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Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru.

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(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By Thomas Rees & John Thomas; 4 volumes (published 1871+)

Extracted  by Gareth Hicks from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Jan 2008)


Cricieth

(Vol 3, p 206 )

"Nid yw yr achos yma ond diweddar iawn. Bu pregethu gan yr Annibynwyr yma yn moreu y ganrif hon. Yr oedd yma frawd teilwng yn byw o'r enw William Williams, yr hwn oedd yn bregethwr cynorthwyol perthynol i Rhoslan. Casglodd yn nghyd gynnulleidfa mewn ty anedd yma, a chynhelid gwasanaeth yma yn rheolaidd. Wedi marwolaeth W. Williams, chwalodd y gynnulleidfa oblegid prinder pregethwyr yn y wlad ddal y gwasanaeth i fyny. Ymunodd y rhan fwyaf o'r aelodau a'r Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, y rhai oeddynt wan iawn yma cyn hyny. Yr oedd yma ychydig Annibynwyr trwy y blynyddoedd, y rhai a gyrchent Roslan neu Llanystumdwy. Gydag agoriad rheilffordd glanau Cymru, gwelwyd fod y lle henafol hwn yn dadebru, a meddyliodd y gweinidogion cylchynol, a'r dynion mwyaf llygadgraff yn yr eglwysi, fod yr adeg wedi dyfod i gychwyn achos yn y lle. Mr. Ambrose, Porthmadog, a Mr. Jones, Tabor, oedd y rhai mwyaf blaenllaw yn hyny. Yr oedd yma ar y pryd boblogaeth o 800, ond cafwyd fod yma nifer fawr o bobl mewn oed a phlant nad oeddynt ar ddydd yr Arglwydd yn myned i un lle o addoliad. Yn flwyddyn 1864, cymerwyd ystafell yn y Tymawr a dechreuwyd pregethu a chynal ysgol Sabbothol, ac wedi gweled fod hyny yn cael ffafr yn ngolwg y trigolion, ffurfiwyd yma eglwys. Er mantais i'r dyeithriaid oedd yma gyda'r rheilffordd pregethid yn Saesnaeg ar y dechreu, ond wedi eu hymadawiad hwy, cyfyngwyd y gwasanaeth yn gwbl i'r iaith Gymraeg. Buwyd am dair blynedd yn edrych allan am dir cymhwys i adeiladu capel arno. Yr oedd gelyniaeth at Ymneillduaeth yn peri i rai wrthod, a gelyniaeth at Annibyniaeth yn peri i rai Ymneillduwyr i daflu pob rhwystr ffordd. Ond cafwyd o'r diwedd ddarn o dir mewn lle manteisiol. Adeiladwyd capel bychan cyfleus, gwerth 420p. Traddodwyd y bregeth gyntaf ynddo Awst 14eg, 1868, a chynhaliwyd cyfarfod ei agoriad Awst 29ain, 30ain, a'r 31ain. Pregethwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri J. Thomas, Liverpool ; D. Roberts, Caernarfon ; D. Price, America ; E. Morris, Penrhyn, ac E. Evans, Caernarfon. Rhwng casgliadau y cyfarfod, ar hyn a wnaed yn flaenorol, ni adawyd ond 200p. o ddyled ar y capel newydd prydferth. Gwnaeth Mr. Ambrose ei ran yn egniol mewn cyfranu a chasglu at y capel, a chafodd gan ei gyfeillion wneyd yn haelionus. Mae y lle mewn rhan dan ofal Mr. Jones, Tabor, ond y mae cyfeillion gweithgar y lle yn gwneyd eu rhan yn ganmoladwy."

Translation by Maureen Saycell (Jan 2008)

 "This is a very recent cause. Preaching has taken place here early in this century. There was a very worthy brother living here who was an occasional preacher belonging to Rhoslan. He gathered together a congregation in a dwelling house here, and services were held regularly. When he died the congregation scattered because there was a shortage of preachers to support the services. Most of the congregation joined the Calvinistic Methodists, who were very weak here until then. There have been a few Independents through the years who attended either Rhoslan or Llanystumdwy.With the opening of the Cambrian Coast Railway, it was seen that this ancient place needed reviving, and the circulating ministers and those observant men in the churches thought it was time to establish a cause in this place. Mr Ambrose, Porthmadog, and Mr Jones, Tabor, were the foremost in this. At the time the population was 800, but it was found that there were many adults and children who did not go to any place of worship on the Lord's Day. In 1864, a room was acquired at Tymawr and preaching began along with a Sunday school, and as this seemed to find approval with the people, a church was formed. To take advantage of the visitors who came in on the railway preaching was in English to begin with, but after they left the service was completely in Welsh. Three years were spent looking for a suitable piece of land to build a chapel. Enmity to non-conformity caused many to refuse, and particular enmity to Independents caused certain non-conformists to put all kinds of obstacles in the way. Eventually a piece of land was found in an advantageous position. A small chapel was built, value £420. The first sermon was delivered there on August 14th, 1868, and the opening service on August 29th, 30th, 31st. Sermons on the occasion were delivered by Messrs J. Thomas, Liverpool ; D. Roberts, Caernarfon ; D. Price, America ; E. Morris, Penrhyn, and E. Evans, Caernarfon. The collections at the services combined with earlier contributions meant that only £200 debt was left on the beautiful new chapel. Mr Ambrose was very energetic in collecting and contributing to the chapel, and he found his friends to be very generous. The place is under the partial care of Mr Jones, Tabor, with exemplary help from some very industrious friends."