Clynog and Brynengan. Robert Jones, Rhoslan in a letter to his son Daniel, in Liverpool, dated March 12, 1794, writes: ‘We have had two uncommon Monthly Societies—one in Caernarfon and the other in Brynengan. Coming home from Caernarfon I was with John Roberts [Llangwm] keeping a Society in Clynog, where I saw in particular the mark of the hand of the Lord,—not less than 29 that night had come to the Society all at once. I do not know how many are there before this, as I have heard that the work goes on growing daily. The day of fasting the fire broke out in Pentreuchaf. I was there, and in the surrounding area on the following Sunday; you would have been amazed at the heavenly arrows flying among the congregation, and newly wounding a host of people that day, and the work advances more and more in those parts. The wonder of the fire was in the Brynengan Monthly Meeting, between the Clynog recruits and the young soldiers of Pentreuchaf, so that the devil was almost hopping mad with rage: there has never been more signs of the success of the gospel in our land... ROBERT JONES. March 12, 1794. N.B. Revivals have broken out in various places in Anglesey.’ [see DCC pp.190-1; also Trafodion Cymdeithas Hanes Sir Caernarfon, 13, p.47]
‘RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
IN
CAERNARFONSHIRE.
We were supplied with the following account by a friend, who had gathered it together on his journey through that region, at the end of March 1832.
The following Revivals are mostly in Lleyn and Eifionydd.
Llanystundwy.—The Revival started in this place on the day of the Sabbath School Jubilee, October 14, 1831. To the private society who profess godliness in this place were added . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Pentreuchaf.—The Revival started here thus: A young girl, by contemplating on her bed, began to vex herself because she judged that she had quenched the Holy Spirit, and disregarded the word of God. These considerations spread like wildfire through the whole region. There were added to the church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Llanystundwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Y Gyfyng—Pennant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Garn Dolbenmaen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Bron y Gadair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Bwlch Derwen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Pencoed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Four Crosses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Yr Efail newydd 3—Bodruan 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Llithfaen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cwn Corin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Dydweiliog 30—Garnfadren 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Rhyd bach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Clynog Uchaf 25—Isaf 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Dinas 12, and many children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
____
The total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Edeyrn, scores of children-Nefin, 100 children.
Many additions in Pwllhely, Capel y Nant, Ty mawr, Llanllyfni, &c. from the places no account was obtained. This makes more than six hundred.
In Pont y Cim, there was there a boy especially wicked, and very hard. When the family were going to the church meeting, one of them had to remain home, in order to be with him constantly and mind him. But when the Revival began among the children, no one stayed home with him, and so he had to go to the chapel as well. He went there and sat by the door; and when the children started singing and rejoicing, he hung his head and wept. Then he was heard beginning to give thanks that it was not too late to save an old sinner like him. Then he began singing:
Ar Galfaria, rhwng y lladron, On Calvary, between the thieves,
Y gorphenwyd agor ffynnon, An open fountain was finished,
I olchi’n llwyr y rhai aflana’: To wash completely the uncleanest:
Pwy a wyr na olchir finna’. Who knows that I may not be washed also.’ (translated from Y Drysorfa ii. (1832), pp.140-41)
‘REVIVAL IN WALES.
SIR,—As nothing can interest Christians more than to hear of the advancement of religion, I beg to leave to congratulate you on the subject of a revival in North Wales, ever since the day of humiliation and prayer appointed to be held in March last. On that day there were more people than ordinary, of all ranks and ages, in every place of worship through the whole country: a great fervency of prayer was manifested; and it is thought that the Lord has poured his Spirit on the churches, from the results; as many, many, are now crying out for mercy, especially among the young people of Sunday schools. Other of harder hearts, who were hitherto ready to mock at the fervour shown by the awakened, have been struck with such concern for their salvation as to become even more vociferous than they.
Prayer-meetings are frequently held through the night, among the poor slate quarrymen; their voices in singing and praying being heard miles off. Last week a brother minister from Denbigh informed me that about two hundred have joined different societies of Christians there, being roused, it is thought, by the visitation of cholera. May it please the Almighty to kindle this spark into a flame, and that the shaking of the dry bones may quicken into life and immortality!
Llanrwst, July 23, 1832 E.D.’ (from Evangelical Magazine, (1832), p.399) ‘REVIVAL IN RELIGION AMONGST THE CALVINISTIC METHODISTS IN CARNARVONSHIRE, NORTH WALES. SINCE there are rejoicings among the angels of heaven when a sinner turns from the error of his ways, it cannot but be pleasing to saints below. The cause of religion in this country was but cold and languid, although the means of grace were dispensed in a regular and orderly manner, until the beginning of January last, when the supplications earnestly made (to Him who has power to kill and make alive) for the Spirit of God to create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, were answered by the conversion of multitudes. The prophets were surrounding an open valley full of very dry bones; and when thus prophesying, the Spirit breathed upon these slain, and they were brought to life again and stood upon their feet an exceeding great army. Fifteen hundred souls have been added to the churches since the above period; these mostly from the Sunday-schools; and the gospel to them is not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost. In general the commencement of this powerful operation is of an alarming kind; the subjects of the change mourn greatly on account of their awful situation, how improper their conduct has been at the Sunday-school, and under other means of grace—how lightly and carnally they have been handling divine truth—how neglectful of the sweet invitations of the gospel; in a plaintive mood, they admire the longsuffering of God towards sinners; and, under the influence of such reflections, they fall upon their knees to implore his mercy and forgiveness. When they recollect such passages as “The Lord is gracious and merciful,” they are seen raising their hands in exultation, glorifying God that there is hope of being saved from eternal torments left to them. When “the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanseth from all sin,” is mentioned, their thanksgivings are mutual. Their conversation, in general, is as becometh the gospel of Christ. Our earnest prayer is, that it may please the Lord to set watchmen on Zion’s walls, who shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, until he establish, and until he make Jerusalem a praise in the whole earth.
Tremadoc, Oct. 13, 1832 J.J.’
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones
Would you please contact us if you know where these meetings took place?