Calfaria Chapel - Heolgerrig (1905)
We as Baptists believe in baptism. There is a two-fold baptism here, namely the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the baptism of the believer. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has overflowed our chapel until we had to turn out to the highways and the fields [Luke 14:23 "highways and hedges" in English]. Our brothers, and particularly our sisters, have been full of spiritual fire for about six weeks, and continue to burn as strongly as ever. (It is easy to see that this is not a fire that burns quickly and then fizzles out [a flash in the pan] as some suppose). December 18th, baptised by Price, Tabernacle, 11; Tuesday, Dec. 27th, 8, by our minister T.Davies; Saturday, Dec. 31th, 7, by Price, Merthyr. Our respected minister is delighted, accepting 26 new [converts], 7 from the far country, 1 by letter, a total of 34. The joy continues as we see new converts continuing to enlist in the army.
20th January 1905, Seren Cymru newspaper.
Mr Evan Roberts continued to-day his mission on the outskirts of Merthyr at Heolgerrig. Paying a visit to the smaller of the two neighbouring chapels - Calfaria Baptist. It was evident from the first that there was exceptional fervency here. Mr Roberts, accompanied by Miss Annie Davies (Maesteg) and Miss Mary Davies (Gorseinon), entered while a woman was praying for a blessing on God’s “servant and his handmaidens,” but she besought the “servant’s Master,” above all, to be present. Before she finished this warm-hearted congregation could contain themselves no longer, and they burst forth singing, “O! yr Oen, yr addfwyn Oen.” It was some time before Mr Roberts could speak more than a sentence or so, for a telling phrase or even a word would find response. He had just commenced speaking of the Saviour when a woman in the rear of the building cried, “I love Jesus more than anybody else; I can trust Him evermore,” and then she prayed with much fervour. A man fell down on his knees in the passage. “We thank Thee,” he remarked, “that the devil is losing ground,” and he prayed with much power for the spread of the Gospel. Later on Mr Roberts remarked, “What would you think of the man who would only half fill a vessel for fear of taking away too much water from the sea? And yet here we are acting the very same. We are on the brink of the great ocean, with our little cups only half full.” Mr Roberts asked the people to sing, “Ymgrymed pawb i lawr” (“Let all people bend”), and the rendering was a most impressive one, and also when a minister prayed with great solemnity, all the people standing with bent heads. The missioner was much affected. The evening meeting was held at Salem Congregational Chapel and was no less remarkable, and in most respects very much similar to that of the afternoon. Just at the close of the meeting, Mr Roberts created considerable surprise by declaring that there were some in the meeting who were as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” They had come there with the express purpose of putting an obstacle in his way. He was almost compelled to say who they were, and if he did so the people would “open their eyes.” Mr Roberts then retired from view for a little while and appeared to be engaged in silent prayer, and he then asked the audience to sing “Duw mawr y rhyfeddodau maith,” and this hymn was magnificently rendered. When he was on the point of leaving Mr Roberts again reverted to those men who had come to the meeting to be obstacles in the way, and said that his remarks had reference to two men and that these two men were in the “big seat.” This statement naturally created something akin to sensation and was a general subject of discussion on the part of the people.
From, 'The Western Mail', 26th January 1905.
Additional Information
Yr ydym fel Bedyddwyr yn credu mewn bedydd. Y mae bedydd dauddyblyg yma, set bedydd yr Ysbryd Glàn, a bedydd y crediniol. Y mae bedydd yr Ysbryd Glan wedi gorlanw ein capel, nes ydym yn gorfod troi allan i'r prif ffyrdd a'r caeau. Y mae ein brodyr, ac yn neillduol ein chwiorydd, yn llawn tan ysbrydol er's tua chwech wythnos, ac yn parhau i losgi mor gryf ag erioed. (Hawdd gweled nad tan shavings yw fel y tybia rhai). Rhagfyr 18fed, bedyddiwyd gan Price, Tabernacl, 11; dydd Mawrth, Rhag. 27ain, 8, gan ein gweinidog T. Davies; nos Sadwrn, Rhag. 31ain, 7, gan D. Price, Merthyr. Y dydd cyntaf o'r wythnos, y dydd cyntaf o'r mis, y dydd cyntaf o'r flwyddyn 1905, oedd y dydd hapusaf yn hanes Bedyddwyr Heolgerrig erioed, golygfa fendigedig. Ein parchus weinidog wrth ei fodd, yn derbyn 26 o'r newydd, 7 o'r tir pell, 1 trwy lythyr, y cwbl yn 34. Y mae y llawenydd yn parhau with weled dychweledigion newydd yn para i ymrestru yn y fyddin.
20th January 1905, Seren Cymru,