid crybwyll fod y diweddar Mr. John Phillips, Aberafan, a Mr. Richard Morgan, gweinidog presenol y Tabernacl, Aberafan, wedi bod yn gymorth mawr i'r achos hwn yn ei gychwyniad, ac am flynyddau wedi hyny.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

JOHN STEADMAN. Ganwyd of yn mhlwyf Llangunor, yn agos i Gaerfyrddin, yn y flwyddyn 1791. .............................

Translation by Maureen Saycell (May 2009)

This highly populated village is in Margam Parish about a mile south of Aberafan. Mr Hugh Owen began to preach here around 1821, with the intention of starting an Independent cause here, but due to a misunderstanding between him and Mr Llewellyn, overseer for Mr Talbot , the owner of the parish, so land for an Independent Chapel was refused. The few Independents that lived here went for communion to Capel Seion, Cwmafan in the time of Mr Owen, later they went to Tabernacl, Aberafan, the cause there was failing until Mr Evans, Neath took on the care in 1837, from then on it went from strength to strength. In 1841 Mr Evans confirmed 6 residents of Taibach as members of Tabernacl, Aberafan, this pattern continued until 1852 when there was enough of them to hold religious socials for themselves. The first meeting was held in the home of John Williams,Groeswen, father of Mr Robert Williams, Morfa, Monmouthshire on April 1st, 1852. There were 11 present on that night. Socials and prayer meetings continued and on April 9th, 1854 a Sunday School was started at 13, Constant Row. On May 21st the same year a church was formed here consisting of 23 members released by Wern, Aberafan. At the formation of the church  Mr. John Phillips, Aberafan, prayed  and a sermon was given by Mr. Evans, Neath, and celebrated communion.  Evan Enoch, a deacon at Wern, acted as a deacon for the service. Having got the church here it was necessary to hold more regular services and it was agreed that Mr John Steadman should serve as minister. The next problem was to have somewhere to build a chapel, but this was a difficult task, as Mr Llewelyn, Mr Talbot's overseer, obstructed their every attempt. Eventually Mr Steadman persuaded Mr Vivian, owner of the local works, and Mr Gray, his overseer, to persuade Mr Talbot to give some land, and on December 8th, 1855 the foundatiom stone was laid. Because it was winter and unsuitable for building so the work did not start until March 1856. Mr Vivian and his sons had promised £65 toward the cost, and the people had also collected some as well. The following month work was stopped by Mr Talbot's overseer, some money was owing to a friend of his from the congregation of Cwmafan, he would not allow it to continue until it was paid. This caused considerable delay. After a difficult time a way forward was found and the chapel was opened on April 3rd and 4th, 1861. The following officiated - Messrs O. Owens, Brynmenyn; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; D. Rees, Llanelli; J. Thomas, Bryn; Job Jones, Aberafan; J. Davies, Cwmaman; J. Mathews, Neath, and others. The chapel cost £600. It is handsome and convenient measuring 52 x 38 feet. The members number 70 and the Sunday School 140. The cause moved on comfortably for some time, the congregation and church increased and a large part of the debt was paid, but around 1864 some unpleasantness began between Mr Steadman and some members. This caused the congregation to diminish, and chaos ruled. In 1866 Mr Steadman gave up his ministry because of failing health and advancing age and an united  call was sent to Mr John Stephens, Siloh, Caernarfonshire, who began his ministry in 1867. The cause began to improve and Mr Stephens was successful here for 2 years, the chapel was filled with listeners and the church grew. About 2 years ago another tragedy hit, the dispute between the miners and their masters. Large numbers were scattered from the area, the English came in to replace them. Most of the members here were miners and the effect was very damaging to the cause, the effects will continue for some time. As the church became too weak to support a minister, Mr Steadman decided to leave in October 1871, as there was no hope of improvement, going to Brynteg, Loughor. The church is currently without a minister and unless there is a revival in work and religion, it is unlikely things will improve. There are few churches of this age that have been through so many problems, but it has survived.It should be mentioned that  Mr. John Phillips, Aberafan, and Mr. Richard Morgan, current minister of Tabernacl, Aberafan, have been a great support to this cause.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not fully extracted)

JOHN STEADMAN - Born Llangunor, Carmarthen 1791 ............

 

SARDIS, PONTRHYDYFEN

(Michaelston-super-Avon parish)

(Vol 2, p 142)

Dechreuwyd cynal cyfarfodydd gweddio tua'r Efailfach gan nifer o aelodau y Rock a Fforcdwn, y rhai a gwynent oblegid pellder y ffordd oedd ganddynt i fyned i addoli. Nid oedd y boblogaeth yn lluosog, ac nid addawol iawn oedd y rhagolygon am achos yn y lle; ond cyn hir anturiodd yr ychydig gyfeillion yn y lle a chodi capel, yr hwn a alwyd Sardis. Agorwyd ef Ebrill 3ydd a'r 4ydd, 1859, ac ar yr un adeg neillduwyd Mr. David Jones, yr hwn oedd yn aelod yn Bethania, Cwmafan i gyflawn waith y weinidogaeth. Ar yr achlysur gweinyddwyd gan Meistri. J. Mathews, Castellnedd; J. Davies, Cwmafan; W. Thomas, Rock; O. Owens, Brynmenyn; T. Thomas, Glandwr; J. Jones, Maesteg, ac eraill.* Mae Mr. Jones yn parhau yn weinidog yn y lle, ac er na bu yr achos erioed yn gryf, etto y mae yn Sardis "ychydig enwau" yn ffyddlon i gynal coffadwriaeth o enw yr Arglwydd.

* Diwygiwr , 1859. Tu dal. 155.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (May 2009)

Prayer meetings were started around Efailfach by a number of members of the Rock and Fforcdwn, those who complained because of  the distance they had to go to worship. The population wasn't large, and the prospects for a cause in the place weren't promising; but before long the few friends in the place ventured to build a chapel, which they called Sardis. It opened on 3/4th April 1859, and at the same time they appointed Mr David Jones, who was a member at Bethania, Cwmafan, to the full work of the ministry. Officiating on the occasion were Messrs J. Mathews, Neath; J. Davies, Cwmafan; W. Thomas, Rock; O. Owens, Brynmenyn; T. Thomas, Glandwr; J. Jones, Maesteg, and others*. Mr Jones continues to minister in the place, and although the cause has never been strong, yet there are in Sardis "some names" faithfull  in keeping the memory of the Lord's name

* Diwygiwr , 1859. p155.

 

BRYNCAWS

(Cadoxton juxta Neath parish)

(Vol 2, p 142)

Mae y lle hwn ar lechwedd bryn yn mhlwyf Llangattwg, Glynnedd, tua milldir i'r gogledd o Aberdulais, ac yn agos i dair milldir o dref Castellnedd. Hyd yn ddiweddar nid oedd yn y gymydogaeth ond tri neu bedwar o amaethdai, ond wedi agoryd gweithiau glo yma daeth rhai degau o deuluoedd i fyw i'r ardal. Yn 1866, rhoddodd Mr. Owen Jones, Bryncaws, dir at adeiladu capel, am yr ardreth o chwe'cheiniog y flwyddyn am fil ond un o flynyddau, ac ar yr un pryd, rhoddodd ei hun yn ei henaint, i fod yn ddysgybl proffesedig i'r Arglwydd Iesu. Adeiladwyd yma gapel bychan a thlws, o werth dau gant o bunau, gan y diweddar Evan Evans, Ysw., Castellnedd, a rhoddodd ef yn anrheg i'r gynnulleidfa. Ffurfiwyd yma eglwys yn 1866, cynwysedig yn benaf o aelodau Zoar, Castellnedd. Mae y gangen fechan hon o'r dechreuad dan ofal gweinidogaethol Mr. Mathews, a phob peth yn myned yn mlaen yn gysurus a gobeithiol iawn. Yr ymddiriedolwyr yn y weithred ydynt Meistri J. Mathews, y gweinidog; Joseph Lloyd Mathews, David Bevan, Evan Evans Bevan, Owen Jones, Jonah Owen Jones, John Jones, a William Davies. Mae tri phregethwr cynorthwyol yn aelodau yma, sef John Davies, William Davies, a William Close. Er nad yw yr eglwys hyd yma ond ychydig o rif, etto, gan fod poblogaeth yr ardal ar gynydd mae yn debyg y bydd yma eglwys luosog yn mhen ychydig o flynyddau.  

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Dec 2008)

This place is on the slope of a hill in the parish of Cadoxton, Neath valley, about a mile to the north of Aberdulais, and close to three miles from the town of Neath.  Until recently there was nothing but three or four farms in the community, but on opening collieries here some tens of families came to live in the area.  In 1866, Mr Owen Jones, Bryncaws, gave some land towards building a chapel, at the rate of sixpence a year for 999 years, and at the same time, gave himself as a professed student to the Lord Jesus.  A small, beautiful chapel was built here, by the late Evan Evans, Esq., Neath, which was worth two hundred pounds. He  gave it to the congregation as a gift.  A church was formed here in 1866, which mainly comprised members of Zoar chapel, Neath.  This small branch has been, from the beginning, under the ministerial care of Mr Mathews, and everything is progressing very comfortably and hopefully.  The trustees in the venture are Messrs J. Mathews, the minister; Joseph Lloyd Mathews,  David Bevan, Evan Evans Bevan,  Owen Jones,  Jonah Owen Jones,  John Jones, and William Davies.  There are three lay preachers here as members, who are John Davies, William Davies, and William Close.  Even though the membership is small, yet, since the population in the area is rising it is possible that there will be a large church here in a few years.  

 

CASTELLNEDD, (SAESONEG)

(Neath parish)

(Vol 2, p 143)

Teimlid er's blynyddoedd fod angen achos Seisnig yn y dref; ac yn Mehefin, 1848, cymerwyd Neuadd y dref i'r perwyl. Pregethwyd yma yn gyntaf gan Mr. W. Jones, Castle-Street, Abertawy; a ffurfiwyd eglwys ar y pryd. Mr. W. T. Morgan a'i deulu; Mr. Thomas Sims, a Mr. David Davies, oll yn dal cysylltiad a Maesyrhaf, oedd a'r llaw flaenaf yn nghychwyniad yr achos, ac unodd amryw eraill y tu allan gyda hwy. Dechreuwyd cyn hir ag adeiladu capel yn Wind-Street, ac agorwyd ef Hydref 10fed a'r 11eg, 1849. Mae yn addoldy cyfleus yn mesur 42 troedfedd wrth 32 troedfedd. Wedi cael y capel yn barod, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. E. S. Hart, M.A., ac urddwyd ef Mehefin 29ain, 1850. Ni bu yma ond ychydig canys symudodd i St. Ives yn Ebrill, 1851. Wedi bod am dymor yn dibynu ar weinidogion cylchynol, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. David Davies, B. A., o athrofa Caerfyrddin, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn mis Medi, 1853. Bu yr achos yn dra blodeuog yn y tymor hwn. Talwyd 400p. o ddyled oedd yn aros ar y capel, a gwisgai pob peth agwedd lwyddianus, ond yn Awst, 1856, ymadawodd Mr. Davies oddiyma i Therfield, Herts, lle y mae etto. Rhoddwyd galwad yn ddioed. i Mr. Benjamin B. Williams, B.A., myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma Hydref, 1856, a bu yma hyd fis Mai, 1858, pryd yr ymadawodd i fyned i Pembroke Dock. Yn mhen y flwyddyn wedi ymadawiad Mr. Williams, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Evans, B.A., myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Gorphenaf, 1859, a bu yma hyd Ebrill, 1864, pryd yr ymadawodd i Milford. Yn Mawrth, 1865, daeth Mr. David S. Jones yma, yr hwn a fuasai yn weinidog yn Hope Chapel, Aberteifi, a bu yma hyd nes yr ymadawodd i'r America yn Ebrill, 1869. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn hono, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Thomas P. Lyke, myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Rhagfyr, 1869, ond o herwydd gwaeledd ei iechyd bu raid iddo roddi y weinidogaeth i fyny yn Gorphenaf y flwyddyn ganlynol. Yn Ionawr, 1871, dechreuodd Mr. J. L. Phillips - yr hwn a urddwyd yn weinidog ar yr eglwys yn Nhredegar - ei weinidogaeth yma; ac y mae yn parhau yn y lle hyd yn bresenol, a'r achos yn myned rhagddo yn llwyddianus. Yn ystod y flwyddyn hon y mae y capel wedi myned dan gyfnewidiadau trwy ei ad-drefnu a rhoddi oriel ynddo, ac aeth y draul yn fwy na 260p., ond nid oes yn aros ond 80p. o'r ddyled heb ei thalu.* Gwelir fod yr achos wedi myned trwy lawer o gyfnewidiadau yn ystod yr ychydig gydag ugain mlynedd er y sefydlwyd ef; ond y mae yma rai wedi bod yn ffyddlon iddo trwy yr amgylchiadau; ac yn ol yr argoelion presenol y mae dyddiau gwell yn aros yr achos yn y lle.

* Llythyr Mr, J. Mathews.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (May 2009)

It had been felt for years that there was a need for an English cause in the town;  and in June 1848, with this in mind they took the Town hall.  Preaching here was firstly by Mr W Jones, Castle St, Swansea; and a church was formed at this time. The leading lights in the start of this cause were, Mr T Morgan and family; Mr. Thomas Sims, and Mr. David Davies, all connected to Maesyrhaf, and got some other outsiders to join them. They soon began to build a chapel in Wind St, and it opened Oct 10th/11th 1849. It is a convenient temple measuring 42ft by 32ft. After getting the chapel ready, they gave a call to Mr E S Hart, M.A, and ordained him on June 29th 1850. He was only here a short while, for he moved to St Ives in April 1851. After a period relying on circulating ministers, they gave a call to Mr David Davies, B.A, from Carmarthen College, and he began his ministry here in Sept 1853. The cause truly flourished in this period. They repaid £400 of the debt remaining on the chapel, and everything wore a successful aspect, but in August 1856, Mr Davies left for Therfield, Herts, where he is still. They immediately gave a call to Mr Benjamin B Williams, B.A, a student at Brecon College. He began his ministry here in October 1856, and stayed until May 1858, when he left for Pembroke Dock. At the end of a year after Mr Williams left, they gave a call to Mr John Evans, B.A, a student at Brecon College, and he began his ministry here in July 1859, and was here until April 1864, when he left for Milford. In March 1865, Mr David S Jones came here, he'd been a minister at Hope Chapel, Aberteifi, and he was here until he left for America in April 1869. Before the end of that year they gave a call to Mr Thomas P Lyke, a student at Brecon College. He began his ministry here in Dec 1869, but because his health deteriorated he had to give up the ministry in the following July. In January 1871, Mr J L Phillips - who had been ordained as the minister at Tredegar - began his ministry here; and continues here to this day, with the cause going forward successfully. In the current year, the chapel has gone through alterations through reorganisation and installing a gallery, and the cost was more than £260, but only £80 remains to be repaid. * It can be seen that the cause has gone through many changes in the period of just over 20 years since it was established; but there are here some who have been faithful throughout all this; and according to present omens there are better days ahead of the cause in this place.

* Letter Mr J. Mathews.

 

COETY

(Vol 2, p 212)

Nid oes dim hanes i unrhyw ymgais gael ei wneyd i efengyleiddio y pentref hwn cyn y ganrif hon. Mae traddodiad yn yr ardal i Daniel Rowlands, Llangeitho, bregethu unwaith yn yr hen gastell sydd yma.

Hen arferiad yma ydoedd fod chwareu pel ar y fynwent ar y Sabboth ar ol y gwasanaeth, a'r gweinidog plwyfol yn blaenori y gamp. Mae yn yr ardal etto rai hen bobl sydd yn cofio hyny. Cynhelid yma Wylmabsant bob blwyddyn, yr hwn oedd yn ffynhonell llygredigaeth ac anfoesoldeb yn yr ardal; a pharhawyd i'w chadw hyd y flwyddyn 1860, pryd y rhoddwyd yr wyl i lawr trwy waith yr Annibynwyr yn cadw cyfarfod pregethu ar yr un dydd. Yn nechreu y ganrif bresenol pan yr oedd Mr. Methusalem Jones (Bethesda, Merthyr, wedi hyny,) yn weinidog yn Llangynwyd, ac yn gofalu am eglwys y Maendy ddau Sabboth o bob mis, pregethai ef yn aml ar ei ffordd i'w gartref yn y Bettws, mewn ty anedd yn y Coety; ond boddlonodd yn unig ar bregethu yn achlysurol yn y lle heb wneyd un cynyg ar sefydlu achos yma. Cyfarfyddai amryw o aelodau Penybont, oeddynt yn byw yn agos yma, a'u gilydd i ddarllen bob Sabboth, ac un noswaith o'r wythnos; ac er dechreu gweinidogaeth Mr. William Jones, yn Mhenybont, pregethai yn dra rheolaidd yn yr Oak, Coety, a chadwai gyfeillach grefyddol bob wythnos er cyfleusdra yr aelodau oeddynt yn rhy bell i fyned i'r dref. Gan fod Mr. Jones am y rhan fwyaf o'i oes wedi byw yn nes i'r Coety, nag i un arall o'r canghenau dan ei ofal, cafodd yr achos bychan yma fantais ei bresenoldeb fynychaf yn ei holl gyfarfodydd; ac yr oedd yma ychydig nifer o bersonau yn gallu gwerthfawrogi ei addysg a'i weinidogaeth. Yn y flwyddyn 1826, codwyd yma gapel bychan, yr hwn a alwyd yn Gilead; ond ni chorpholwyd eglwys ynddo hyd y flwyddyn 1834. Nid oedd ond adeilad bychan diadduru, ond yr oedd ei gael fel yr oedd yn gyfleustra mawr i'r ardal. Bu y lle dan ofal Meistri W. Jones, a J. D. Williams, ac R. Gwesyn Jones yn olynol hyd ymadawiad yr olaf. Dros rai blynyddau ar ol hyny bu yr eglwys fechan yma yn ymddibynu ar weinidogaeth achlysurol hyd Awst, 1863, pryd y cymerodd Mr. J. B. Jones, B.A., Penybont ei gofal; yr hwn oedd eisioes wedi bod yn Mhenybont am fwy na phedair blynedd, ac o dan ei fugeiliaeth ef y mae yn parhau. Yn y flwyddyn 1862, adeiladwyd yma gapel newydd gwerth 300p., ac y mae yr achos mewn gwedd gysurus pan gofiwn nad yw y cylch ond bychan a chyfyng.

Clywsom lawer gwaith ganmoliaeth uehel i rai o aelodau y Coety fel dynion meddylgar a deallus, ond, gan na chawsom eu henwau nis gallwn wneyd unrhyw grybwylliad am danynt; ond yr ydym yn gasglu oddiwrth "Nodiadau coffadwriaethol am William Evan, Coety, Morganwg," gan Mr. J. D. Williams, a ymddangosodd yn y Diwygiwr am 1851, tu dal. 259, ei fod ef yn un o honynt, ac fel y gallwn feddwl y rhagoraf yn eu mysg. Yr oedd fod dyn cyffredin ei amgylchiadau yn nghanol y wlad wedi cyrhaedd y fath wybodaeth yn beth anghyffredin yn y dyddiau hyny, ac y mae yn mhell o fod yn beth cyffredin yn y dyddiau hyn.

Translation by Steve Stephenson (Oct 2008)

There isn't any history to be had of any means of evangelising this village before this century. There is a tradition in the area that Daniel Rowlands (Llangeitho) preached once in the old castle here.

An old custom here was to play ball in the cemetery on the Sabbath after the service, and the minister of the parish would lead the game. There are still some old people in the area who remember this. A feast of the patron saint was held here every year which was a source of corruption and immorality in the area, and this continued until 1860 when the feast was stopped through the work of the Independents holding a  service on the same day. At the start of the present century when Mr Methusalem Jones (after this of Bethesda, Merthyr) was minister in Llangynwyd, and had the care of Maendy church two Sundays every month,  he would often preach in a dwelling house in Coety on the way  to his home in Bettws ; but he was content to only preach occasionally  in the place without offering to establish a cause here. Some of the members of Bridgend would meet together, those who were living near to here, to read every Sabbath and one evening a week, and since the start of the ministry of Mr William Jones in Bridgend he would preach quite regularly in The Oak, Coety. He would hold a religious meeting every week for the convenience of the members who lived too far to go to to the town. Because Mr Jones for the most part of his life lived near Coety, and there were no other branches under his care, the small cause here had the advantage of his presence at all their meetings and there were a small number of people able to appreciate his teaching and his ministry. In 1826 a small chapel was built which was called Gilead, but the church was not established in it until 1834. It was only a small simple building but it was a great convenience to the area. The place was under the care of Messrs. W Jones, J D Williams and R Gwesyn Jones until the departure of the latter. For some years after that the small church here depended on occasional ministering until August 1863 when Mr J B Jones BA (Bridgend) took over their care, however he had been in Bridgend for more than four years and he continued his pastoring there. In 1862 a new chapel was built here valued at £300 and the cause is in a comfortable position considering that the region is only small and limited.

We hear many times high praise of some of the Coety members as thoughtful and understanding men, but because  we don't have their names we are not able to make any mention of them; but we can gather from 'Memorable Notes of William Evan, Coety' by Mr J D Williams that appeared in the 'Diwygiwr' 1851, page 259, that he was one of them, and we would like to think excelling among them. That he was a ordinary working man in the middle of the countryside with that sort of knowledge was an uncommon thing in those days, and it's far from being a common thing in these days.

 

BETHEL

(Heol-y-cyw, Coychurch parish)

(Vol 2, p 213)

Yr Ysgol Sabbothol oedd y dechreuol achos o sefydliad eglwys yn y gymydogaeth hon. Cafodd yr ysgol ei dechreu mewn Elusendy ar Hirwaun, tua dechreu y flwyddyn 1819, gan dri cymydog, heb un o honynt yn dal perthynas ag un enwad crefyddol. Y tri hyn oeddynt Thomas Hopkin, Pantcarfan; Thomas William, Tyn'ywaun, a Isaiah John, gof, mab y Wernfach, yr hwn oedd yn llettya y pryd hwnw yn y Parcbaeh. Gwahoddasant eraill i'w cynorthwyo, sef Evan John, brawd Isaiah John, ac Evan Davies (Myfyr Morganwg), Corneldu. Ymdrechwyd yn ffyddlon gyda'r ysgol, a daeth yn flodeuog cyn pen blwyddyn; ond nid oedd yno neb i fyned ag achos yr ysgol at orsedd gras wrth ddechreu nac wrth ddiweddu. Tynodd hyn sylw brodyr y Brynmenyn a daethant yn fynych i'w cynorthwyo.

Tua chanol mis Hydref, y flwyddyn hono, daeth Mr. William Jones, Penybont, i bregethu yma ar foreu Sabboth, a rhoddodd ryw gymaint o Holwyddoreg i'r ysgol gan eu hanog i ddysgu penod ar " Berson Crist " erbyn dydd Nadolig. Yr oedd yr ysgolion canlynol yn cyfarfod yn Brynmenyn y Nadolig hwnw, sef Penybont, Coety, Brynmenyn, a Llangynwyd. Ymdrechwyd gyda'r ysgol yn ddiwyd o hyny hyd y gymanfa; ac erbyn treulio y cyfarfod derbyniwyd y chwaer ieuange i'r undeb gyda chymeradwyaeth mawr. Erbyn hyn yr oedd yn nghanol y gauaf, a'r hen elusendy ar Hirwaun yn oerllyd ac annymunol iawn. Cafodd Morgan Howell, Llwyniwrch, ar ei feddwl i wahodd yr ysgol i ddyfod i'w dy ef, ac y caent ystafell ganddo ef am ddim, sef y pen dwyreiniol i'r ty. Yr oedd y cynyg yn gaffaeliad mawr i'r ysgol, oblegid yr oedd y lle yn fwy cysurus o lawer iawn, ac yn helaethach gogyfer ag ychwanegiad parhaus yr ysgol. Yn Mehefin, 1820, bu cymanfa ysgolion ar y cyntedd o flaen y ty hwn. Parhaodd Mr. Jones i ddyfod yma i bregethu yn achlysurol, a dechreuwyd siarad un noswaith y buasai yn ddymunol iawn cael ty i gadw ysgol ac i bregethu yn y gymydogaeth. Addawodd Mr. Jones ddyfod yno yn mhen yr wythnos i bregethu ac i gael siarad yn mhellach yn nghylch yr achos; a daeth yn ol ei addewid, a daeth y bobl yn nghyd yn ffyddlon a gwresog ac a chalon i weithio. Tanysgrifiwyd cyn ymadael 20p. Yn fuan ar ol hyn, aed i ymofyn tir i adeiladu, yr hyn a gafwyd gan Thomas Thomas, Ragland, a'i wraig, sef wyth perc ar brydles o 999 o flynyddau am ddau swllt a chwe' cheiniog yn y flwyddyn. Dechreuwyd adeiladu yn ddioed, a chymerodd Morgan Howell, Llwyniwrch; Edward John, Wern, a Thomas Williams, Ty'nywaun, y gofal arnynt. Codwyd y cerig, a chludwyd y defnyddiau i gyd am ddim gan y cymydogion, a chafwyd y rhan fwyaf o'r coed am ddim gan foneddigion, sef, R. H. Jenkins, Ysw., Llanharan; W. Vaughan, Ysw., Llanlai; W. Coffin, Ysw., Llandaf; ac M. P. Treharne, Ysw., Coetrahen. Cwblhawyd yr adeilad, a chafodd y capel ei agor Medi 28ain, 1820, gan luaws o weinidogion, yn mhlith eraill, Mr. G. Hughes, Groeswen, yr hwn a enwodd y capel yn Bethel, gan bregethu oddiwrth Gen. xxviii. 19. Yn mis Tachwedd canlynol, ffurfiwyd eglwys yma, a pharhaodd Mr. Jones i lafurio yma hyd ddiwedd ei oes. Y Sabboth diweddaf y bu fyw, sef y 30ain o Fai, 1847, gweinyddodd y Cymundeb yn y boreu. Bu y gweinidogion cymydogaethol yn gweinyddu yn y lle wedi marwolaeth Mr. Jones, hyd ganol y gauaf canlynol, pryd y rhoddodd Brynmenyn a Bethel alwad i Mr. O. Owens, o Lanwrtyd, ac mewn cysylltiad gweinidogaethol a Brynmenyn y mae y lle wedi bod hyd yr awr hon. Yn Mehefin, 1854, tynwyd yr hen gapel i lawr ac adeiladwyd un newydd; ac erbyn y flwyddyn 1859 yr oedd cynydd graddol wedi bod ar yr achos fel y barnwyd yn angenrheidiol rhoddi oriel ynddo. Nid yw terfynau yr eglwys yn eang, na'r boblogaeth yn lluosog, ond y mae gwedd gysurus ar yr achos. Rhif yr aelodau ydyw 52.

Codwyd yma ddau bregethwr, sef Evan Davies, Corneldu, yr hwn a adnabyddiry yn well fel Myfyr Morganwg; ond y mae ei gysylltiad ef a'r enwad wedi darfod er's blynyddau; ac Isaiah John, yr hwn sydd yn parhau yn bregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn yr eglwys.

Translation by Steve Stephenson (Oct 2008)

The Sunday School was the starting point in establishing a church in this community. The school started in an almshouse in Hirwaun around the beginning of 1819 by three neighbours, none of them related or of the same religious denomination. The three were Thomas Hopkin (Pantcafarn), Thomas William (Tyn'ywaun) and Isaiah John, blacksmith, son of Wernfach who was  lodging at this time in Parcbach. They invited others to assist them, namely Evan John, brother of Isaiah John, and Evan Davies (Myfyr Morganwg) of Cornelly. They persevered faithfully with the school which was blossoming by the end of the year; but no-one there took the cause of the school to the throne of grace  by starting nor by finishing. This attracted the attention of the brothers of Brynmenyn who came frequently to assist them.

Around the middle of October of that year Mr William Jones (Bridgend) came to preach there on Sunday mornings and gave a number of catechisms to the school with an exhortation to them to learn a chapter on 'The Person of Christ'  before Christmas Day. The following schools were at a meeting in Brynmenyn that Christmas, namely Bridgend, Coety, Brynmenyn and Llangynwyd. They worked diligently with the school from then until the festival; and after holding the meeting the youngest sister  was accepted to the union with great applause. By now it was the middle of winter and the old almshouse in Hirwaun was very cold and very unpleasant. Morgan Howell (Llwyniwrch) had it in his mind to invite the school to come to his house, and he gave a room of his free, namely the eastern end of the house. The offer was a great advantage to the school, because the place was a lot more comfortable and  larger  for the continual expansion of the school. In June 1820 there was a festival of schools on the courtyard in front of this house. Mr Jones continued to come here to preach occasionally, and one evening talk started that it would be very favourable to have a house to hold the school and to preach in the community. Mr Jones promised to come there by the end of the week to preach and have further talks about the cause; and according to his promise he came and the people came together faithfully and warmly and heartened to work. £20 was subscribed before he left. Soon after this they went to ask for land to build on, this was given by Thomas Thomas, Ragland, and his wife, namely eight perches on a lease of 999 years for two shillings and sixpence a year. The building was started without delay and Morgan Howell (Llwyniwrch), Edward John (Wern) and Thomas Williams (Tyn'ywaun) took care of it themselves. The stone was raised and the goods were carried for nothing by the community, and the majority of the wood for nothing by some gentlemen, namely R H Jenkins Esq., (Llanharan), W Vaughan Esq., (Llanlai), W Coffin Esq., (Llandaf) and M P Treharne Esq., (Coetrahen). The building was completed and the chapel was opened on 28th June 1820 by a throng of ministers, amongst others Mr G Hughes (Groeswen), who named the chapel Bethel, preaching from Genesis XXVIII v.19. The following  November a church was formed here and Mr Jones continued to labour here until the end of his life. The last Sunday of his life, 30th May 1847, he led communion in the morning. The neighbouring ministers officiated in the place after the death of Mr Jones until the middle of the following winter when Brynmenyn and Bethel gave a call to Mr O Owens (Llanwrtyd) and the place has been in ministerial communion with  Brynmenyn until now. In September 1854 the old chapel was pulled down and a new one built; and by 1859 there had been a gradual growth in the cause and it was judged that it would be advantageous to have an gallery in it.. The church is not expanding, nor are the people numerous, but there is a comfortable appearance to the cause. The number of members is 52.

Two preachers have been raised here, namely Evan Davies (Cornelly) who is known better as Myfyr Morganwg but his connection with the denomination finished years ago, and Isaiah John who continues as a  respected assistant preacher in the church.

 

PENYBONT-AR-OGWY

(Coity parish)

(Vol 2, p 197)

Dechreuwyd yr achos a gynelir yn awr yn y Tabernacl yn y dref hon, gan yr enwog Samuel Jones, A.M., Brynllywarch, yn fuan wedi iddo gael ei droi allan o Eglwys Llangynwyd, yn 1662. Yn Nghildeudy, yn agos i'r Goetrehen, anedd Rees Powell, Ysw., tad-yn-nghyfraith Mr. Jones, y cynelid y gwasanaeth am lawer o flynyddau. Yr oedd yma addoliad cyson yn cael ei gadw yn y flwyddyn 1669, ac mae yn debygol am tua saith mlynedd cyn hyny.*  Ar y 30ain o Ebrill, 1672, cymerwyd trwyddedau ar Cildeudy a Brynllywarch at bregethu, ac ar yr un dydd cafodd Mr. Jones drwydded i bregethu yn y tai hyn.** Yr oedd Mr. Rees Powell wedi bod yn Sirydd Morganwg ac yn ynad heddwch yn amser y werin-lywodraeth, ac yn ddyn o gryn gyfoeth a dylanwad, a diau y gallasai gael ei gyfrif yn mysg boneddigion y sir, a chadw ei swydd fel ynad heddwch, oni buasai iddo gael ei orfodi gan argyhoeddiad cydwybod i fwrw ei goelbren yn mysg yr Ymneillduwyr erlidiedig. Bu farw y dyn da hwn Awst 16eg, 1672, a'i wraig, yr hon fel y tybir, oedd ferch i Morgan Jones, D.D., trysorydd esgobaeth Llandaf, a fu farw Ionawr 29ain, 1694, yn 86 oed. Cadwodd hi ei thy yn addoldy hyd derfyn ei hoes, ac yno y bu yr eglwys yn ymgynull am fwy nag ugain mlynedd ar ol ei marwolaeth. Bu yr eglwys hon dan ofal gweinidogaethol Mr. Samuel Jones hyd derfyn ei oes ddefnyddiol yn 1697. Dilynwyd ef yn y weinidogaeth, ac fel athraw yn yr athrofa a sefydlesid ganddo, gan Mr. Rees Price, Ty'nton, gwr ieuange genedigol o'r gymydogaeth, ac a ddygesid i fyny mewn dysgeidiaeth yn athrofa Brynllywarch. Cadwodd Mr. Price yr athrofa yn mlaen yn gystal a gofalu am yr eglwys hyd y flwyddyn 1704, pryd y sefydlodd Mr. William Evans athrofa yn Nghaerfyrddin. Mae yn ymddangos i'r athrofa y pryd hwnw gael ei symud i Gaerfyrddin, ond parhaodd Mr. Price am flynyddau lawer wedi hyny i roddi addysg i bregethwyr ieuainge, a bu yr eglwys dan ei ofal hyd derfyn ei oes yn 1739. Felly efe a fu yn weinidog yr eglwys hon am ddwy-flynedd-a-deugain. Nid oes genym unrhyw fanylion o hanes yr eglwys yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Jones na Mr. Price. Buwyd yn addoli yn Brynllywarch a Childeudy hyd farwolaeth Mr. Jones, ac yn Nghildeudy, beth bynag am Frynllywarch, hyd ryw amser ar ol y flwyddyn 1715. Nis gwyddom pa bryd y rhanwyd y gynnulleidfa ac yr adeiladwyd y capeli yn Mhenybont a'r Bettws. Mae yn debygol i hyny gymeryd lle ryw amser rhwng 1715 a 1720. Yr oedd Mr. Rees Price, fel ei ragflaenydd enwog Mr. S. Jones, yn ddyn parchus a chyfrifol iawn fel ysgolhaig a boneddwr o syfyllfa well na'r cyffredin; ond nid ymddengys fod y gynnulleidfa dan ei ofal yn lluosog pan yr oedd yn un, nac wedi iddi gael ei rhanu yn ddwy. Ychydig deuluoedd gwell eu hamgylchiadau na'r cyffredin oedd eu nerth yn fwy na'u lluosogrwydd. Bu Mr. Price farw yn 1739, a dilynwyd ef yn y weinidogaeth yn Mhenybont a'r Bettws gan Mr. Lewis Jones, yr hwn a fuasai cyn hyny yn weinidog yn Llanedi, sir Gaerfyrddin, ac yn y Drewen, sir Aberteifi. Nis gwyddom pa flwyddyn y dechreuodd Mr. Jones ei weinidogaeth yma, ond yr ydym yn tybied iddo ddyfod yma yn mhen blwyddyn neu ddwy wedi marwolaeth Mr. Price. Mae yn ymddangos i'r achos adfywio yn fawr ac i'r cynnulleidfaoedd gynyddu i raddau helaeth dan weinidogaeth gyffrous a phoblogaidd Mr. Jones. Byddai ef yn pregethu dair gwaith bob Sabboth rhwng Penybont a'r Bettws, ac am dri o'r gloch bob prydnhawn dydd Sadwrn yn Mhenybont, er mwyn i'r bobl a ddeuent i'r farchnad gael cyfleusdra i wrando yr efengyl. Dywedir y byddai yn cerdded o'i i'r capel trwy y farchnad a'i Fibl yn ei law a'i glogyn du, yn yr hwn y pregethai, am dano. Tynai hyny sylw y bobl, a dilynai llawer ef i'r capel gan adael eu prynu a'u gwerthu am yr awr hono er mwyn gwrandaw am "Y gwin a'r llaeth heb arian ac heb Werth." Yr oedd Mr. Jones yn wr rhagorol i esbonio yr Ysgrythyrau. Cynaliai gyfarfod bob wythnos i esbonio y Bibl, a llwyddodd i wneyd llawer o bobl ei ofal yn "gedyrn yn yr Ysgrythyrau."

Ar ol bod yma yn llafurio gyda diwydrwydd a llwyddiant nodedig am fwy nag ugain mlynedd, cyfododd anghydfod rhwng Mr. Jones a Samuel Price, Ysw., mab Mr. Rees Price, yr hen weinidog, yr hwn a derfynodd yn ei ymadawiad a'r lle er galar dirfawr i lawer o'r bobl. Mae yn ymddangos fod Mr. S. Price wedi cael ei osod yn ymddiriedolwr ar blentyn amddifad, a chafodd ei gyhuddo o ddefnyddio rhyw gyfran o arian yr amddifad. Pa un a oedd sail i'r cyhuddiad ai nid oedd nis gwyddom. Pa fodd bynag, daeth y peth yn fater eglwys, a throdd Mr. Jones, y gweinidog, yn erbyn Mr. Price. Galwyd gweinidogion cymydogaethol i gyfryngu rhyngddynt. Daeth yno nifer o weinidogion yn nghyd Gorphenaf 14eg, 1763. Cawn y cofnodiad canlynol yn nydd-lyfr Mr. Phillip Dafydd, Penmain, gyda golwg ar y cyfarfod gofidus hwn : - " Gorphenaf 14eg, 1763. Bum heddyw yn Mhenybont mewn cyfarfod gweinidogion, ac yr oedd yno lawer o weinidogion; deunaw neu bedwar-ar-bymtheg feddyliwyf. Pregethodd Mr. John Powell, oddiwrth Galatiaid iii. 26. Yr oedd yno anghydfod ac ymryson blin rhwng Mr. Lewis Jones a Samuel Price, Yswain, fel mai trwy lawer o anhawsder y gallodd y gweinidogion drafod yr achos o gwbl, ac oni buasai i Mr. Price  amlygu fath dymer dda a gostyngeiddrwydd nis gallesid gwneyd dim yno. Nis gallaswn i lai na theimlo dros y ddwy blaid; dros Mr. Price o herwydd iddo gad cymaint o'i boeni a'i aflonyddu yn ei feddwl gan ledawgrymiadau ac enllibau dynion cenfigenllyd a maleisus; a thros Mr. Jones o herwydd iddo fod mor wan a chredu y fath gyhuddiad disail am Mr. Price, a sefyll mor benderfynol gyda y blaid wrthwynebol er mawr niwed iddo ei hun a'r achos." Canlyniad yr ymryson fu i Mr. Jones orfod ymadael yn mhen mis neu ddau ar ol hyn. Ni bu nemawr o ymryson erioed heb fod bai o'r ddwy ochr, ac felly yn ddiau yr oedd yn yr amgylchiad hwn.

Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Jones, bu yr eglwysi yn Mhenybont a'r Bettws ye ymddibynu ar weinidogaeth achlysurol hyd 1765, pryd y rhoddasant alwad i Mr. Evan Williams, Llanuwchllyn. Yr oedd Mr. Williams yn ddyn llafurus ac yn bregethwr poblogaidd. Parhaodd i lafurio yma am bymtheng mlynedd, ac yn 1780, derbyniodd alwad o'r Bala, lle y bu farw yn 1786. Yn 1782, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Samuel Price, o athrofa Caerfyrddin, yr hwn a fu yma hyd ei farwolaeth yn 1806. Nid oes genym unrhyw hanes i'w roddi am sefyllfa yr eglwysi yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Price, amgen na bod pob peth yn heddychol a chysurus ynddynt, a bod y gweinidog mewn parch mawr gan bobl ei ofal a'r ardalwyr yn gyffredinol.

Yn fuan wedi marwolaeth Mr. Price, aeth pethau yn annymunol iawn yma o herwydd fod y bob yn methu cyduno yn newisiad gweinidog. Yr oedd Mr. Walter Coffin, yr unig ymddiriedolwr yn ngweithredoedd y capeli oedd yn fyw, ac ychydig o'r bobl gydag ef, dros roddi galwad i Mr. James Griffiths, o athrofa Caerfyrddin, wedi hyny o Dyddewi, a mwyafrif dirfawr y ddwy eglwys dros Mr. Thomas Edwards, o athrofa Gwrecsam. Barnai Mr. Coffin a'i blaid fod Mr. Griffiths yn well ysgolhaig, ac yn fwy doeth a boneddigaidd na Mr. Edwards, ond barnai y lluaws mai Mr. Edwards oedd y dyn cymhwysaf o herwydd ei fod yn fwy doniol ac yn pregethu golygiadau Calfinaidd yn fwy noeth. Pan welodd Mr. Griffiths fel yr oedd pethau yn sefyll, safodd draw a derbyniodd alwad o Fachynlleth, ond glynodd Mr. Edwards am ychydig gyda'i blaid, a'r canlyniad fu i'r eglwysi rwygo, ac i gorph y gynnulleidfa fyned allan o'r ddau gapel yn Mhenybont a'r Bettws. Yr oedd gan Mr. Coffin feddiant o'r capeli fel yr unig ymddiriedolwr, a chan fod ei fab, Mr. Walter Coffin, yn Undodwr, cafodd gan yr hen wr ei dad, er nad oedd o'r gred hono, i wahodd pregethwyr Undodaidd i'r capeli, ac yn meddiant yr Undodiaid y maent, yn nghyd a'r gwaddol perthynol iddynt, hyd y dydd hwn. Mae yn ddiameu y gallesid rhagflaenu y rhwyg hwn oni buasai annoethineb y bobl, yn cael eu cefnogi yn eu gwylltineb gan amryw o weinidogion y sir, y rhai a ddygent sel benboeth dros uchel-Galfiniaeth, ac a gyhuddent bob gweinidog a elai i'r capeli at Mr. Coffin a'i blaid o fod yn Arminiaid. Pe buasid yn arfer ychydig fwy o bwyll a doethineb, gallasai y capeli a'r eiddo perthynol iddynt fod yn meddiant yr Annibynwyr hyd y dydd hwn.

Wedi i bobl Penybont fyned allan o'r capel buont am tua thair blynedd yn addoli mewn hen ysgubor yn mhen uchaf y Casnewydd-ar-ogwy. Yn y flwyddyn 1809, dechreuwyd adeiladu y Tabernacl, yr hwn a agorwyd Mehefin 15fed, 1810, pryd y pregethodd Meistri W. Williams, Drefnewydd; G. Hughes, Groeswen; J. Davies, Alltwen, a D. Davies, Abertawy. Yr oedd yr eglwys cyn hyn wedi dewis Mr. William Jones, o athrofa Gwrecsam yn weinidog, ac yr oedd wedi cael ei urddo ar y 29ain o Fawrth, 1810. Bu Mr. Jones yn gweinidogaethu yma, yn Brynmenyn, y Coety, a Bethel, hyd derfyn ei oes ddefnyddiol yn 1847. Er na ddarfu i Mr. Jones gasglu o'i gylch gynnulleidfaoedd lluosog yn un o'r pedwar lle, ni bu un gweinidog yn Nghymru, mewn un oes, yn fwy parchus gan fyd ac eglwys nag de. Er nad oedd ei ddoniau yu swynol i'r werin ddifeddwl, yr oedd ei weinidogaeth yn fwyd cryf a blasus i bob gwrandawr meddylgar.

Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1848, rhoddodd yr eglwysi yn Mhenybont a'r Coety alwad i Mr. John David Williams, o athrofa Homerton, Llundain, ac urddwyd ef yma Chwefror 23ain a'r 24ain, yn y flwyddyn hono. Gweinyddwyd yn nghyfarfodydd yr urddiad gan Meistri Watkins, Llwyni; Rees, Siloa; Evans, Penbre; Stephens, Sirhowy; Davies, Llanelli, Brycheiniog; Evans, Castellnedd; Jones, Abertawy; Griffiths, Llanharan; Owens, Zoar; Powell, Caerdydd, ac eraill. Yr oedd Mr. Williams yn wr ieuange dysgedig, doniol, a gweithgar anghyffredin, ac fel yr oedd yn naturiol disgwyl parodd ei sefydliad yma gytffroad ac adfywiad yn yr eglwys a'r gynnulleidfa. Yn fuan wedi ei urddiad, dechreuodd alw sylw at yr angenrheidrwydd o gael capel newydd. Er mai yn 1809 yr adeiladesid y capel gyntaf, ac iddo gael ei adgyweirio, neu ei ailadeiladu drachefn yn 1828, yr oedd erbyn 1849 wedi myned mor wael yr olwg arno fel yr oedd yn annheilwng o dref o fath Penybont o ran maint ac agwedd. Dichon i Mr. Williams gyffroi i gychwyn gyda'r capel newydd cyn fod y bobl yn gyffredinol yn ddigon addfed i hyny, yr hyn a achlysurodd fesur o deimladau anhyfryd. Pa fodd bynag, efe a aeth a'r gwaith yn mlaen yn 1850, a chafodd y capel presenol ei orphen a'i agor yn Hydref, 1851. Yn 1852, derbyniodd Mr. Williams alwad o Ebenezer, Caerdydd, a symudodd yno. Bu yr eglwysi yn Mhenybont a'r Coety o'r pryd hwnw hyd 1857 hob weinidog sefydlog. Yn y flwyddyn hono rhoddasant alwad i Mr. Rhys Gwesyn Jones, Rhaiadr, ond ni arosodd ef yma nemawr dros flwyddyn. Yn 1858, symudodd i Bethesda, Merthyr. Yn 1859, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Bowen Jones, B.A., ac y mae ef wedi cadw ei le yn deilwng yma o'r pryd hwnw hyd yn bresenol. Yn 1866, adeiladwyd ysgoldy cyfleus y tu cefn i'r capel gwerth 250p. Ni bu ar un cyfnod o hanes yr achos hwn agwedd fwy dymunol ar ei amgylchiadau allanol nag sydd arno yn bresenol. Y mae yma gapel hardd ac ysgoldy cyfleus ac agos yn rhyddion o ddyled; ac y mae y gweinidog yn ddyn dysgedig a galluog, ac yn barchus fel y cyfryw gan fyd ag eglwys; ond mae lledaeniad cyflym yr iaith Saesnaeg yn mysg plant ac ieuengetyd y dref yn milwrio yn dost yn erbyn yr achos hwn, fel pob achos Cymreig arall yn y dref.

Mae nifer o bregethwyr enwog wedi cael eu cyfodi yn yr eglwys hon. Dichon i amryw gyfodi yma yn amser Mr. Jones, Byrnllywarch; Mr. Price, a Mr. Lewis Jones, nad ydym ni wedi gallu dyfod o hyd i'w henwau.

  • Rees Price, yr ail weinidog yw y cyntaf a godwyd yma cyn belled ag y gwyddom ni. Rhoddir ei gofiant ef yn nes yn mlaen.
  • Samuel Price. Brawd Rees Price oedd et. Nid ydym yn gwybod pa flwyddyn y ganwyd ef. Mae yn dra sier iddo fod am rai blynyddau dan uddysg ei weinidog, Mr. Jones. Bu o 1699 hyd 1702, yn athrofa Mr. Thomas Jolly, yn Attercliffe, gerllaw Sheffield. Yn 1703, cafodd alwad i fyned yn gynorthwywr i'r enwog Dr. Isaac Watts i Lundain. Bu yno am ddeng mlynedd yn gynorthwywr, ac yn 1713, cafodd ei urddo yn gydweinidog a'r Dr., ac felly y bu hyd farwolaeth y gwr enwog, a pharhaodd yn unig weinidog yr eglwys o amser marwolaeth y Dr. hyd ei farwolaeth ei hun, yr hyn a gymerodd le Ebrill 21ain 1756. Claddwyd ef yn ymyl ei hoff gyfaill, Dr. Watts, yn Bunhille Filds lle y mae beddfaen prydferth yn dangos y fan y gorphwysa. Yr oedd Samuel Price yn un o'r gweinidogion parchusaf yn ei oes. Cyfrifid ef yn un nodedig am ei arafwch, ei gallineb, ei ddefnyddioldeb fel pregethwr, a'i effeithiolrwydd digyffelyb mewn gweddi. Nid ymddengys iddo ef, mwy na'i gyfaill mynwesol Dr. Watts, fyned i'r sefyllfa briodasol. Yn ei ewyllys ddiweddaf gadawodd lawer, os nad yr oll o'i lyfrau, i'w rhanu rhwng gweinidogion Cymru. Enwa Mr. Phillip Dafydd, Penmain, yn ei ddydd-lyfr, y cyfrolau a ddaethant i'w ran ef. Er fod Mr. Price yn ddyn dysgedig a galluog iawn, ni oddefai ei wylder iddo gyhoeddi llyfrau. Yr oll o'i waith a argraffwyd yw tair-ar-ddeg o bregethau, ac y mae naw o'r rhai hyny i'w cael yn y cyfrolau gwerthfawr a elwir The Berry Street Sermons.
  • Richard Price, D.D., LL.D., F.R.S. Mab Mr. Rees Price, y gweinidog, oedd y gwr enwog hwn. Ganwyd ef yn Ty'nton, Chwefror 22ain, 1723. Pan yn lled ieuange anfonwyd ef i ysgol Ramadegol Mr. Samuel Jones, Capel Seion, sir Gaerfyrddin. Yn y flwyddyn 1739, anfonwyd ef i athrofa y Llwynllwyd, dan olygiaeth Mr. Vavasor Griffiths. Yn mhen ychydig fisoedd wedi iddo fyned yno bu farw ei dad, ac yn mhen tua chwe' mis ar ei el bu farw ei fam, ac felly cafodd ei adael yn amddifad o dad a mam pan yn ddwy-ar-bymtheg oed. Wedi colli ei rieni, cafodd trwy ddylanwad ei ewythr, Mr. Samuel Price, ei dderbyn i athrofa Mr. Eames yn Llundain, lle y bu am bedair blynedd. Bu wedi hyny yn weinidog yn olynol yn Stoke Newington, Old Jewry, ac Old Gravel Pitt. Yr oedd Dr. Price yn enwog fel pregethwr a duwinydd, and yr oedd lawer o flynyddau cyn ei farwolaeth wedi ymwrthod a'r athrawiaeth a gredid ac a bregethid gan ei dad a'i ewythr, a chofleidio golygiadau yr Ariaid. Ond fel athronydd, gwleidiedydd, a Mathmatician [sic] y darfu iddo ef anfarwoli ei enw. Yn y pethau hyny nid oedd un dyn yn ei oes ef yn y deyrnas, os oedd neb yn holl Ewrop, yn uwch nag ef. Edrychid i fyny ato gan brif ddysgedigion Lloegr, Ffrainc, ac America. Dichon na ddarfu i un Cymro erioed ddringo i safe uwch yn mysg dysgedigion nag ef. Bu farw yn haf y flwyddyn 1791, yn y nawfed-flwyddyn-a-thriugain o'i oed.
  • Thomas Jones. Ganwyd ef yn Nghwmnedd, ond yn Mhenybont y derbyniwyd ef yn aelod eglwysig, ac y dechreuodd bregethu yn amser Mr. Evan Williams. Derbyniwyd ef yn fyfyriwr i'r athrofa yn Abergavenny, Ebrill 4ydd, 1774. Cafodd ei urddo yn Ottery St. Mary, yn Mai, 1780. Yn y flwyddyn ganlynol symudodd i Cholford, sir Gaerloew, lle y treuliodd weddill ei oes yn barchus a defnyddiol. Bu farw Ionawr 10fed, 1820, yn 72 oed, a chladdwyd ef yn mynwent hen capel Cholford, lle y mae beddfaen hardd yn dangos y fan y gorphwysa ei lwch.
  • David Williams. Mab Mr. Evan Williams, y gweinidog. Derbyniwyd ef i'r athrofa yn Abergavenny, Ebrill 3ydd, 1775. Bu am lawer o flynyddau yn weinidog yn sir Gaerefrog. Yr oedd yn fyw mor ddiweddar a'r flwyddyn 1820. Nid ydym yn gwybod ychwaneg o'i hanes.
  • John Rees. Gwelir ei hanes ef yn y gyfrol gyntaf, tu dalen 331.
  • John Thomas. Dechreuodd ef bregethu yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. W. Jones; ond symudodd i Nantgarw, lle y bu hyd ddiwedd ei oes yn bregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn nglyn a'r eglwys yn Groeswen. Bydd genym air yn mhellach i'w ddywedyd am dano pan ddeuwn at yr eglwys yno.

Dichon fod eraill o flaen ac ar ol y rhai uchod wedi eu cyfodi i'r weinidogaeth yma, ond nid ydym ni wedi gallu dyfod o hyd i'w henwau.

*2714, Lambeth MSS.   **State papers.

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

SAMUEL JONES, M.A. Yr oedd y gweinidog enwog hwn yn fab i Mr. John Roberts, Corwen, Meirionydd. Yn 1628, pan y ganwyd ef, yr oedd ei rieni yn byw yn agos i Gastellywaun, sir Ddinbych. ...........

REES PRICE. Yr oedd ef yn fab i Rees a Catherine Price, o blwyf y Bettws. Bu farw ei dad Hydref 13eg, 1723, yn 91 oed, a'i fam Ebrill 7fed, 1739, yn 90 oed. ...................................

LEWIS JONES. Dywedir mai yn sir Aberteifi y ganwyd ef, ond nid yw yn hysbys yn mha ran o'r sir hono. Yn ol ei oed ar ei feddfaen, mae yn ymddangos iddo gael ei eni yn y flwyddyn 1703. .........

SAMUEL PRICE. Mab hynaf yr enwog Isaac Price, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn Llanwrtyd a Throedrhiwdalar, oedd efe. Ganwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1757. ..............

WILLIAM JONES oedd fab William ac Elizabeth Jones, o'r Bala. Ganwyd ef yn y dref hono yn y flwyddyn 1784. ........................

 

Translation by Steve Stephenson (Oct 2008)

The cause that is now held in the Tabernacle in this town was started by the famous Samuel Jones AM (Brynllywarch) soon after he was turned out of Llangynwyd church in 1662. For many years the service was held in Cildeudy, close to Coetrehen, the dwelling of Rees Powell Esq., father-in-law of  Mr Jones. A regular service was held here in 1669, and it is likely for about seven years before that.*  On 30th April 1672 licences for preaching were given to Cildeudy and Brynllywarch and on the same day Mr Jones was licensed to preach in these houses.**  Mr Rees Powell had been the sheriff of Glamorgan and a Justice of the Peace in the time of Cromwell's Commonwealth and was a man of some wealth and influence and doubtless he could be counted amongst the gentlemen of the county. He kept his office as a JP even though he was compelled to throw his lot amongst the persecuted Dissenters. This good man died on 16th August 1672 and his wife, who was supposed to be a daughter of Morgan Jones DD, the treasurer of the diocese of Llandaf, died on 29th January 1694 at 86 years old. She kept her house as a place of worship until the end of her life and the church assembled there for more than 20 years after her death. This church was under the ministry of Mr Samuel Jones until the end of his life of service in 1697. He was followed in the ministry, and as a teacher in the college that he had established, by Mr Rees Price (Ty'nton), a young man who had been born into the community and instructed in the doctrine of Brynllywarch college. Mr Price kept the college going at the same time as caring for the church until 1704 when Mr William Evans (who established the  college at Carmarthen) was inducted. It appeared that the college moved to Carmarthen at that time to , but Mr Price continued for many years to teach young preachers and the church was under his care until the end of his life in 1739. Therefore he had been minister of the church for 42 years. We do not have any details of the history of the church in the time of the ministry of Mr Jones nor Mr Price. There would have been worship in Brynllywarch and Cildeudy until the death of Mr Jones, and in Cildeudy, whatever of Brynllywarch, until some time after the year 1715. We do not know at  what time the congregation was divided and the chapels in Penybont and Bettws were built. It is likely that this took place some time between 1715 and 1720. Mr Rees Price was, like his famous predecessor Mr Samuel Jones, a very responsible and respectable man as a scholar and a gentleman from a better rather than common status; but it didn't appear that the congregation under his care was numerous, neither when it was united nor after after it was split into two.A few families who were better in their circumstances than the common were more powerful rather than their numbers. Mr Price died in 1739 and he was followed in the ministry in Penybont and Bettws by Mr Lewis Jones, who before this had been minister in Llanedi, Carmarthenshire, and in Trewen, Cardiganshire.We do  not know which year Mr Jones started his ministry here, but we think that he came here within a year or two of the death of Mr Price. It appears that the cause was revived greatly and the congregations grew to some extent under the exciting and popular ministry of Mr Jones. He would preach three times every Sabbath between Penybont and Bettws, and at three o'clock every Saturday afternoon in Penybont in order that the people who came to the market had an opportunity to hear the gospel. It is said that he would walk from the chapel through the market with his Bible in his hand  and in his black cloak around him and in which he would preach. This drew the attention of the people and a lot of them would follow him to the chapel, leaving their buying and selling for this hour in order to hear about the "Wine and milk without money and beyond price". Mr Jones was an excellent man to explain the Scriptures. He would hold a meeting every week to explain the Bible and he succeeded in making a lot of people in his care "powerful in the Scriptures".

Having been here for more than twenty years working diligently and with notable success there arose a dispute between Mr Jones and Samuel Price Esq., the son of Mr Rees Price, the old minister, which ended with his departure from the place despite great sorrow to a lot of people. It appears that Mr S Price had been appointed as a trustee of the orphan children and he was accused of using some of the orphans' money. What the basis was for the accusation we do not know.

Whatever, the thing came to be a subject for the church, and Mr Jones, the minister, turned against Mr Price. The neighbouring ministers were called to mediate between them. A number of the ministers came together there on 14th July 1763. The following record was kept in a spiral bound book by Mr Phillip Dafydd, Penmaen, as an observation on this sad meeting:- "July 14th, 1763. There was a meeting of ministers today in Penybont. There were a lot of ministers there, eighteen or nineteen I think. Mr John Powell preached from Galatians III v.26. There was a dispute and contention here between Mr Lewis Jones and Samuel Price Esq., it was with a great deal of difficulty that the ministers were able to discuss the matter at all, and even though Mr Price revealed  a good temper and humility, they couldn't do anything there.They weren't able to lessen the feeling between the two parties; for Mr Price because he had had so much pain and anxiety in his mind by widespread suggestions and slander from jealous and malicious men; and for Mr Jones because he had been so weak to believe the sort of unfounded accusation about Mr Price, and remained so determined with the opposing party in spite of the great harm he himself had done to the cause." Following the dispute Mr Jones was forced to leave a month or two after that. There has never been hardly any conflict without fault on both sides, and therefore doubtless it was in this circumstance.

After the departure of Mr Jones the churches in Penybont and Bettws were dependent on occasional ministry until 1765 when a call was sent to Mr Evan Williams (Llanwchllyn). Mr Williams was a hard-working man and a popular preacher. He continued to work here for fifteen years and in 1780 he accepted a call from Bala where he died in 1786. In 1782 a call was sent to Mr Samuel Price from Camarthen college and he was here until his death in 1806. We do not have any history to give on the situation of churches in the time of Mr Price, except that everything was peaceful and comfortable and the minister was greatly respected by the people in his care and in the area generally.

Soon after the death of Mr Price things became very unpleasant because everyone failed to agree on the choice of a new minister. Mr Walter Coffin was the only  trustee in the working of the chapels who was living and the few of the people with him were for sending a call to Mr James Griffiths from Carmarthen college, and after that from Tyddewi; and the great majority of the two churches for Mr Thomas Edwards from Wrexham college. Mr Coffin and his party considered that Mr Griffiths was the better scholar and more wise and gentlemanly than Mr Edwards, but the crowd considered that  Mr Edwards was the more  qualified because he was more humorous and preached the Calvinist doctrine more absolutely. When Mr Griffiths saw how things stood  he stepped aside and accepted a call from Machynlleth, but Mr Edwards stayed for a while with his faction and the result was that the churches split and the body of the congregation went out from the two chapels in Penybont and Bettws. Mr Coffin had power over the chapels as the only trustee and because his son Mr Walter Coffin was a Unitarian he gave invitations to Unitarian preachers to come to the chapels even though his father was not of the same belief.  They belong to the  Unitarians, including the endowment that belongs to them, up to this day.  It is certain that  this split could have been  avoided if the people had been supported by some of the ministers of the county, those who came with the fanatical zeal of the high-Calvinist,  and who complained that every minister who went to the chapel from Mr Coffin and his party was an Arminiad. If there  had been  a bit more tact and discretion the chapels would have the property belonging to them and be in the Independent doctrine up to this day.    

After the people of Penybont left  the chapel they  worshipped for about three years in an old barn above Casnewydd-ar-Ogwy . In 1809 building of Tabernacle was started and it was opened on 15th September 1810 when Messrs. W Williams (Drefnewydd), G Hughes (Groeswen), J Davies (Alltwen) and D Davies (Swansea) preached. Before this the church had chosen Mr William Jones from Wrexham college to be the minister and he had his ordination on the 29th March 1810.  Mr Jones was ministering here, in Brymenyn, Coety, and Bethel until the end of his service in 1847. Even though Mr Jones did not gather fom the the area numerous congregations in any of the four places, there was not any minister in Wales, at any time, more respected by the world and the church than him. Even though his gifts did not attract the uneducated country folk, his ministry was strong and to the taste of every thinking listener.  

In the beginning of 1848 the churches in Penybont and Coety sent a call to Mr John David Williams from Homerton college London, and he was ordained here on 23rd and 24th February in that year. Ministering in the ordination meeting were Messrs. Watkins (Llwyni). Rees (Siloa), Peter Evans (Pembrey), Stephens(Sirhowy), Davies (Llanelli, Brecon), Evans (Castellnedd), Jones (Swansea), Griffiths ( Llanharan), Evans (Soar), Powell ( Cardiff) and others. Mr Williams was an educated and humorous young man, and unusually hard working, and as  it was naturally expected that  his induction would continue to stir  and revive the church and congregation.  Soon after his ordination he started to draw attention to the need for a new chapel. Since the first chapel had been built in 1809 and it had been repaired or rebuilt again in 1828, by 1849 it had  become so bad in its appearance that it was unworthy in its aspect and size for a sort of town like Penybont.  Perhaps Mr Williams agitated to start the new chapel before the ordinary people were ready for that, this caused a measure of unpleasant feelings. Whatever he took the work forward in 1850, and the present chapel was finished and opened in October 1851. In 1852 Mr Williams accepted a call from Ebenezer, Cardiff and he moved there. The churches in Penybont and Coety were at this time until 1857 without an established minister. In that year a call was sent to Mr Gwesyn Jones, Rhaiadr, but he didn't stay here more than a year. In 1858 he moved to Bethesda, Merthyr. In 1859 a call was sent to Mr John Bowen Jones BA, and he has kept his worthy place here  from that time until the present. In 1866 a convenient schoolhouse was built behind the chapel costing £250. There wasn't in any period of the history of this cause an aspect so favourable in its external surroundings as there are at present. The chapel here is handsome and the schoolhouse is convenient and almost free of debt. The minister is an educated man who is able and respected equally in the world and the church, but the English language is spreading rapidly amongst the children and youth of the town and is sorely militating against this cause, like every other Welsh cause in the town.   

A number of famous preachers have been raised in this church. Perhaps some were raised here in the time of Mr Jones, Brynllywarch, Mr Price and Mr Lewis Jones but we are not able to find their names.

  • Mr Rees Price, the second minister, is the first to be raised from here as far as we know. His biography will be given later on.
  • Samuel Price. He was the brother of Rees Price. We don't know which year he was born. It is fairly sure that he was for some years under instruction by his minister, Mr Jones. From 1699 until 1702 he was in the college of Mr Thomas Jolly in Attercliffe near Sheffield. In 1703 he was called to go as an assistant to the famous Dr Isaac Watts in London. He was there for ten years as assistant and in 1713 he was ordained as a fellow minister to the doctor, and he was there until the death of this famous man  and then continued as the only minister in the church from the time of the death of the doctor until his own death on 21st April 1756. He was buried beside his worthy companion, Dr Watts, in Bunhill Fields where the handsome gravestone shows the place of rest. Samuel Price  was one of the most respected ministers of his time. He was counted as one noted for his patience, knowledge, usefulness as a preacher and unrivalled effectiveness in prayer.  It did not seem to him, any more than his close companion Dr Watts, that he should  marry. In his last will he left many, if not all, of his books to be shared among the ministers of Wales. He named Mr Phillip Dafydd, Penmain in his diary with the volumes that would be his share. Even though Mr Price was a learned and very able man his modesty did not allow him to publish books. The only work that was printed is  thirteen sermons and some of them can be had now in the valuable volumes entitled 'The Berry Street Sermons'.
  • Richard Price D.D., Ll.D., F.R.S. This famous man was the son of the minister Mr Rees Price. he was born in Ty'nton on February 22nd 1723. When he was very young he was sent to the Grammar School  of Mr Samuel Jones, Capel Seion, Carmarthenshire. In 1739 he was sent to the Llwynllwyd college under the tuition of Mr Vavasor Griffiths. A few months after he went there his father died and around six months after that his mother died and so he was left an orphan when he was  17 years old. Having lost his parents he was accepted into the college of Mr Eames in London, through the influence of his uncle, Mr Samuel Price, where he was for four years. After that he was the next  minister in Stoke Newington, Old Jewry and Old Gravel Pit. Dr Price was famous as a  preacher and theologian but for many years before his death he abstained from the teaching and faith that had been preached by his father and uncle and embraced the views of  Arianism. But as a teacher, politician and mathematician  his name will be immortalised. In these things there wasn't any man of his time in the kingdom, if not the whole of Europe, higher than him. He was looked up to by the chief learned men of England, France and America. Perhaps it wasn't surprising that he was the  only Welshman ever to climb to the summit among the learned. He died in the summer of 1791 at 69 years of age.
  • Thomas Jones. He was born in Cwmnedd but he was accepted as a church member in Penybont and he started preaching in the time of Mr Evan Williams. He was accepted as a student in Abergavenny college on the 4th April 1774. He was ordained in Ottery St Mary in May 1780. The following year he moved to Cholford, Gloucestershire, where he worked for the rest of his life, respected and of service. He died on 10th January 1820 at 72 years of age and was buried in the cemetery of the old Cholford chapel where there is a handsome gravestone to show his place of rest.
  • David Williams. The son of the minister Mr Evan Williams. He was accepted into the college in Abergavenny on April 3rd 1775. For many years he was a minister in Yorkshire. He was living as late as 1820. We do not know the rest of his history.
  • John Rees. See his history in Vol.1, p.331.
  • John Thomas. He started preaching in the time of the ministry of Mr W Jones, but he moved to Nantgarw where he was a respected assistant preacher until the end of his life around the church in Groeswen. We will have further details to say about him when we come to the church there.

Perhaps there were others before and after those above that have been raised to the ministry here, but we have not been able to find their names.

* 2714, Lambeth MSS.    ** State Papers

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (not extracted fully)

SAMUEL JONES, M.A. This famous preacher was the son of Mr John Roberts, Corwen, Merionethshire. In 1628 when he was born his parents lived close to Castellywaun, Denbighshire....................................

REES PRICE. He was the son of Rees and Catherine Price from the parish of Bettws. His father died on the 13th October 1723 aged 91 years and his mother on the 7th April 1739 aged 90 years.....................................

LEWIS JONES. It is said that he was born in Cardiganshire but it is not known in which part of the county. According to the age on his gravestone it shows that he was born in 1703.......................................

SAMUEL PRICE. The eldest son  of the famous Isaac Price, he was minister of the churches in Llanwrtyd and Troedrhiwgalar. He was born in 1757......................

WILLIAM JONES. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Jones of Bala. He was born

 

BRYNMENYN

(St Brides Minor parish)

(Vol 2, p 211)

Saif y capel hwn tua phedair milldir i'r gogledd o Benybont, ac heb fod yn mhell o Abercynffyg. Yn amser yr ymraniad a gymerodd le wedi marwolaeth Mr. Samuel Price yn 1806, y dechreuodd yr achos yn y lle hwn, yr un fath a'r achos yn y Tabernacl, Penybont. Yn hen gapel y Bettws yr arferai y bobl addoli cyn hyny. Mae yr achos hwn mor hen a'r achos yn Mhenybont, a chan ein bod wedi rhoddi hanes y ddau nghyd o'u dechreuad yn amser Mr. Samuel Jones, hyd farwolaeth Mr. Samuel Price, yn hanes Penybont, nid oes genym yn awr ond rhoddi hanes Brynmenyn oddiar ymadawiad y bobl o gapel y Bettws hyd yn awr. Nis gwyddom yn mha le y buwyd yn addoli o'r ymraniad yn 1806 hyd y pryd yr adeiladwyd y capel. Adeiladwyd y capel cyntaf yma yn 1808, ac agorwyd ef Ionawr 31ain a Chwefror laf, 1809, pryd y pregethodd Meistri William Williams, Drefnewydd; Walter Thomas, Aberdar; G. Hughes, Groeswen, a D. Davies, Abertawy. Mr. Thomas Edwards oedd yn pregethu yma ar amser yr ymraniad, ac efe fu yr achlysur o hono, ond nid ymddengys iddo aros yma yn hir na chael ei urddo. Symudodd oddiyma i Lanedi, lle mae yn debygol yr urddwyd ef. Yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1809, rhoddodd yr eglwys hon, mewn cysylltiad a'r eglwys yn Mhenybont, alwad i Mr. W. Jones, a pharhaodd i weinidogaethu yma hyd derfyn ei fywyd yn 1847. Nid oes genym ddim neillduol i'w gofnodi o hanes yr achos yn nhymor gweinidogaeth Mr. Jones, amgen na bod yr eglwys yn dangnefeddus, a'r gweinidog, fel y dylasai fod, mewn parch mawr gan yr eglwys a'r ardalwyr yn gyffredinol. Wedi marwolaeth Mr. Jones, rhanwyd cylch ei weinidogaeth. Dewisodd Penybont a'r Coety weinidog iddynt eu hunain, ac ymunodd Brynmenyn a Bethel i gynal gweinidog rhyngddynt. Darfu iddynt hwy wneyd dewisiad o Mr. Owen Owens, Llanwrtyd, yr hwn a ymsefydlodd yma yn gynar yn y flwyddyn 1848. Yn fuan wedi iddo ymsefydlu yn y lle ail adeiladwyd y capel, ac agorwyd ef Tachwedd 8fed a'r 9fed, 1848, pryd y traddodwyd pregethau gan y gweinidogion canlynol : - Meistri E. Griffiths, Abertawy; J. Thomas, Cefncribwr; J. D. Williams, Penybont; M. Rees, Groeswen; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; J. Evans, Maendy; W. Morgan, Llwyni, ac eraill. Parhaodd Mr. Owens i lafurio yma hyd Medi, 1865, pryd yr ymfudodd i'r America. Mehefin 18fed a'r 19eg, 1866, urddwyd Mr. David Lewis, myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu, yma. Traddodwyd y gynaraeth gan Mr. W. Roberts, Athraw Clasurol yr athrofa; derbyniwyd y gyffes ffydd gan Mr. J. B. Jones, B.A., Penybont; gweddiwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. W. Griffiths, Llanharan; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. D. Price, Aberdar, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. W. Edwards, Aberdar. Bu Mr. Lewis yn llafurio yma ac yn Bethel yn barchus iawn hyd ddiwedd y flwyddyn 1870, pryd y symudodd i Lanelli, sir Gaerfyrddin. Yn 1871, rhodlwyd galwad i Mr. W. Morris, o athrofa Aberhonddu, ac urddwyd ef Mehefin 19eg a'r 20fed. Ar yr achlysur pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. J. B. Jones, B.A., Penybont; holwyd y gofyniadau gan Proffesor Morris, Aberhonddu; dyrchafwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. J. Davies, Taihirion; pregethwyd i'r gweinidog gan Mr. D. Jones, B.A., Merthyr, ac i'r eglwys gan Mr. J. Davies, Caerdydd.

Mae ysgoldy perthynol i Brynmenyn wedi ei adeiladu yn Bryncethin, lle y cynhelir ysgol bob Sabboth, a chyfarfodydd gweddio a phregethu yn achlysurol. Cafwyd y tir yn rhad gan Mr. William Evans, Felinnewydd, yn 1828, ac adeiladwyd yr ysgoldy y flwyddyn ganlynol.

Yma y dechreuodd Evan Griffiths, Abertawy - cyfleithydd Esboniad Mathew Henry - bregethu, ac yma hefyd y dechreuodd Evan Martin bregethu, yr hwn wedi treulio blynyddau yn America, a ddychwelodd yma, ac a fu farw yn ddiweddar yn Mhenybont.

Translation by Steve Stephenson (Feb 2009)

This chapel stands about four miles to the north of Bridgend, without being far from Abercynffyg. In the time of the split which took place after the death of Mr Samuel Price in 1806 the cause started in this place, the same type of cause as the Tabernacle in Bridgend. The people used to worship in the old chapel at Bettws before this. This cause is as old as the cause in Bridgend, and because we have given the story of the two from their start in the time of Mr Samuel Jones until the death of Mr Samuel Price in the history of Penybont, there is no need for us to give it now or give the history of Brymenyn from the leaving of the people from Bettws up to now. We do not know in which place worship took place from the split in 1806 until the building of the chapel. The first chapel was built here in 1808 and it was opened on January 31st and February 1st 1809, when Messrs. William Williams (Newtown), Walter Thomas (Aberdar), G Hughes (Groeswen) and D Davies (Swansea) preached. Mr Thomas Edwards was preaching here at the time of the split and he was the occasion of it, but he did not appear to stay here long or to be ordained. He moved from here to Llanedi  where it is likely he was ordained. At the end of 1809 this church, in connection with the church in Bridgend, sent a call to Mr W Jones who continued in the ministry here until the end of his life in 1847.We do not have any details to note of the history of the cause in the term of Mr Jones' ministry, other than that the church was peaceful, and the minister, as he should be, was greatly respected by the church and the inhabitants of the area in general. After the death of Mr Jones the ministry of the district was divided. Bridgend and Coety decided to have a minister of their own and Brymenyn and Bethel to share a minister between them. So it happened they chose Mr Owen Owens (Llanwrtyd) who was established here early in 1848. Soon after he was established the chapel was rebuilt and opened on November 8th and 9th 1848 when sermons were delivered by the following ministers:- Messrs.E Griffiths (Swansea), J Thomas (Cefncribwr), J D Williams (Bridgend), M Rees ( Groeswen), W Griffiths (Llanharan), J Evans (Maendy), W Morgan (Llwyni) and others. Mr Owens continued his work here until September 1865 when he emigrated to America. On June 18th and 19th 1866 Mr David Lewis, a student from Brecon college, was ordained here. The introductory address was given by Mr W Roberts, the classics master of the college; the acceptance of the confession of faith by Mr J B Jones BA (Bridgend); the ordination prayer by Mr W Griffiths (Llanharan); the sermon to the minister by Mr D Price (Aberdar) and to the church by Mr W Edwards (Aberdar). Mr Lewis worked here and in Bethel very respectfully until the end of 1870 when he moved to Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In 1871 a call was given to Mr W Morris from the college at Brecon and he was ordained here on June 19th and 20th. On the occasion Mr J B Jones BA (Bridgend) preached on the nature of the church, asking the questions was Professor Morris (Brecon), the ordination prayer was delivered by Mr J Davies (Taihirion), preaching to the minister was Mr D Jones BA (Merthyr) and to the church by Mr J Davies (Cardiff).

A school-house belonging to Brynmenyn was built in Bryncethin, where a school was held every Sunday, and prayer meetings and occasional services. The land was given free by Mr William Evans (Felinnewydd) in 1828 and the school-house was built the following year.

  • Evan Griffiths (Swansea) - translator of Matthew Henry's Commentary - started preaching here.
  • Evan Martin started preaching here, he spent years in America before returning here and died later in Bridgend.