Caresalem Baptist Chapel (1793)
1793 Llansamlet, Gopa Fach, Llanelli, Ystradgynlais, and Creunant. ‘At about this time [1791/2] I felt a compulsion in my mind concerning speaking publicly, but I did not indicate anything or say a word to anyone about this, until brother Griffith Morgans asked and compelled me, and said that he would speak with me when there was a Sabbath without a visiting speaker in Gopa Fach, and so about 1792 I began speaking; and in 1793 when the Chapel had no one visiting, brother Morgans and I would speak publicly there. The following year I began to travel a little from home; not far — only to the neighbouring localities: Llanelli, Loughor, Llansamlet, Ystradgynlais, and Crynant. About this time we had a very strong and powerful revival in Llansamlet. Mr Llwyd of Henllan was at Gopa Fach one Sabbath morning, and in Llangyfelach village for two o’clock, speaking on the Horse Steps, by the upper Tavern House, and the Lord anointed the meeting in a very particular way. That evening at six in Llansamlet there was a most special unction upon the ministry, and as a result a very strong and powerful revival broke out. Scores were added to the Society in Llansamlet, and many of them have continued faithful to the glorious and worthy cause to the end of their days.’ Hopkin Bevan, Ychydig o Hanes, pp.8-9
‘It would not be disadvantageous to the history of religion to draw attention here, to a religious revival that took place at this period [1793?], throughout the regions: y Gopa, Llanelli, Llansamlet, Ystradgynlais, and Creunant. It took stronger hold in the Llansamlet area than in other places. It is clear that the old Methodist ministers called more frequently at the latter place, and so the holy fire, namely the spirit of the revival, was kept more alive, and so its effects were more evident. About this time the famous Llwyd of Henllan, Caio, Carmarthenshire, came past this part of the county. It is said that he had a dewy ministry. He preached one Sabbath at Gopa in the morning, and at two o’clock in Llangyfelach village. The two meetings, the morning and afternoon, were wetted with a tender spiritual rain. The presence of the Spirit of the Lord as dew was evident to the people of Israel. But at six o’clock in Capel-y-Cwm, Llansamlet, the rain descended heavily, the influence became irresistible. Some scores were added in the places referred to to the people who used to worship and serve Jesus Christ. The greater part of them endured to the end, bearing testimony to the grace of God. They experienced the joy of the gospel until death.’ [Williams, Cofiant Hopkin Bevan, pp.32-3]
‘In the year 1792, [Hopkin] Bevan began ‘speaking’, but rather locally for some years; Llanelli, Loughor, Llansamlet, Ystradgynlais and Creunant were his only haunts. At this time, through the preaching of Mr Llwyd, of Henllan, in Gopa Fach in the morning, from the Horse-Steps by Ty Tafarn uchaf in Llangyfelach in the afternoon, and in Llansamlet in the night, a powerful revival broke out and many were added to the churches, particularly in Llansamlet.’ [CCHMC ii. 46; cf. W. Samlet Williams, Hanes a Hynafiaethau Llansamlet, p.252]
‘The Lord visited Llansamlet several times with powerful revivals, through which many were added to the number of believers from time to time; and among them some of the most wicked and prodigal of the region. The old people remember particularly the revival of 1793; a year of lovely revival, and of great additions. At this time various men were brought to faith who were notorious for their ungodliness; men who it was as surprising to see amongst the believers as it was to see Saul amongst the prophets.’ [MC iii. 16, 17].
James Bowen writing to Thomas Charles from Castle Gorfod on 24th January 1795 says: ‘There is a sweet revival in the neighbourhood of Llansamlet which is near Swansea, and it continues very fine along Tivy side from New Castle down, tho’ I understand not so fresh in every place as it hath been last Summer; likewise in the Neighbourhoods of New Chapel [Capel Newydd, Pembrokeshire], Cleddey [now Milford Haven], Nevern, and Newport; It has been flattened in this neighbourhood and is at present a winter season on most of the Young People, nevertheless though this is the weather that I think we generally experience at this time, And though some have left us and joined other Denominations, and others have gone back into the World, yet, Eternal praises to God, such are few in comparison to those who have been hitherto kept; and there is seldom a society but we receive in one, sometimes more.’ [LTC ii. 147]
1828 Morriston, Llansamlet etc. ‘In the year 1828 on the 11th of October, the Meeting House in Loughor was opened, and in the following week, October the 15th and 16th, the Association was to be in Aberafon, and few days after that a revival started to break out very fervently in Morriston; and after a short time I was to be in Morriston the Sabbath morning of the 23rd of November at 10, Llansamlet at 2, and Swansea at 6; the fire began to break out very strongly in Llansamlet that Sabbath, and to some degree in Swansea. The revival proceeded very powerfully throughout the regions. On Christmas day after that, Neath Meeting-house was being opened after renovation; the revival broke out very powerfully that day; that revival spread to Aberafon, and up to Ystradgynlais, and to various other places; it also came to Llangyfelach, and throughout the regions there was added to the Independents and [Calvinistic] Methodists close to three thousand souls; but to our sorrow, after a few years, we saw many of them turn back by backsliding; but many of them have had the privilege of standing until now, and hopefully be held, and the others return in repentance.’ (Hopkin Bevan, Ychydig o Hanes, p.23; CCHMC ii. 77; Williams, Cofiant Hopkin Bevan, pp.64-5)
Journal of William Griffiths, Apostle of the Gower:
‘Jany 1829
12 Mon – This day at home – reading & conversation – I feel sorry to see the subject of the present revival at Neath & the neighbourhood taken up by the newspaper, with so much spleen and indignation, tho’ the writers profess to serve religion, by holding forth the unpardonable excesses of enthusiasm, to contempt & ridicule – Excesses there are, no doubt, and every wise & pious man laments to see so much noise & confusion in places of worship – yet the Lord works powerfully upon the souls of hundreds & the moral effects are excellent – no enemy can deny it – before any should sit down in judgment & condemn the whole excitement, now in the country, as the very hight of ignorance & phrenzy – They might consider – whether men (ministers &c) can move & excite whole towns & villages of people to any such religious concern – & so many hundreds of young people, mostly ashamed to be seen among religious people, much more so, to hear their own voice in a place of worship – whether the preachers themselves (as they are supposed to be) are fond to encourage any of those tumultuous scenes which so much offend those wise gentlemen who condemn the whole revival as the works of delusion & infatuation – whether they themselves are capable to judge of strange effects, the cause of which they had not the means nor the will to examine impartially – few of those who censure have any knowledge of the language in which these poor deluded enthusiasts (according to theirs) give vent to their feelings – They ought further to know the real character of other revivals which have been every way similar to the present – but of a more remote date – and which have taken place in different parts of the Principality very frequently – whether the enemies of religion who live in those parts can deny the facts – that in these Great excitements many persons of the most abandoned Character were truly converted from their sinful courses & lived from that time forth an ornament to religion & a blessing to all their neighbours – and also that the standard of morals has been much higher in such places than it was before these revivals have visited them – these & many more enquiries of the like nature ought to be made before judging rashly as mere spectators of some outward irregularities which no wise or pious man wishes to justify.’
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones