Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

(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 read by Yvonne John (Feb 2008)

Y TABERNACL, ABERDAR

(Vol 2, p 333)

Yn ngwyneb fod poblogaeth Aberdar yn cynyddu yn gyflym, a bod llawer iawn o Saeson yn mysg y trigolion, darfu i weinidogion yr eglwysi Cymreig, yn nghyd a rhai o aelodau mwyaf selog eu heglwysi, benderfynu cychwyn achos Saesonig yn y lle. Ymddangosodd yr hanes canlynol am gychwyniad y mudiad hwn yn y Diwygiwr am 1856, tu dal. 156 : " Gosodwyd careg sylfaen yr addoldy hwn ddydd Llun, Mawrth 7fed, gan yr anrhydeddus Mrs. Thompson, a Thomas Thompson, Ysw., Piercefield Park, Chepstow. Cyfarfu ein hysgolion Sabbothol a'u gilydd o Hirwaun i Aberaman, o cherddasant yn orymdaith reolaidd trwy y dref, at orsaf cledrffordd Glynnedd, gan ganu yn soniarus. Gorphwyswyd enyd yno, i aros y gerbydres ddyfod i mewn. Yna derbyniwyd Mr. Thompson a'i foneddiges gyda croesawiad serchog gan yr holl ysgolion, ac arweiniwyd hwy gan adeiladwyr yr addoldy newydd at y lle. Cerddai yr ysgolion ar eu hol dan ganu. Yna aeth Mr. Thompson a'i foneddiges i'r esgynlawr parotoedig ar gyfer yr achlysur, a thraddododd anerchiad byr ac effeithiol i'r ysgolion a'r dorf yn gyffredinol. Wedi hyny gweddiodd Mrs. Thompson yn briodol a sylweddol iawn. Anerchwyd y cyfarfod yn mhellach gan Meistri Rees, Cendl; Rees, Chepstow; Oliver, Pontypridd; Edwards, Ebenezer, a Price, Siloa. Rhanodd y foneddiges lawer o lyfrau bychain rhwng plant yr ysgolion, ac yna terfynwyd y cyfarfod. Rhoddodd.Mrs. Thompson danysgrifiad o ugain gini at yr addoldy newydd. Gweinidog-ion ac eglwysi Cymreig Aberdar sydd yn myned yn gyfrifol am yr holl draul. Mae aelodau ein heglwysi yn y plwyf yn ymrwymo casglu cant a haner o bunau at y draul, ar yr amod ein bod ninau fel gweinidogion i gasglu yr un faint y tu allan i'r plwyf. Penodwyd swydd Benfro i Mr. J. T. Jones, i gasglu ynddi; Abertawy, Cwmtawy, a'r cylchoedd i Mr. Edwards, Ebenezer, a Mr. Thomas, Salem; Dowlais, Merthyr, a Phontypridd i Mr. Price, Siloa, a Mr. Williams, Hirwaun; Castellnedd, Cwmafan, y Llwyni, Caerdydd, &c. i Mr. Davies, Aberaman, a Mr. Morgans, Cwmbach; swydd Fynwy a rhanau o Frycheiniog i Mr. Owen, Zoar. Mae sir Gaerfyrddin hefyd wedi ei hymddiried i rywun arall, neu i rai o'r personau a enwyd." Bu y brodyr rhag-grybwylledig allan yn casglu, a chasglasant lawer mwy na chant a haner o bunau. Gorphenwyd y capel erbyn dechreu y flwyddyn 1857, ac agorwyd ef Chwefror 13eg, y flwyddyn hono, pryd y pregethodd Mr. Thomas Jones, Treforis. Traul yr adeiladaeth oedd 900p. Gorpholwyd yma eglwys, a dewiswyd Meistri Henry Lewis, J. Johns, a J. Henderson, yn ddiaconiaid. Heblaw y gweinidogion y rhai a gymerasant ran mor weithgar yn adeiladaeth y capel. Mae enwau Mr. Thomas Williams, Mr. D. E. Williams, Mr. John Williams, Mr. W. Parker, ac amryw eraill, yn deilwng o'u coffau ar gyfrif cu hymdrechion diflino a'u cyfraniadau haelionus at yr achos. Yn mis Tachwedd, 1857, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. John Cunnick, Pembroke Dock, i ddyfod yma yn weinidog. Yn nechreu Chwefror, 1859, penderfynwyd helaethu y capel ac adeiladu ysgoldy yn ei ymyl, yr hyn a wnaed trwy draul o 800p. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1861, derbyniodd Mr. Cunnick alwad oddi wrth eglwys yr Arglwyddes Huntingdon, yn Nghaerloew, a symudodd yno. Yn Medi, yr un flwyddyn, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. H. G. Parish, B.A. Bu ef yma hyd y flwyddyn 1865, pryd y symudodd i sir Gaerefrog. Yn Awst, yr un flwyddyn, dilynwyd ef yma gan Mr. D. M. Jenkins, gweini-dog yr eglwys Saesonig yn Dowlais. Bu Mr. Jenkins yma yn llafurus, ac i raddau yn llwyddianus, hyd y flwyddyn 1871, pryd y derbyniodd alwad oddi wrth yr eglwys yn Mile End Road, Llundain, ac y symudodd yno. Mae yr eglwys oddiar ei ymadawiad ef hyd yn bresenol heb weini-dog sefydlog, ond yn edrych allan am un.

Mae yr achos hwn oddiar ei gychwyniad wedi bod yn gymharol lewyrchus, ac y mae pob sail i ddisgwyl, gyda bendith yr Arglwydd, y daw yma achos cryf. Mae y capel agos, os nad yn hollol, ddiddyled, er iddo gostio tua 1700p. Pe gellid cael yma Gymro dysgedig a gweithgar yn weinidog gallai gasglu cynnulleidfa gref iawn.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (April 2009)

Faced with the fact that the population of Aberdare was increasing rapidly, and that there were many English people amongst the residents, and so the ministers of the Welsh churches, all with some of the most ardent church-goers, decided to promote an English cause in the place. It seems from the following history that the movement started in the Diwygwir for 1856, p156.

"The foundation stone for this place of worship was laid on Monday, 7th March, by the honourable Mrs Thompson, and Thomas Thompson Esq, Piercefield Park, Chepstow. Our Sunday schools  from Hirwaun to Aberaman came together, walking in a steady procession through the town, towards Glyn Neath railway station, whilst singing tunefully. They paused there a while, to wait for the train to come in. There Mr Thompson and his lady received an affectionate welcome from all the schools, and were guided by the builder of the new house of worship to the place. The schools walked behind whilst singing. Then Mr Thompson and his lady went to the rostrum prepared for the occasion, and delivered a short and effective address to the schools and the general throng. After that Mrs Thompson prayed very appropriately and substantially. The meeting was further addressed by Messrs Rees, Cendl; Rees, Chepstow; Oliver, Pontypridd; Edwards, Ebenezer, and Price, Siloa. Mrs Thompson shared many small books amongst the children of the schools, and that concluded the meeting. Mrs Thompson gave a subscription of 20 guineas towards the new house of worship. The ministers and Welsh churches of Aberdare are responsible for the whole cost. The members of the churches in the parish are undertaking to collect £150 towards the cost, on the understanding that we the ministers collect the same sum outside the parish. Mr J T Jones was allocated Pembrokeshire to collect in; Swansea, the Swansea Valley and its vicinity to Mr Edwards, Ebenezer, and to Mr Thomas of Salem; Dowlais, Merthyr, and Pontypridd to Mr. Price, Siloa, and Mr. Williams, Hirwaun; Neath, Cwmafan, y Llwyni, Cardiff &c. to Mr. Davies, Aberaman, and Mr. Morgans, Cwmbach; Monmouthshire and parts of Breconshire to Mr. Owen, Zoar. Carmarthenshire was also entrusted to someone else, or to some of the people mentioned already. "  

The aforementioned brothers went off collecting, and collected much more than £150.  The chapel was completed by the start of 1857, and opened on 13th February of that year, when Mr Thomas Jones, Morriston, preached. The cost of the building was £900. They formed a church here, and chose as deacons Messrs Henry Lewis, J. Johns, and J. Henderson.  Besides the ministers who had taken such an active part with the building of the chapel, the names of Mr. Thomas Williams, Mr. D. E. Williams, Mr. John Williams, Mr. W. Parker, and some others, deserve to be recorded on account of their tireless efforts and generous contributions to the cause. In the month of November, 1857, they gave a call to Mr John Cunnick, Pembroke Dock, to come here as minister. At the beginning of 1859 they decided to enlarge the chapel and build a school house by its side, and this was done at a cost of £800. At the start of 1861, Mr Cunnick received a call from the chapel of Lady Huntingdon, in Gloucestershire, and he moved there. In September of the same year, they gave a call to Mr H G Parish, B.A. He was here until 1865, when he moved to Yorkshire. In August, of the same year, he was followed here by Mr D M Jenkins, the minister from the English chapel in Dowlais. Mr Jenkins laboured here with a degree of success until 1871, when he received a call from the church in Mile End Rd, London, and he moved there. The church has been without a fixed minister since he left until the present, but are looking for one.

This cause has been relatively prosperous since it began, and with the Lord's blessing, there is every reason to think that it will become a strong cause. the chapel is almost, if not completely, debt free, although it cost some  £1700.  If it can get here an erudite and industriousWelsh minister, it could gather here a very strong congregation.

SALEM, ABERDAR

(Vol 2, p 328)

Fel y nodasom yn hanes Ebenezer, i gysylltiad Mr. Joseph Harrison a'r eglwys hono derfynu yn 1836, gellir ychwanegu yma fod tua phymtheg-ar-hugain o'r aelodau yn barnu fod yr eglwys yn gwneyd cam ag ef, ac felly aethant allan gydag ef i ddechreu achos newydd. Rhag i neb anhyebys o'r amgylchiadau dynu camgasgliad, byddai yn briodol hysbysu mai nid dim yn muchedd Mr. Harrison a barodd i'r eglwys yn Ebenezer ymwrthod ag ef, ond teimlad nad oedd ei alluoedd fel pregethwr yn gyfaddas i gylch oedd erbyn y flwyddyn 1835 wedi dyfod yn un pwysig iawn. Yr hyn a gymerwyd fel achlysur i ymwrthod ag ef, oedd rhyw beth ffol oedd wedi ysgrifenu ar y pwngc o fedydd gyda bwriad i'w gyhoeddi. Yr oedd wedi darllen ei ysgrif i amryw o'r aelodau, a chan fod awydd yn mwyafrif yr eglwys er's blynyddau am gael gweinidog galluocach, daliwyd ar yr esgus hwnw i'w fwrw ef allan. Ar ei ymadawiad ef aeth pymtheg-ar-hugain o'r aelodau allan gydag ef, ac wedi bod am rai misoedd yn addoli mewn anedd-dai, gwnaethant lofft ty yn agos i dollborth godreu Hirwaun yn addoldy yn y flwyddyn 1836. Ar ol bod yno rai blynyddau yn addoli, cyfodwyd ty coed yn agos i'r man y saif y capel arno yn bresenol, ac yno y buwyd yn addoli nes i'r capel gael ei adeiladu yn 1841. Parhaodd Mr. Harrison i weinidogaethu yma hyd ei farwolaeth yn 1851. O'r pryd hwnw buwyd yn byw ar weinidogaeth achlysurol hyd 1853, pryd y rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Joshua Thomas, Aberaman. Mae Mr. Thomas wedi llafurio yma gyda mesur helaeth o lwyddiant hyd yn bresenol. Pan yr adeiladwyd y capel yr oedd allan o ganol y boblogaeth, ond yn awr y mae yn cael ei amgylchynu gan ugeiniau o anedd-dai, ac mewn man mor gyfleus ag un addoldy yn y plwyf. Ni bu yr eglwys hon ar un cyfnod o'i hanes yn lluosog iawn, ond y mae yma achos gwresog a gobeithiol.

Cyfodwyd y personau canlynol i bregethu yma:-

• Jenkin Edwards. Bu ef farw yn ieuangc yn 1853.
• Evan Harries. Efe a ymfudodd i America.
• David T. Jones. Addysgwyd ef yn athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd ef yn Tanygraig, Abertawy, yn 1867. Ymfudodd i America yn 1870.
• John Rees Thomas, mab Mr. Thomas y gweinidog. Derbyniwyd ef yma yn aelod eglwysig ar y Sabboth cyntaf yn Chwefror 1863, ac yn niwedd yr un flwyddyn dechreuodd bregethu. Ar ol bod am dymor yn derbyn addysg ragbarotoawl dan ofal ei frawd-yn-nghyfraeth, Mr. H. Oliver,  B.A., derbyniwyd ef yn fyfyriwr i athrofa Caerfyrddin, ond wedi bod yno ddwy flynedd, bu farw o'r darfodedigaeth yn 1866. Yr oedd yn wr ieuangc o alluoedd rhagorol, yn bregethwr addawus iawn, ac yn debyg pe cawsai fyw o ddyfod yn un o brif ysgolheigion ei oes. Ond gwelodd yr Arglwydd yn dda ei gymeryd ato ei hun gyda bod ei alluoedd rhagorol yn dechreu ymagor. " Cymylan a thywyllwch sydd o'i amgylch ef," ond etto, rhaid i ni gredu mai " cyflawnder a barn yw trigfa ei orsedd-faingc ef ".

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL (Not extracted fully)

JOSEPH HARRISON. Ganwyd ef yn Nghwmnedd yn flwyddyn 1789.............................................

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (April 2009)

As we noted in the history of Ebenezer, the connection of Mr. Joseph Harrison to that church ended in 1836, it can be added here that about thirty five members judged that the church had wronged him and so they left with him to start a new cause.  In case anyone who doesn't know the circumstances come to the wrong conclusion, it is appropriate to note that it wasn't anything in Mr. Harrison's life that made the church in Ebenezer turn their backs on him, but a feeling that his abilities as a preacher weren't suitable for an area which had by the year 1835 become very important. The matter that caused them to turn their backs on him, was a foolish note on the subject of baptism which was intended for publication.  He had read his publication to several members, and since there had been a desire by the majority of the church for years to have a more able minister, they used this as an excuse to cast him out. When he left thirty five members left along with him, and have been for some months worshipping in dwelling houses,  they made an upper room of a house close to the toll-house at the lower part of  Hirwaun into a house of worship in1836. After they had been worshipping there for some years, they raised a wooden house close to the place where the chapel now stands, and there they worshipped until the chapel was built in 1841. Mr. Harrison continued to minister here until his death in 1851. From that time they existed on occasional ministry until 1853, when a call was given to Mr. Joshua Thomas, Aberaman. Mr. Thomas has laboured here with an extensive measure of success until the present time.  When the chapel was built it was on the outskirts of the population, but now it is surrounded by scores of dwelling houses, and in as convenient a place as any in the parish. This church has never at any time in its history been numerous, but there is a warm and hopeful cause.

The following persons were raised to preach here:-

• Jenkin Edwards. He died young in 1853.
• Evan Harries.  He emigrated to America.
• David T. Jones.  He was educated in Carmarthen college, and    was ordained in Tanygraig, Swansea, in 1867.  He emigrated to America in 1870.
• John Rees Thomas, the son of Mr. Thomas the minister. He started preaching at the end of 1863. After he'd had his early preparation from his brother-in-law, Mr. H. Oliver,  B.A., he was accepted as a student in Carmarthen college, but he died of consumption in 1866 after being there only two years.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (Not extracted fully)

JOSEPH HARRISON. He was born in Glynneath in the year 1789.............................................

NEBO, HIRWAUN  (Aberdare parish)

(Vol 2, p 326)

Yr oedd amryw aelodau perthynol i'r Annibynwyr, y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, a'r Bedyddwyr, yn cyfaneddu yn yr ardal hon er yn gynar yn y ganrif bresenol. Elent i gymuno i Aberdar, ond cadwent gyfarfodydd gweddio gyda'u gilydd mewn anedd-dai ar Hirwaun, yn enwedig mewn tý yn Heolyfelin, oedd wedi cael ei ardrethu ganddynt at gynal moddion crefyddol. I eglwys Ebenezer, Aberdar, y perthynai cynifer o Annibynwyr a breswylient yma. Yn y flwyddyn 1823, adeiladasant gapel bychan yr hwn a alwasant Nebo, neu Pennebo. Cafodd y capel bychan hwn wasanaethu hyd y flwyddyn 1830, pryd, mewn canlyniad i'r diwygiad grymus a gymerodd le yn y flwyddyn hono a'r en flaenorol, yr ychwanegwyd ugeiniau at rif yr aelodau a'r gwrandawyr cyson, fel y bu raid adeiladu addoldy helaethach. Maint yr ail gapel oedd 31 troedfedd With 32 tu fewn i'r muriau. Er fod yr eglwys pan yr adeiladwyd ef yn gymharol luosog, etto teimlent fod gorphen adeilad o'r maint hwn yn ormod o faich iddynt allu sefyll dano, ac felly boddlonwyd arno am lawer o flynyddau heb ei brydferthu na gosod eisteddleoedd costus ynddo. Yn y flwyddyn 1836, cafodd ei ad-drefnu a'i harddu oddi fewn, fel yr oedd yn addoldy hardd a chylleus lawn. Y gweinidog yma oddiar amser corpholiad yr eglwys, ac agoriad y capel cyntaf yn 1823 hyd 1835, oedd Mr. Joseph Harrison, mewn cysylltiad ag Ebenezer, Aberdar, a phan ddarfu cysylltiad Mr. Harrison ag Ebenezer, darfu ei gysylltiad a Nebo yr un modd. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1836, derbyniodd Mr. John Davies, Llantrisant, alwad oddi wrth yr eglwysi yn Ebenezer a Nebo, a bu yn eu gwasanaethu hyd y flwyddyn 1840, pryd y symudodd i'r Mynyddbach, ger Abertawy. Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Davies, dewisodd yr eglwysi yn Ebenezer a Nebo weinidogion iddynt en hunain. Rhoddodd yr eglwys yn Nebo alwad i Mr. William Williams, Tredwstan, yn mis Mawrth, 1841, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn Mai canlynol, ac yma y mae hyd y dydd hwn mor lwyddianus a pharchus ag un gweinidog yn y Dywysogaeth. Erbyn y flwyddyn 1850, yr oedd y capel wedi myned lawer yn rhy fychan i gynwys y gynnulleidfa, fel y bu raid ei dynu lawr yn mis Mai y flwyddyn hono, ac adeiladu yr addoldy prydferth presenol. Dechrenodd y gynnulleidfa addoli yn y capel newydd Mawrth 9fed, 1851. Bernir fod yr arian a roddwyd allan ar y capel hwn o bryd i bryd o'r flwyddyn 1823 hyd 1851, rhwng 1500p. a 2000p., ac y mae y cwbl wedi eu talu er's blynyddau bellach.

Mae yr eglwys hon wedi cael ei bendithio ag amryw ddiwygiadau crefyddol grymus iawn. Cafodd, fel y crybwyllasom, gyfran helaeth o'r gawod rasol a ddisgynodd ar y rhan amlaf o eglwysi Deheudir Cymru yn. 1829 a 1830. Bu yma drachefn amser Ilewyrchus iawn yn 1840 ac 1841. Cafodd degau o ddynion da eu hychwanegu at yr eglwys, a'r rhai oedd ynddi yn barod eu hadfywio a'u gwneyd yn fwy selog a meddylgar nag y buasent erioed cyn hyny. Bu darlleniad darlithau Finney ar adfywiad yn fendith neillduol i'r gynnulleidfa hon yr amser hwn. Gadawodd yr adfywiad hwn ei ôl ar yr eglwys hyd y dydd heddyw. Dichon nad oes un eglwys yn y Dywysogaeth wedi cael ei bendithio o bryd i bryd yn y deng-mlynedd-ar-hugain diweddaf a mwy o aelodau gweithgar, haelionus, a chyhoeddus eu hysbryd. Cafwyd yma ychwanegiadau dirfawr drachefn yn 1849. Derbyniwyd yn y flwyddyn hono tua dau gant o aelodau yma. Er i lamer y pryd hwnw yma, fel mewn manau eraill, ymwthio i mewn i'r eglwys mewn dychryn, pan oedd y geri marwol yn difrodi ar y dde a'r aswy, heb ystyriaeth bwyllog, ac iddynt droi yn ol drachefn i'w  hen ffyrdd pan beidiodd yr haint, etto ni ddarfu i nemawr o'r gwrandawyr cyson, ac aelodau yr Ysgol Sabbothol, a dderbyniwyd y pryd hwnw, droi eu cefnau ar yr achos. Rhif yr aelodau yn 1851, pan agorwyd y capel presenol oedd 300, a'u rhif yn 1870 oedd 313, a diau nad ydynt yn llai o rif yn awr nag oeddynt ddwy flynedd yn ol.

Mae yr eglwys hon wedi cyfodi amryw bregethwyr, a'r rhan fwyaf o honynt yn ddynion da a defnyddiol iawn.

• William Thomas, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn y Rock a Bethania, Cwmavon. Derbyniwyd ef yma Mawrth 18eg, 1825, a dechreuodd bregethu yn 1826, ac y mae yn parhau yn ei nerth a'i ddefnyddioldeb hyd y dydd hwn. Gweler ychwaneg am dano ef yn hanes yr eglwysi yn Nghymer-glyn-corwg, Cefncribwr, y Rock, a Bethania.
• Isaac Francis. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod eglwysig Tachwedd 20 fed 1825, a dechreuodd bregethu yn 1828. Bu yn derbyn addysg yn athrofa Drefnewydd ac am ychydig yn Aberhonddu. Ar ol bod yn weinidog am ychydig amser yn Bogmines, ac wedi hyny yn y Coed-duon, Mynwy aeth i'r Eglwys Sefydledig, ac nid oes un Ymneillduwr yn dymuno ei weled yn dychwelyd oddi yno.
• Dafydd Lloyd. Yr oedd y dyn da hwn yn enedigol o ardal Henllan, sir Gaerfyrddin. Symudodd o'i ardal enedigol i ardal Ty'nycoed, Glyntawy, ac oddi yno i Hirwaun, lle y treuliodd weddill ei oes. Cymellwyd ef gan yr eglwys yn Nebo i arfer ei ddawn fel pregethwr, a bu am oddeutu deng-mlynedd-ar-hugain yn pregethu un Sabboth o bob mis yno, ac yn achlysurol mewn eglwysi cymydogaethol, ond nid elai i un man oddi cartref heb. wahoddiad. Bu farw wrth weddio o flaen bregeth yn Nebo, nos Sabboth, Medi 15fed, 1861, yn 73 oed. Yr oedd Dafydd Lloyd yn ddyn o feddwl craffus a galluog, ac yn wr cadarn yn yr Ysgrythyrau. Bu o wasanaeth nodedig i'r eglwys fel athraw yn yr Ysgol Sabbothol, a hyfforddwr a chynghorwr yn y cyfarfodydd eglwysig, yn gystal ag fel pregethwr. Yr oedd yn wr pwyllog ac araf o ran ei dymer, ac yn llawn iawn o synwyr cyffredin. Yr oedd ei feddwl wedi cael ei ddeffroi yn moreu ei oes yn Henllan a Glandwr i chwilio i ddyfnion bethau Duw, a pharhaodd trwy ei fywyd i ddarllen a myfyrio pob llyfr duwinyddol y gallasai ddyfod o hyd iddo. Cyfrifid ef yn dduwinydd galluog. Calfiniad cymedrol ydoedd o ran ei olygiadau athrawiaethol.
• Rees Evans. Yr oedd of yn enedigol o blwyf Myddfai, sir Gaerfyrddin. Cafodd ei dderbyn yn aelod eglwysig yn Sardis yn dra ieuangc. Tua'r flwyddyn 1829, daeth i Hirwaun i weithio ei alwedigaeth fel dilledydd. Dechreuodd bregethu yn y flwyddyn 1833. Ar ol bod am rai blynyddau yn yr ysgol yn Penywern, Mynwy, ac wedi hyny yn Hanover, urddwyd ef yn 1841 yn Carmel, Tresimwn. Bu yno tua chwe' mlynedd, ond am ran fawr o'r amser hwnw yn gystuddiol. Bu raid cymeryd ymaith un o'i gluniau cyn iddo wellhau. Tua'r flwyddyn 1847, ymfudodd i'r America. Nis gwyddom ddim o'i hanes yn mhellach.
• Howell Jones. Ganwyd ef yn Meidryn, sir Gaerfyrddin yn 1810. Yr oedd ei dad, Dafydd John, yn aelod a phregethwr cynorthwyol yn Nhrelech. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod eglwysig yn Ffynonbedr yn y flwyddyn 1829. Symudodd i Aberdar yn 1830, ac yn fuan wedi hyny ymsefydlodd ar Hirwaun. Ni ddarfu iddo ddechreu pregethu cyn y flwyddyn 1843. Dylasai fod wedi dechreu ddeg o flynyddau yn gynt, oblegid y mae yn ddyn o alluoedd rhagorol. Mae yn parhau i bregethu yn achlysurol yn Hirwaun, a'r eglwysi cymydogaethol, ac yn barchus iawn gan bawb sydd yn ei adnabod.
• Esay Owen. Ymsefydlodd ef yma fel egwyddorwas gyda masnachydd ac yn 1854 dechreuodd bregethu. Ar ol gorphen ei amser fel myfyriwr, yn athrofa Aberhonddu, urddwyd ef weinidog yr eglwysi yn Nghlydach a'r Glais, lle y mae etto yn barchus a defnyddiol.*

*Llythyr Mr. Williams.

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (April 2009)

Several members who belonged to the Independents, the Calvinist Methodists and the Baptists, were living in this area from early in this century. They went to Aberdare for communion, but held prayer meetings together in dwelling houses in Hirwaun, especially in a house in Heolyfelin,  that had been rented by them for the purpose of holding religious meetings. Many of the Independents who lived here belonged to Ebenezer church, Aberdare. In the year 1823, a small chapel was built which was called Nebo, or Pennebo. This little chapel was allowed worship until the year 1830, when as a result of the strong revival that took place in that year and the following year, scores were added to the number of members and the regular listeners, and it was necessary to build a more extensive house of worship.  The second chapel measured 31 feet with 32 within the walls.  Even though the church, when it was built, was quite numerous, yet they felt that completing a building of this size was too much of a burden for them to be responsible for, and so they were content for many years not to embellish it nor to place costly seats in it.  In the year 1836, it was rearranged and adorned inside,  so that it was a beautiful and convenient house of worship.  The minister  here from the time of the embodiment of the church and the opening of the first chapel in 1823 until 1835, was Mr. Joseph Harrison, along with Ebenezer, Aberdare, and when Mr. Harrison's connection with Ebenezer came to an end, his connection with  Nebo came to an end in the same way.  At the beginning of 1836,  Mr. John Davies, Llantrisant, accepted a call from the churches in  Ebenezer and Nebo, and he ministered to them until 1840, when he moved to Mynyddbach, near Swansea. After Mr. Davies left, the churches in Ebenezer and Nebo chose ministers for themselves.  The church in Nebo sent out a call to Mr. William Williams, Tredwstan, in March, 1841, and he began his ministry here in the following May, and he is still here until this day as successful and respected as any minister in the Principality. By  1850, the chapel had become much too small to house the congregation, so it was necessary to pull it down in May of that year, and to build the present beautiful house of worship. The congregation started worshipping in the new chapel on March 9th, 1851. It is judged that the money paid out on this chapel from time to time from the year 1823 until 1851, is between £1500 and £2000, and the whole lot has been paid for, for many years now.

This church has been blessed with several very powerful religious revivals. It received, as we noted, a great deal of the shower of grace  that fell on most of the churches in South Wales in 1829 and 1830. There was a very prosperous time here again in 1840 and 1841. Tens of good men were added to the church, and the persons that were there already were revived and became more zealous and thoughtful than they ever were before that. The reading of the lectures of Finney on the revival was a great blessing to the congregation at this time.  This revival left a great impression on the church that lasts till today.  Perhaps there is not one church in the Principality that has been blessed from time to time in the last thirty years with more hard working, generous and public spirited members.  They received immense additions here again in 1849. In that year about two hundred members were accepted here, as in other areas, they pushed themselves into the church in fear, when the deadly cholera destroyed everything to the right and left, with no consideration of persons, but they turned back to their old ways once the disease came to an end, yet none of the regular listeners, and members of the Sunday School, who had been accepted at that time, turned their backs on the cause. The number of members in 1851, when the present chapel opened was 300, and in 1870 there were 313, and undoubtedly they cannot be fewer now than two years ago.

This church has raised several preachers, most of them being good and very useful men.

• William Thomas, the minister of the churches in the Rock and Bethania, Cwmavon. He started preaching here in 1826, and he continues in strength and usefulness till this day. More can be seen about him in the history of the churches in Cymer-glyn-corwg,  Cefncribwr, y Rock, and Bethania.
• Isaac Francis. He started preaching in 1828. After being a minister for a while in Bogmines, and after that in Blackwood, Monmouthshire he went to the Established Church.
• Dafydd Lloyd. This good man was born in the area of  Henllan, Carmarthenshire.  He died as he prayed before a sermon in Nebo, on Sunday, September 15th, 1861, at 73 years old.
• Rees Evans.  He was born in the parish of  Myddfai,  Carmarthenshire.  He came to Hirwaun about the year 1829, to work at his career as a clothier.  He started preaching in  1833.   About 1847, he emmigrated to America.
• Howell Jones.  He was born in Meidrym, Carmarthenshire in 1810. He was accepted as a member in Ffynonbedr in 1829. He moved to Aberdare in 1830, and soon after settled in Hirwaun. He is still preaching occasionally in Hirwaun.
• Esay Owen.  He settled here and started preaching in 1854 Once he had finished his education in Brecon college he was ordained as a minister of the churches in Clydach and Glais, where he still preaches.*

*Mr. Williams' letter.

CWMBACH, ABERDAR

 (Vol 2, p 337)

Un o faesdrefi Aberdar ydyw y Cwmbach. Saif ryw filidir a haner islaw y pentref, fel ei gelwir, ar yr ochr ogleddol i'r afon Cynon. Ychydig flynyddoedd yn ol nid oedd o gylch y lle yma ond dau neu dri o amaethdai; ac yr oedd ychydig hen breswylwyr Cefnpenar o ran eu crefydd yn gogwyddo at Undodiaeth. Wedi agor y gweithfeydd glo yma, adeiladwyd nifer o dai newyddion yn y lle, a symudodd, yn mysg eraill, rai dynion crefyddol i fyw iddynt. Meddyliodd Mr. Price, a'r eglwys yn Siloa, am gychwyn Ysgol Sabbothol yn y lle, a chynhelid hi o dý i dý, ond fynychaf yn nhý John Richards, yr hwn gyda'i wraig a fu yn ffyddlon gyda'r achos bychan. Yn y flwyddyn 1846, codwyd yma gapel bychan, yr hwn a wnaed o briddfeini, a'r Capel Bricks y gelwid ef, mesurai 24 troedfedd wrth 19 troedfedd y tu fewn i'r muriau. Costiodd 66p., ac aethai y draul yn llawer mwy oni buasai ffyddlondeb yr aelodau yn cludo y defnyddiau. Mynych y soniai John Richards am ei ymdrechion ef ac eraill yn cario y priddfeini oddiwrth y Gamlas at y capel newydd--Brynseion, fel yr enwyd ef. Nid oeddynt ond tua phymtheg mewn nifer pan anturiwyd ar godi y capel, ac yn aelodau gan mwyaf yn Siloa, a Mr. Price fu yn benaf yn gofalu am danynt wedi eu ffurfio yn eglwys, hyd ddiwedd y flwyddyn 1846, pan y rhoddasant alwad i Mr. Thomas Jones, yr hwn a urddasid yn Merthyrcynog, ond a fuasai am dymor yn weinidog yn Adulam, Tredegar. Llafuriodd Thomas Jones yma yn ddiwyd hyd 1849. Y flwyddyn ganlynol rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. John Lloyd, myfyriwr o athrofa Aberhonddu; ond ni bu ei dymor ond byr, gwaelodd ei iechyd fel y bu raid iddo er galar i'r eglwys roddi ei waith i fyny yn mhen ychydig gyda blwvddyn, a bu farw yn nechreu Ionawr, 1852. Yn y flwyddyn hono rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. Henry Lewis, aelod o Gapel Isaac, sir Gaerfyrddin, ond a fuasai dros ychydig mewn ysgol yn Nghaerfyrddin; ac urddwyd ef Mehefin 6ed a'r 7fed, 1852. Codwyd capel newydd hefyd y flwyddyn hono, yn mesur 36 troedfedd wrth 26 troedfedd; a chostiodd 329p. 16s. 5c. Yr oedd Mr. Lewis yn boblogaidd fel pregethwr, ond yn dra diffygiol mewn callineb. Ymadawodd oddiyma yn Ebrill, 1854, a bu yn gweinidogaethu ar ol hyny mewn amryw fanau, ac y mae yn awr fel y deallwn gyda'r Bedyddwyr. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1856, rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. Jonah Morgan, Saron, Llangeler, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma y Sabboth cyntaf yn Mawrth, y flwyddyn hono; ac y mae yn parhau yma yn barchus a defnyddiol etto. Nid oedd nifer yr aelodau pan y dechreuodd Mr. Morgan ei weinidogaeth yma ond 70, a'r Ysgol Sabbothol o gylch yr un nifer; ond y mae yma yn awr agos i 300 o aelodau, a mwy na 250 yn yr Ysgol Sabbothol. Aeth yr ail gapel, yn fuan wedi sefydliad Mr. Morgan yma, yn rhy gyfyng, fel y penderfynwyd codi capel helaethach ar safle newydd yr ochr uchaf i'r heol. Gwerthwyd yr hen gapel i'r Trefnyddion Cyntefig, a chafwyd prydles o fil o flynyddoedd ond un ar dir y capel newydd. Adeiladwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1858, ac y mae yn mesur 54 troedfedd wrth 40 troedfedd y tu fewn i'r muriau. Costiodd fil o bunau, ond llai na 200p. sydd yn aros. Pregethwyd ynddo y waith gyntaf gan Mr. Morgan ei hun, ar y Sabboth, Mai 8fed, 1858, oddi wrth y geiriau, "Bydd mwy gogoniant y tý diweddaf hwn na'r cyntaf." Cynhaliwyd cyfarfod ei agoriad y Llun a'r Mawrth canlynol, yr hwn hefyd oedd yn gyfarfod urddiad Mr. Thomas Thomas, myfyriwr yn athrofa Aberhonddu, i fyned yn genhadwr i Affrica. Gweinyddwyd yn y gwahanol gyfarfodydd gan Meistri T. Rees, Cendl; R. Price, Cenhadwr i Affrica; B. Owen, Merthyr; D. Stephens, Glantaf; J. Evans, Craigyfargod; W. Roberts, athraw clasurol Aberhonddu; N. Stephens, Sirhowy; J. Davies, Aberaman; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; W. Jenkins, Brynmawr; J. Davies, Taihirion; J. Evans, Maendy, ac H. Oliver, B.A., Pontypridd.

Yn mysg llawer eraill fu yma yn ffyddlawn gyda'r achos, yn enwedig yn y blynyddoedd cyntaf, heblaw John Richards a'i wraig, a enwyd eisoes, crybwyllir enwau Francis Phillips, John Rees, John James, Evan Williams, John Selby, John Morris, Jonah Davies, John Jenkins, John Evans, David Griffiths, William Davies, David Jones, a'i fab Evan Jones, yn awr gweinidog Llwyncelyn, sir Aberteifi. Bu Mr. Rowland Rowlands, Llansamlet, hefyd yma pan yn ieuangc, a phregethodd lawer yn nghyfarfodydd y gwyr ieuaingc yn y lle. Mae yr eglwys hon, fel y rhan fwyaf o eglwysydd y gweithfeydd, wedi dyoddef llawer oddiwrth fynych symudiadau i eglwysi eraill, ac i America; ond y mae trwy y blynyddoedd wedi ei bendithio a heddwch mawr, ac nid yw wedi bod yn segur na diffrwyth yn ngwasanaeth yr Arglwydd. Aelodau o'r eglwys hon oedd a'r llaw flaenaf yn nechreuad yr achos yn Mountain Ash, lle erbyn hyn y mae eglwys flodeuog.

Nid ydym yn cael i fwy nag un pregethwr godi yn uniongyrchol o'r eglwys hon, sef T. C. Edwards, yr hwn a fu yn athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac a aeth oddiyno i Mineral Ridge, America.

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL

THOMAS JONES. Ganwyd ef yn sir Frycheiniog yn y flwyddyn 1794. Dygwyd ef i fyny gyda'r Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, a bu am lawer o flynyddau yn pregethu gyda hwy. Adnabyddid ef fel Thomas Jones, Glanygors. Cyfarfu a rhyw ddyryswch yn ei amgylchiadau bydol, yr hyn a barodd anghydwelediad rhyngddo a'i hen frodyr, ac ymunodd a'r Annibynwyr, a derbyniodd alwad o Merthyreynog, ac urddwyd ef yno Chwefror 24ain a'r 25ain, 1841. Wedi bod yno tua dwy flynedd symudodd i Dredegar i gymeryd gofal yr eglwys sydd yn awr yn Adulam, a bu yno hyd y flwyddyn 1845, pan y derbyniwyd yr eglwys i undeb y sir, ac yna darfu ei berthynas a'r eglwys. Cyn hir derbyniodd alwad o Brynseion, Cwmbach, a bu yno yn dderbyniol nes y bu farw Gorphenaf 20fed, 1849, yn 55 oed, a chladdwyd ef yn mynwent Si1oa. Yr oedd Thomas Jones yn bregethwr rhwydd ac ymadroddus, a thraddodai yn wresog a difrifol; ond nid oedd ei feddwl wedi ei ddiwyllio yn foreu, ac oblegid hyny teimlai mai baich trwm oedd pregethu i'r un bobl bob Sabboth.

JOHN LLOYD. Ganwyd ef yn y flwyddyn 1819. Derbyniwyd ef yn aelod yn Cefn-coed-y-cymer, lle yr oedd ei rieni yn aelodau, ac yno y dechreuodd bregethu. Bu am ysbaid yn aelod yn Bethania, Dowlais, ac ennillodd barch yr eglwys tra y bu yno. Derbyniodd ei addysg yn athrofa Aberhonddu, ac yr oedd iddo air da yno gan ei athrawon a'i gydefrydwyr. Nid oedd ei dalentau yn ddysglaer, na'i gyrhaeddiadau yn uchel ond yr oedd ei dduwioldeb yn ddiamheuol. Derbyniodd alwad o Brynseion, Cwmbach, ac urddwyd ef yno yn 1850; ond gwaelodd ei iechyd yn fuan, a dychwelodd i dy ei rieni, lle y bu farw lonawr 5ed, 1852, yn 33 oed. Claddwyd ef yn mynwent Tabor, Cefn-coed-y-cymer, ac y mae maen ar ei fedd er coffadwriaeth am dano, ac y mae ei enw yn barchus gan bawb sydd yn ei gofio.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (April 2009)

Cwmbach is one of the suburbs of Aberdare. It stands some 1 1/2 miles below the village, as it's called, on the northern side of the river Cynon. A few years ago the extent of the place was only 2 or 3 farm houses; and there were a few old inhabitants of Cefnpennar whose beliefs lent towards Unitarianism. After opening the coal mines here, they built a number of new houses in the place, and amongst others, some religious people moved  to live in them. Mr Price, and the church in Siloa, thought of holding a Sunday school in the place, and held  it from house to house, but most often in the house of John Richards, who with his wife was faithful to the small cause. In 1846, they raised here a small chapel, which was made of bricks, and they called it Capel Bricks, measuring 24ft by 19ft between the walls. It cost £66, and would have cost a lot more had not the faithful members transported the materials. It is often told of John Richards of his efforts, with others, in carrying the bricks from the Canal to the new chapel -- Brynseion, as it was named. They were but about 15 in number when they ventured to raise the chapel, and were mostly members in Siloa, and it was Mr Price who mainly cared for them after the church was formed, until the end of 1846, when they gave a call to Mr Thomas Jones, who had been ordained at Merthyrcynog, but had been for a while minister at Adulam, Tredegar. Thomas Jones laboured here industriously until 1849. In the following year the church gave a call to Mr John Lloyd, a student from Brecon College; but his time was short, his health deteriorated and to the sorrow of the church he gave up his work within a year, and he died at the start of January 1852. In that year the church gave a call to Mr Henry Lewis, a member from Capel Isaac, Carmarthenshire, but he'd been for a while in school in Carmarthen; and he was ordained on June 6/7th 1852. They also raised a new chapel in that year, measuring 36ft by 26ft; and it cost £329.16.5.  Mr Lewis was popular as a preacher, but quite short on prudence. He left here in April 1854, and ministered after that in several places, and as we understand it is now with the Baptists. Atr the start of 1856, the church gave a call to Mr Jonah Morgan, Saron, Llangeler, and he began his ministry here on the first Sunday in  March of that year; and he continues here reputably and helpfully. The number of members here when Mr Morgan began his ministry was 70, and the Sunday school had about the same; but there are now almost 300 members, and more than 250 in the Sunday school. Soon after Mr Morgan was installed the the second chapel became too small, so they decided to build a more capacious oen in a new position on the higher side of the road. They sold the old chapel to the Primitive Methodists, and obtained a lease for 999 years on the land for the new chapel. They built it in 1858, and it measures 54ft by 40ft within the walls. It cost £1000, but only £200 of this is outstanding. The first preaching in it was by Mr Morgan himself, on Sunday 8th May 1858, with the words "There will be more glory in this last house than the first". The opening meetings were on the following Monday and Tuesday, and it was also the occasion for the ordination of Mr Thomas Thomas, a student at Brecon College, who was going to Africa as a missionary. Officiating at the various ceremonies were Messrs T. Rees, Cendl; R. Price, Missionary to Africa; B. Owen, Merthyr; D. Stephens, Glantaf; J. Evans, Craigyfargod; W. Roberts, classic teacher at Brecon; N. Stephens, Sirhowy; J. Davies, Aberaman; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; W. Jenkins, Brynmawr; J. Davies, Taihirion; J. Evans, Maendy, and H. Oliver, B.A., Pontypridd.  

Among many others who were faithful to this cause, especially in the early years, besides John Richards and his wife, already named, are mentioned the names Francis Phillips, John Rees, John James, Evan Williams, John Selby, John Morris, Jonah Davies, John Jenkins, John Evans, David Griffiths, William Davies, David Jones, and his son Evan Jones, now minister at Llwyncelyn, Cardiganshire.  Mr Rowland Rowlands, Llansamlet, was also here when young, and preached often in the meetings of young people in the place. This church, as with others in the coalfields, has suffered considerably with people moving to other churches, and to America; but has over the years has been blessed with a great peace, and it hasn't been idle and unfertile in the service of the Lord. Members from this church were in the forefront in starting the cause in Mountain Ash, where by now there is a flourishing church.

We only know of one minister raised directly to preach from this church, namely T C Edwards, who went to Carmarthen College, and went from there to Mideral Ridge, America.

Biographical Notes *

THOMAS JONES. Born in Breconshire in 1794. Began with the Calvinistic Methodists. Switched to the Independents, ordained at Merthyrcynog in 1841. Moved from there to Tredegar, took care of the church that is now in Adulam until 1845 when he left. Received a call from Brynseion, Cwmbach where he stayed until he died in 1849, aged 55, buried in Siloa graveyard.

JOHN LLOYD. Born in 1819, admitted at Cefn-coed-y-cymer. Member at Bethania, Dowlais. Educated at Brecon College.  Ordained at Brynseion, Cwmbach in 1850 , health deteriorated, died in 1852, aged 33, buried in graveyard at Tabor, Cefn-coed-y-cymer

*Not fully translated

SARON, ABERAMAN  (Aberdare parish)

(Vol 2, p 334)

Yn y flwyddyn 1843, dechreuwyd agoryd gweithiau glo a darparu at adeiladu gweithiau haiarn yn y lle hwn, yr hyn yn raddol a dynodd lawer o drigolion i'r ardal; yn yr hon cyn hyny nid oedd dros dri neu bedwar o anedd-dai. Yr oedd ychydig o aelodau eglwysig yn mysg y bobl a ddaethant yma i gyfaneddu ar gychwyniad y gweithiau, a byddai y rhai hyny yn myned ar y Sabbothau i Siloa, Salem, ac Ebenezer, Aberdar. Byddai y cyfeillion o Aberdar yn dyfod yn achlysurol i gynal cyfarfodydd gweddio yn ardal Aberaman, ond ni chafodd un gwasanaeth crefyddol rheolaidd ei osod i fyny yma hyd y flwyddyn 1846. Yn y flwyddyn hono daeth Mr. Thomas Jones, gweinidog Adulam, Merthyr, i'r ardal i gyfaneddu ac i gadw ysgol. Agorodd ef ei dý fel addoldy. Y tý hwnw oedd rhif 242, Cardiff Road, Aberaman. Ar y 6ed o Dachwedd, 1846, corpholwyd eglwys Annibynol yn rhý Mr. Jones, pryd y cymerwyd rhan yn y gwasanaeth gan Mr. Jones, Mr. Harrison, Aberdar, a Mr. Owen, Zoar, Merthyr. Rhif yr aelodau ar en corpholiad yn eglwys oedd naw, yn mysg y rhai yr oedd dau o Adulam, Merthyr; un o Bethesda, Merthyr; un o Salem, Aberdar, ac un o Beulah, Brycheiniog. Yr oedd y boblogaeth yma y pryd hwn yn ansefydlog iawn, a'r gweithwyr yn myned ac yn dyfod beunydd i'r lle, fel nas gellid ymddibynu nemawr ar arosiad neb yma. Pa fodd bynag, cynyddodd yr eglwys fechan yn raddol nes i dý Mr. Jones fyned yn rhy fychan i'w chynwys. Yn ngwyneb hyny bu raid symud i ran o dý anorphenedig o eiddo Mr. Thomas Howells, Lamb and Flag. Llanwyd y lle hwnw yn fuan drachefn, ond o herwydd ei gysylltiad a'r tafarndy yr oedd yn anghyfaddas iawn at gynal moddion crefyddol, a bu yn achlysur o gryn anghydwelediad mysg y brodyr, yr hyn a barodd i amryw o honynt gyfodi eu llythyrau i fyned i eglwysi eraill. Mewn canlyniad i'r ymraniad hwn, aeth y gweddill a adawyd yn ystafell y tafarndy yn ol i dý Mr. Jones i gynal y gwasanaeth. Wedi marwolaeth Mr. Jones yn Ionawr, 1848, ac i'w weddw symud o'r ardal, bu yr eglwys fechan am dymor yn addoli o dý i dý. Rhwng yr anghyfleusdra o ddiffyg addoldy, a gradd o anghydfod yn mysg y frawdoliaeth, bu yr achos yma am dymor yn hynod o wywlyd a diobaith. Wedi adferu heddwch yn en mysg, rhoddasant eu hunain dan ofal Mr. Price, Siloa. Pan oedd y lle dan ofal Mr. Price cafwyd dau anedd-dy o eiddo Mr. Edwards, Ebenezer, heb raniadau rhyngddynt, at gynal y gwasanaeth. Wedi cyfaddasu y lle hwn at addoli ynddo, agorwyd ef fel capel yn y flwyddyn 1848, pryd y cymerwyd rhan yn y gwasanaeth gan Meistri J. Evans, Craigyfargod; J. Thomas, Glynnedd; G. Jones, Pontypridd; D. Roberts, Dowlais; T. Jones, Cwmbach, a W. Edwards, a D. Price, Aberdar. Wedi cael lle cymharol gyfleus at addoli, ychwanegwyd yn fawr at rif yr eglwys a'r gwrandawyr. Yn Mehefin, 1849, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Joshua Thomas, Bethlehem, Llangadog, i ddyfod yma yn weinidog sefydlog, a chydsyniodd i ddyfod, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn mis Hydref, yn y flwyddyn hono. Blwyddyn fythgofus Cholera oedd y flwyddyn hono, a chafodd miloedd lawer eu hychwanegu at yr eglwysi yn mhob rhan o Forganwg a Mynwy yn neillduol ac yn mhlith eraill, ychwanegwyd tua chant ac ugain at rif yr eglwys yn Aberaman. Erbyn hyn yr oedd y ddau anedd-dy, er gosod oriel ynddynt, lawer yn rhy ffychan i gynwys y gynnulleidfa, fel y bu raid edrych allan am le i adeiladu capel. Cafwyd tir, ac wedi llawer o helbul, o herwydd i'r hwn a ddechreuodd ei adeiladu fethu, gosodwyd ef o dan dô, ac er ei fod yn anorphenedig dechreuodd y gynnulleidfa gynal moddion crefyddol ynddo Mawrth 31ain, 1850. Agorwyd yr addoldy yn y Mehefin canlynol. Traul yr adeiladaeth oedd 650p. Yr oedd rhif yr aelodau erbyn hyn yn 218. Ond ni pharhaodd pethau yn ddymunol yma yn hir. Wedi i'r haint fyned heibio, darfu i lawer o'r rhai a ddaethant at grefydd yn eu dychryn droi yn ol i'w hen ffyrdd drygionus, a chyfododd ymryson rhwng rhai o'r aelodau a'u gilydd. Yn mis Tachwedd, 1851, ymadawodd 44 o'r aelodau i eglwysi eraill. Canlyniad yr anghydfod fu i'r eglwys leihau yn fawr yn ei rhif, ac i'r gwrandawyr gilio. Yn Mehefin, 1852, amlygodd Mr. Thomas ei fwriad i roddi y weinidogaeth i fyny, a chynaliwyd cyfarfod ymadawol iddo ar y 7fed o Awst. Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Thomas bu yr eglwys am ychydig dan ofal Mr. Edwards, Ebenezer. Lled helbulus y bu pethau yma hyd Mehefin, 1854, pryd y cydunwyd yn unfrydol i roddi galwad i Mr. John Davies, Llanelli, Brycheiniog. Bu Mr. Davies amryw fisoedd cyn gwneyd ei feddwl i fyny i ateb yr alwad yn gadarnhaol, ond er mawr lawenydd i'r eglwys, ac i drigolion Aberdar yn gyffredinol, atebodd hi, a dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth yma yn mis Tachwedd, 1854. Bu sefydliad Mr. Davies yn y lle yn adfywiad ar unwaith i'r achos. Cynyddodd y gynnulleidfa a lluosogodd yr eglwys yn ddirfawr, a chafodd yr holl blwyf deimlo fod dyn galluog a gweithgar wedi dyfod i'r lle. Yn mhen llai na dwy flynedd wedi iddo ymsefydlu yma, adeiladodd gapel a chorpholodd gangen o eglwys Saron yn Nghwmaman; ond er gollwng 29 o aelodau, a llawer o wrandawyr, i Gwmaman, yr oedd capel Saron etto lawer yn rhy fychan i gynwys y gwrandawyr. Penderfynwyd ei helaethu yn 1856, ac er cael lle i wneyd hyny bu raid prynu dau dý cyfagos am 220p. Yr oedd traul yr helaethiad a phryniad y tai yn 953p., ac at hyny yr oedd 250p. o ddyled y capel cyntaf yn aros, fel yr oedd y ddyled yn awr yn ddeuddeg cant o bunau, ond trwy fod yr eglwys yn unol, a than arweiniad blaenor o'r fath ragoraf, lleihawyd y ddyled yn gyflym. Yn mhen ychydig wedi helaethu y capel, adeiladwyd ysgoldy, neu neuadd eang, y tu cefn iddo, yr hyn a gostiodd 300p. Darfu i'r gynnulleidfa hon yn yr ugain mlynedd cyntaf o'i hanes, osod allan tua dwy fil o bunau ar y capel a'r ysgoldy, ac erbyn y flwyddyn 1865, yr oedd y cwbl wedi ei dalu hyd at 289p. Bu yma, fel mewn llawer o fanau eraill, ddiwygiad grymus iawn yn y blynyddoedd 1859 ac 1860. Buwyd am amryw fisoedd yn derbyn tua haner cant o aelodau newyddion bob mis. Yn Mehefin, 1863, derbyniodd Mr. Davies alwad o Mount Stuart Square, Caerdydd, a symudodd yno, er mawr golled i Aberaman ac Aberdar, ond er ennill dirfawr i Gaerdydd. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1864, rhoddodd yr eglwys yn Saron alwad i Mr. R. Rowlands, myfyriwr yn athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef yma yn Mehefin, yr un flwyddyn, pryd y pregethodd Mr. W. Roberts, Liverpool, ar natur eglwys; Mr. M. D. Jones, Bala, ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog, a Mr. J. Davies, Caerdydd, ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys. Bu yma amser bywiog iawn ar grefydd am y ddwy flynedd gyntaf wedi urddiad Mr. Rowlands, ond o herwydd y dyryswch yn y gweithiau yma am y chwe' blynedd diweddaf, y mae yr achos yn Saron, fel yn mhob addoldy arall yn y lle, wedi dyoddef yn dost. Pa fodd bynag, y mae pethau wedi dechreu adfywio yma etto yn dymhorol ac ysbrydol, ac y mae Mr. Rowlands a'r eglwys yn cydweithio yn dda, ac agwedd lewyrchus ar yr achos. Mae Ysgol Sabbothol nodedig o flodeuog wedi cael ei chadw gan yr eglwys hon oddiar ddechreuad yr achos, ac y mae yma hefyd ysgol gân ragorol lawn.

Codwyd y rhai canlynol i bregethu yma :-

• Thomas George, yn awr gweinidog yr eglwys yn y Dinas, yn Nghwmrhondda. Cafodd ei addysgu yn athrofa Caerfyrddin.
• John G. Thomas, gweinidog yr eglwys yn y Wern, Aberafan. Yn athrofa Caerfyrddin yr addysgwyd yntau.
• William Edwards, gweinidog yr eglwys Saesonig yn Mhenycae, Mynwy. Addysgwyd ef yn Aberhonddn.
•  Llewellyn Thomas.

COFNODIAD BYWGRAPHYDDOL

THOMAS JONES. Ganwyd ef yn mhlwyf Llanwenog, sir Aberteifi. Nid yw amser ei enedigaeth yn hysbys i ni. Derbyniodd ei addysg yn athrofa y Neuaddlwyd, ac yn y flwyddyn 1840, urddwyd ef yn weinidog yr eglwysi bychain yn y Rhiw, Nantglyn, a Llansanan, sir Ddinbych. Yn niwedd y flwyddyn 1848, symudodd i Ferthyr Tydfil, a sefydlwyd ef yn weinidog yn Adulam, lle y bu hyd y flwyddyn 1846, pryd y symudodd i Aberaman i gadw ysgol, ac yno, fel y gwelsom, efe a fu yn foddion i ddechreu yr achos sydd yn awr yn Saron. Bu farw Ionawr 8fed, 1848, a chladdwyd ef wrth gapel Siloa, Aberdar. Gweinyddwyd ar ei gladdedigaeth gan Meistri Owen, Zoar; Hughes, Dowlais, a Price, Aberdar.

Dyn gwan iawn o gorph oedd Thomas Jones. Ni chafodd fawr o fwynhad o iechyd am yr un-mlynedd-ar-hugain olaf o'i fywyd. Yr oedd yn bregethwr buddiol a derbyniol, ond fod eiddilwch ei gorph yn ei analluogi i fod yn llefarwr grymus. Cyfrifid ef gan ei gydnabod yn ddyn da a duwiol iawn. Bu farw mewn mwynhad o gysuron crefydd. Y geiriau, "A'r Arglwydd a glybu " oedd ffynonell ei gysur yn ei oriau diweddaf. Gadawodd ar ei ol weddw a phedwar o blant amddifaid.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (April 2009)

In the year 1843 they began opening coal mines ahead of building iron works in this place, which brought many workers to the area; where before that there were only  3 or 4 dwelling houses. There were a few church members among the people who came here to live at the starting up of the coalmines, and those went on Sundays to Siloa, Salem, and Ebenezer, Aberdare. The friends from Aberdare came occasionally to hold prayer meetings in the Aberaman area, but no religious service was held there regularly until 1846. In that year Mr Thomas Jones, the minister at Adulam, Merthyr, came to the district to live and keep school. He opened his house as a schoolhouse. That house was number 242, Cardiff Rd, Aberaman. On the 6th November, 1846, they formed an Independent church in Mr Jones's house, when Mr. Jones, Mr. Harrison, Aberdare, and Mr. Owen, Zoar, Merthyr took part in the service. The number of members on formation of the church was 9, amon those were 2 from Adulam, Merthyr; 1 from Bethesda, Merthyr; one from Salem, Aberdare; and one from Beulah, Brecon. The population here at the time was most unsettled, with the coal mines coming and going daily here, so that one couldn't rely on anyone staying here. Despite that, the little church grew gradually until Mr Jones's house became too small for their convenience. Faced with that they had to move to part of an incomplete house belonging to Mr Thomas Howells, Lamb and Flag. They soon filled that place again, but as a result of its connection to the tavern it was most unsuitable for holding religious matters, and it caused considerable disagreement amongst the brothers, and this persisted until some of them asked for letters to go to other churches. In the aftermath of that split, the remainder abandoned the room in the tavern and returned  to Mr Jones's house to hold their services. After Mr Jones died in January 1848, and his widow moved from the district, the little church worshipped from house to house. Between the inconvenience of  the lack of a house of worship, and the degree of disagreement amongst the brothers, the cause here was for a time notably feeble and hopeless. After restoring peace in their midst, they gave themselves to the care of Mr Price, Siloa. When under Mr Price's care the place obtained 2 dwelling houses belonging to Mr Edwardss, Ebenezer, without a partition between them, for holding a service. Having modified this place for worshipping in, they opened it as a chapel in 1848, when Messrs J. Evans, Craigyfargod; J. Thomas, Glynnedd; G. Jones, Pontypridd; D. Roberts, Dowlais; T. Jones, Cwmbach, and W. Edwards, and D. Price, Aberdare took part in the service. Having got a relatively convenient place to worship, the numbers of members and listeners increased greatly. In June 1849, they gave a call to Mr Joshua Thomas, Bethlehem, Llangadog, to come here as the established minister, andn he agreed to come, and started his ministry here in October of that year. This was the year of cholera (fythgofus?), and many thousands were drawn to the churches in every part of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire in particular and amongst others, about 120 members were added to the numbers of the church in Aberaman. By now the 2 dwelling houses, although a gallery had been installed, were far too small to hold the congregation, so they had to look out for a place to build a chapel.  They obtained some land, and after a lot of trouble, because of which the building start was delayed, they got a roof over it, and although it was not finished the congregation began religious events there on 31st March 1850.  The place opened in the following June. The cost of the building was £650. The number of members by then was 218. But matters didn't last pleasantly here for long. After the epidemic had passed, it happened that many of those who had turned to religion in alarm turned back to their old wicked ways, and caused strife between some members and others. In November 1851, 44 members left for other churches. Following this upheaval the church's numbers shrank greatly, and the listeners withdrew. In June 1852, Mr Thomas revealed his intention to give up his ministry, and they held a leaving ceremony for him on the 7th August. After Mr Thomas's departure the church was for a while under the care of Mr Edwards, Ebenezer. Things were quite troubled here until June 1854, when they unanimously agreed to give a call to Mr John Davies, Llanelli, Breconshire. Mr Davies took some months to make his mind up to answer the call positively, but to the great joy of the church, and to residents of Aberdare in general, he did accept, and began his ministry  here in November 1854. The installation of Mr Davies was an instant shot in the arm for the cause. The congregation and church improved greatly, and the whole parish felt that a brilliant and industrious man had come to the place. In under 2 years of his arrival, a chapel was built and  a branch church of Saron in Cwmamman, was formed; but although they lost 29 members, and many listeners, to Cwmaman, Saron chapel was yet again too small to hold the listeners. They decided to enlarge it in 1856, and in order to have the room to do so needed to buy 2 adjoining houses for £220. The cost of the works and purchase of the houses was £953, and to this was added £250 of debt remaining from the first chapel, so that the debt was now £1200, but as the church was unified, and under a prominent leader of the sort to excel, they quickly reduced the debt. In a while after enlarging the chapel, they built a schoolhouse, or spacious hall, behind it, and this cost £300. It came about that this cause, in the first 20 years of its existence, laid out almost £2000 on the chapel and schoolhouse, and by 1865, the whole lot had been repaid apart from £289. There was here, as in many other places, a very powerful revival in the years 1859/1860. For some months they admitted about 50 new members each month. In June 1863, Mr Davies received a call from Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, and he moved there, although a big loss to Aberaman and Aberdare, a huge gain for Cardiff. At the beginning of 1864, the church in Saron gave a call to Mr R Rowlands, a student at Bala College, and he was ordained here in June of that year, when Mr W Roberts, Liverpool, preached on the nature of a church; Mr M D Jones, Bala, on the duties of the minister; and Mr J Davies, Cardiff, on the responsibilites of the church. It was a very active time here religiously in the first 2 years after Mr Rowlands' ordination, but as a result of the problems in the coal mines here in the last 6 years, the cause in Saron, as in every other place of worship here, has suffered greatly. However, things have started to revive here again temporally and spiritually, and Mr Rowlands and the church are collaborating well, with a flourishing attitude in the cause. The Sunday school is notably buoyant having been maintained  by this church from the start of the cause, and there is here also an excellent singing school.

 The following were raised here to preach;

• Thomas George, now minister at Dinas, Cwm Rhondda, educated at Carmarthen College
• John G. Thomas, now minister at Wern, Aberafan, educated at Carmarthen College
• William Edwards, minister at Penycae, Monmouthshire, educated in Brecon
• Llewellyn Thomas.

Biographical Notes *

THOMAS JONES. Born in Llanwenog, Cardiganshire. Educated in Neuaddlwyd, ordained in 1840 in the Rhiw, Nantglyn and Llansanan, Denbighshire. Moved to Merthyr Tydfil in 1848 (1846?), installed at Adulam as minister, moved to Aberamman, died in 1848, buried at Siloa, Aberdare. Left a widow and 4 children.

*Not fully translated

RHIGOS   (Ystradyfodwg parish)

(Vol 2, p 321)

Saif y lle hwn ar yr ochr ddeheuol i'r brif ffordd sydd yn arwain o Ferthyr Tydfil i Abertawy, ac oddeutu haner y ffordd rhwng Hirwaun a Glynnedd. Plwyf Ystrad-dyfodog ydyw, and mae rhandir y Rhigos yn cael ei gwahanu oddiwrth y rhan ddeheuol o'r plwyf gan gadwyn o fynyddoedd uchel a ymestynant o gwm Aberdar i'r mor yn ymyl Castellnedd. Wedi i eglwys Blaengwrach wyro i Arminiaeth, ac wedi hyny i Undodiaeth, ymadawodd yr aelodau oedd yn dal at yr athrawiaeth Galtinaidd i Ystradfellte a Thy'nycoed, a manau eraill. Pan gorpholwyd yr eglwys sydd yn addoli yn bresenol yn addoldy Glynnedd, bu adfywiad pwysig ar grefydd, ychwanegwyd llawer o ddynion ieuaingc yn bobl i'r Arglwydd. Aeth y diwygiad a moddion gras ar led, ar hyd y cymydogaethau. Sefydlwyd Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddi, a phregethu achlysurol yn y Rhigos. Derbyniwyd llawer o breswylwyr yr ardal hon yn aelodau yn eglwys Glynnedd. Yr oedd ganddynt oddeutu tair milldir i gerdded bob Sabboth i'r moddion cyhoeddus yn Glynnedd, a dychwelent i gadw cyfarfod gweddi mewn tý anedd yn y prydnawn yn y Rhigos. Ond yr oedd golygiadau crefyddol pobl y Rhigos yn dra chymysglyd; yr oedd yno rai teuluoedd yn Undodiaid, eraill yn Arminiaid, ac eraill yn Galfiniaid uchel. Mae y Rhigos o fewn dwy filldir i Glynllwydrew, lle genedigol Mr. Lewis Rees, Mynyddbach. Yr oedd eglwys Blaengwrach yn Galfinaidd o ran ei barn pan y derbyniwyd Lewis Rees yn aelod, a phan yr urddwyd ef i'r weinidogaeth. Mae Mr. W. Williams, gweinidog Nebo, Hirwaun, yn cofio yn dda am hen wraig o'r enw Mari Morgan Dafydd, yr oedd hi rhwng 80 a 90 oed pan yr oedd ef yn fachgenyn 10 oed. Derbyniwyd hi yn aelod yn eglwys Blaengwrach rhai blynyddau ar ol Lewis Rees. Cafodd hi fyw i waled y weinidogaeth wedi newid o fod yn Driundodaidd i fod yn Undodaidd, ac o fod yn Galfinaidd i fod yn Arminaidd. Ymadawodd;Mari Morgan Dafydd ag eglwys Blaengwrach, lle y cafodd ei derbyn yn aelod, ac aeth i gymuno i Ty'nycoed, o herwydd fod tôn a sain y weinidogaeth wedi newid. Ymadawodd y rhan efengylaidd o'r aelodau i eglwysi eraill ag oedd yn fwy cydnaws a'u golygiadau. Dywed Mr. Williams mai yr achlysur a'i dygodd ef i gysylltiad mor neillduol a'r hen chwaer Mari Morgan Dafydd ydoedd am mai ganddi hi yn unig, yn y parth hwnw o Glynnedd, yr oedd y Bibl a elwid Bibl Peter Williams. Yn yr amser hwnw yr oedd adrodd pyngciau neu holwyddoregau yn gyffredin yn yr ardaloedd yma. Cedwid cymanfaoedd ysgolion Sabbothol yn flynyddol a haner blynyddol. Byddai pedwar, pump, a chwech ysgol yn cyfarfod a'u gilydd. Yr oedd y bechgyn ieuaingc i ddysgu penod, yn nghyd a sylwadau Peter Williams, a'r benod i'w hadrodd o flaen yr ysgol ar ddydd y gymanfa. Yr oedd yr hen chwaer yn gwrthod rhoddi benthyg y Bibl i fyned allan o'r tý i ddysgu y sylwadau. Yr oedd llygad yr hen wraig ar y bachgen rhag i'w ddwylaw trwsgl ef wneyd cam a dail y Bibl. Yr oedd raid dysgu y sylwadau o'r Bibl ar y bwrdd wrth ochr yr hen chwaer. Bu ef lawer gwaith gyda'r hen wraig yn dysgu y sylwadau, a than gerydd mynych am fod yn drwsgl gyda'i Bibl. Dyna yw y rheswm ei fod yn ei choflo mor dda.

John Morgan, tad John Morgan sydd yn awr yn byw yn Wrangonisaf, a gafodd y fraint o roddi llatty i arch Duw yn benaf. Yr oedd yr holl aelodau yn hynod garedig i roesawu yr ysgol a'r cyfarfodydd pan yn dyfod ar gylch. Ond yn nhy John Morgan yr oedd y pulpud, ac yno y byddid yn pregethu am flynyddau lawer. Cedwid Ysgol Sabbothol am 10 y boreu, elid i Glynnedd erbyn 3, ac yn fynych byddai pregeth neu gyfarfod gweddi yno am 6 yn yr hwyr. Yn niwedd haf 1841, corpholwyd yr ychydig aelodau oedd yn yr Rhigos yn eglwys Annibynol, yn nhy Morgan Morgan, brawd John Morgan, yn nhy yr hwn yr oedd y cyfarfodydd yn cael eu cynal er's blynyddoedd. Thomas Rowland, y gof, yr hwn' oedd ddiacon yn eglwys Ystradfellte, ag oedd wedi symud yn ddiweddar i'r ardal; Morgan Morgan, Evan Williams, a'i ddau fab William a Thomas Williams; Rhys ac Evan Morgan, a John Morgan, Wrangonisaf, oeddynt yn mysg yr aelodau cyntaf. Nid oes ond dau o honynt yn fyw, sef Thomas Williams a John Morgan.

Bu yr eglwys fechan hon dan weinidogaeth Mr. Williams, Hirwaun, am 25 o flynyddau. Yn y fiwyddyn 1866, rhoddodd Mr. Williams ei ofal i fyny, ac yn yr un flwyddyn rhoddasant alwad i Mr. Daniel Jones, gweinidog y Saeson yn Hirwaun, a Mr. David Thomas, Hermon, Ystradfellte, i'w gwasanaethu yn rhanol. Ni bu cysylltiad Mr. Jones a hwy ond byr, ac ar y Sabboth diweddaf yn 1871, rhoddodd Mr. Thomas hwy i fyny, o herwydd ei fod wedi symud o Hermon, Ystradfellte, i Tonpandy, Cwmystrad. Yn nhy Morgan Morgan, ar heol y Cwmtrwst, y cafwyd lle i'r arch o sefydliad yr eglwys hyd 1844, pryd yr adeiladwyd ysgoldy bychan ar y Cwmin rhwng y Clawddffin a'r heol, am na chawsid gan berchenogion tiroedd, dir i adeiladu, er cynyg ei lawn werth am dano. Dywedodd un goruchwyliwr wrth Mr. Williams, y cawsai le i godi Gin shop os mynai, ond na chawsai le i godi capel. Mesur yr ysgoldy ty fewn i'r muriau ydoedd 25 trodfedd 6 modfedd wrth 14 troedfedd 6 modfedd. Bu yn wasanaethgar i gadw Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddi, a phregethu, ac ysgol ddyddiol; cedwir yr olaf ynddo yn awr. Yn 1860, llwyddwyd gael prydles gan ornehwyliwr Arglwydd Bute am 99 o flynyddoedd am ardreth o bunt yn y flwyddyn. Yr un person roddodd y tir yn awr ag a'i gwrthododd yn 1844. Mae yma gapel bychan cyfleus yn mesur tu fewn i'r muriau 31 troedfedd wrth 28 troedfedd ac y mae wedi talu am dano.

Codwyd yma dri phregethwr :-

• Thomas Williams. Dechreuodd ef bregethu oddeutu y flwyddyn 1825. Eglwys Glynnedd a'i cododd ef i bregethu, ac yno yr ystyriai efe ei hun yn aelod tra bu yn yr ardal. Symudodd o'r lle hwn i Gwmdulais, ac yn 1852, ymfudodd i America. Sefydlodd mewn lle a elwid Beech, tua chwe' milldir o Scranton, talaeth Pennsylfania. Bu farw yno Mai 1af, 1865, yn 75 oed. Yr oedd Thomas Williams yn ddiffygiol mewn dawn ymadrodd hwylus, er hyn yr oedd hynodion yn ei gymeriad fel cristion a phregethwr. Yr oedd yn ddiargyhoedd o ran ei fuchedd, yn gywir a di-dwyll yn ei waith a'i drafodaeth a dynion. Nid oedd yn myned oddi cartref i bregethu ond pan anfonid am dano; ac yn achlysurol y byddai yn pregethu gartref, ond byddai yn llanw bwlch yn gynorthwyol pan fyddai eisiau. Yr oedd o ran ei farn yn uehel-Galfiniad. Teimlai yn selog am i bawb, yn neillduol pregethwyr, i fod yn uniongred gyda golwg ar yr athrawiaethau Calfinaidd, yr hyn a ystyriai ef yn ffurf yr athrawiaeth iachus. Dywedodd unwaith pan yn pregethu yn y Rhigos, ei fod ef yn adnabod pregethwr oedd yn gweddio yn Galflnaidd ac yn pregethu yn Arminaidd, a'i enw yw W. W. Gwenodd y gwrandawyr a Mr. Williams, Hirwaun, at yr hwn yr oedd yn cyfeirio. Dro arall, wedi gwrando ar Mr. Williams yn arfer amryw anogaethau a chymhellion i'r gwrandawyr gredu yn Nghrist, gofynai iddo ar y ffordd wrth fyned gartref, a oedd efe yn amheu cadwedigaeth yr etholedigion y rhai a ragordeiniwyd i fywyd tragywyddor? " Ydwyf, nes y gwelwyf hwynt wedi credu yn Nghrist, ac ufuddhau i'r efengyl," oedd atebiad Mr. Williams. Dywedai Thomas Williams drachefn, " 'does achos i chwi bryderu dim, fydd ewin o honynt yn ol. Mae yr arfaeth yn sicr o'i gafael." Dywedodd Mr. Williams wrtho yntau, "Chwi wyddoch Thomas Williams fod Iesu Grist yn adnabod yr etholedigion, ac yn gwybod am yr arfaeth yn well na ni, ac etto yr oedd efe yn hynod bryderus yn achos Jerusalem druenus." Ar hyn dyma Barabra, gwraig T. Williams, yn cyfryngu. Dynes dal, lon, hawddgar, dduwiol, ydoedd, ac yn rhoddi cynghor i'r ddau bregethwr, " Gadewch," ebe hi, " y dirgeledigaethau yn llonydd, a chredwch a gwnewch y pethau amlwg;" a dybenwyd yn y fan. Mae Thomas Williams wedi myned o'r America i'r nefoedd, ac y mae yn deall i foddlonrwydd heddyw pa fodd y mae gras a dyledswydd yn gyson a'u gilydd.
• Jonathan Jones. Dyn ieuangc a ddaeth yma o ardal Gwernogle, sir Gaerfyrddin. Yr oedd yn berthynas i'r diweddar Jonathan Jones, Rhydybont. Yr oedd ei dad, David Jones, yn bregethwr cynorthwyol yn Gwernogle. Dechreuodd Jonathan Jones bregethu yn 1850. Ymadawodd a'r wlad hon am America yn niwedd 1851, neu yn nechreu 1852. Clywsom iddo fyned i athrofa yn America, and nis gwyddom beth a ddaeth o hono wedi hyny.
• David Morgan. Dechreuodd bregethu yn y flwyddyn 1859. Derbyniwyd ef yn fyfyriwr i athrofa Aberhonddu yn 1863. Urddwyd ef yn Penywaun, Mynwy, Medi 5ed, 1867, ac yno y mae etto.*

* Llythyr Mr. Williams, Hirwaun.

Translation by Steve Stephenson (Oct 2008)

This place stands on the southern side of the main road which runs from Merthyr Tydfil to Swansea, and about half way between Hirwaun and Glynnedd. It is in the parish of Ystradfodwg and some parts of the  Rhigos are separated from the southern part of the parish by a chain of high mountains that stretch from the Aberdar valley to the sea near Castellnedd. After Blaengwrach church turned to the Arminians and after that to the Unitarians, the members that kept to the teaching of Calvin moved to Ystradfellte and Tynycoed and other places. When the church was established which worships at present in Glynnedd church there was an important revival of faith which added a lot of young men who became people of the Lord. The revival went on to be a means of grace abroad in the community. A Sunday School was established, with  prayer meetings and occasional preaching services in Rhigos. Many inhabitants in this area were accepted as members of Glynnedd church. They had about three miles to walk every Sunday to the public services in Glynnedd and they returned to hold prayer meetings in a dwelling house in Rhigos in the afternoons. But the Rhigos people were of rather mixed religious beliefs; there were some families who were Unitarian, others Arminian and others high Calvinist. Rhigos is within two miles of Glynllwydrew, where Mr Lewis Rees (Mynyddbach) was born. The Blaengwrach church was of Calvinist persuasion when they accepted Lewis Rees as a member and when he was ordained as a minister. Mr W Williams, minister of Nebo, Hirwaun, remembers well an old lady of the name of Mari Morgan Dafydd, she was between 80 and 90 years old when he was a young boy of 10 years old. She was accepted as a member of the Blaengwrach church some years after Lewis Rees. She lived to see the ministry change from Trinitarian to Unitarian and from Calvinist to Arminian. Mary Morgan Dafydd left Blaengwrach church where she had been accepted as a member and went to join Tynycoed because the type and sound of the ministry had changed. The evangelical members left  to other churches that were more compatible with their views. Mr Williams said that that he came to the special relationship with the dear sister Mari Morgan Dafydd who was alone in this part of Glynnedd where the Bible was called the Peter Williams Bible. At this time recitation of verses or catechisms was common in these regions. Sunday School festivals were held yearly and half yearly where four, five or six schools would meet together. The younger boys would learn a chapter, according to the Peter Williams version, and the chapter was recited before the school on the assembly day. The old sister refused to let the Bible go out of the house to learn the comments. The eye of the old lady was on the boy in case his clumsy hand made a mark on the page of the Bible. They had to learn the comments from the Bible on the table sitting beside the the old sister. It was a lot of work for the old sister to teach the comments and there were frequent rebukes because of being clumsy with the Bible. That is the reason he remembered it so well.

John Morgan, father of John Morgan, now lives in Wrangonisaf and mainly had the honour of giving shelter to the Ark of God. All the members were remarkably kind to welcome the school and meetings when they came around. But the pulpit was in the house of John Morgan and it was there that services were held for many years. Sunday School was held at 10 o'clock in the morning, he would then go to Glynnedd at 3 o'clock and after that there would be a service or prayer meeting at    6 o'clock in the evening. At the end of the summer in 1841 the few members that were in Rhigos established a church in the house of Morgan Morgan, brother of John Morgan, in whose house  the meetings were held for many years. Thomas Rowland, the blacksmith, who was deacon in Ystradfellte church and who had lately moved into the area, Morgan Morgan, Evan Williams and his two sons William and Thomas Williams, Rhys and Evan Morgan and John Morgan (Wrangonisaf) were amongst the first members. But only two of them are still alive, Thomas Williams and John Morgan.

This little church was under the ministry of Mr Williams (Hirwaun) for 25 years. In the year 1866 Mr Williams gave up his care and in the same year a call was sent to Mr Daniel Jones, minister to the English in Hirwaun, and Mr David Thomas, Hermon, Ystradfellte to share the services. The connection between  Mr Jones and them was only short and on the last Sunday in 1871 Mr Thomas gave them up because he had moved from Hermon, Ystradfellte to Tonypandy, Cwmystrad. The Ark had been kept in Morgan Morgan's house on Cwmtrwst road  since the church had been established up to 1844, when there was a small schoolhouse built on the common between the Clawddfin and the road despite offering the full value of the land to the owners they would not let them have  land to build on. One manager said to Mr Williams that there would be room to build a gin shop if it was wanted but there would not be room to  build a chapel. The measurements of the schoolhouse inside the walls were 25 ft. 6 ins. by 14 ft. 6 ins. It was suitable for holding a Sunday School, prayer meetings and services and a day school, the latter is now held here. In 1860 they succeeded in getting a lease from the manager of Lord Bute for 99 years at a rent of £1 a year. The same person who refused the land in 1844  gave the land to them now. There is now a small convenient chapel measuring inside the walls 31 ft. by 28 ft. and it has been paid for.

Three preachers have been raised here:-

• Thomas Williams. He started his preaching around the year 1825. Glynnedd church raised him to preach, and there he considered himself to be a member while he was in the area. He moved from this place to Cwmdulais and in 1852 he emigrated to America.. He was established in a place called Beech, some six miles from Scranton, Pennsylvania. He died there on May 1st 1865 at 75 years old. Thomas Williams was defective in the talent of easy speech on account of  peculiarities in his character as a christian and preacher. He was blameless in his conduct, true and  straightforward in his work and dealings with men. He did not go from home to preach but he woud be ready to fill the gap whenever he was needed to assist. His beliefs were  high Calvinistic. He felt zealous that everybody, in particular preachers, should be orthodox in their Calvinist teachings, which he considered  the way of healthy doctrine. He once said when he was preaching in Rhigos that he knew a preacher who prayed as a Calvnist and preached as an Arminian, and his name is W W Gwenodd. The listeners smiled at Mr William, Hirwaun to whom he was referring. Another time after listening to Mr Williams'  usual  exhortations and incitements to the listeners to believe in Christ, he would ask him the way to go home, and  was he doubtful of  salvation of the election of those who had been partly ordained to eternal life? "Yes, until I see they have believed in Christ, and obeyed the gospel" was the answer of Mr Williams. Thomas Williams would say again "there is no cause for you to be anxious, there will be a nail from them left. There is a purpose sure of it being held.". Mr Williams said to them, " You know Thomas Williams that Jesus Christ knows the elected ones, and knows about the purpose better than us, and yet he was remarkably anxious in the cause of poor Jerusalem." At this Barbara, the wife of T Williams, interceded. She was a tall woman, cheerful, pretty and Godly  and giving counsel to the two preachers. "Leave"  she said "the mysteries alone and believe and do the the things you can see," and there it was left.
• Mr Williams has gone from America to heaven and now understands satisfactorily  how the grace and duty are reconciled together.
•  
• Jonathon Jones. A young man who came here from the region of Gwernogle , Carmarthenshire. He was related to the late Jonathon Jones, Rhydybont. His father, David Jones, was an assistant preacher in Gwrnogle. Jonathon Jones started preaching in 1850. He emigrated to America from this country at the end of 1851. We heard of him going to college in America but we don't know what came of him after that.
•  
• David Morgan. He started preaching in the year 1859. He was accepted as a student in Brecon college in 1863. He was ordained in Penywaun, Monmouthshire on June 5th 1867, and he is still there.*

* letter from Mr Williams, Hirwaun

HOREB, LLWYDGOED  (Aberdare parish)

(Vol 2, p 341)

Cangen o eglwys Ebenezer, Aberdar, yw yr eglwys hon. Yr oedd cyfarfodydd gweddio yn cael eu cynal o dy i dy yn ardal Llwydgoed gan aelodau Ebenezer a gyfaneddent yn yr ardal er's mwy na haner can' mlynedd. Yn mysg yr aelodau ffyddlawn a breswylient yma flynyddau yn ol yr oedd Thomas Thomas, neu " Thomas Philip o'r Forch," fel yr adnabyddid ef yn gyffredin, a Margaret ei wraig, yn nodedig o ddefnyddiol ac adnabyddus. Yn ei flynyddau diweddaf yr oedd Thomas wedi myned yn dra byddar, fel yr oedd yn gorfod cadw corn wrth ei glust er ei gynorthwyo i glywed. Yr oedd ef a'i wraig yn fywyd i bob cyfarfod. Byddai eu dagrau, eu hamenau, a'u diolchiadau, yn gosod tân yn nheimladau y rhai mwyaf marwaidd; a'r hyn a osodai werth ac effaith yn eu hwyliau oedd purdeb difrycheulyd eu cymeriadau. Bu Thomas Thomas farw ychydig flynyddau yn ol. Y boreu y daeth y newydd am ei farwolaeth allan, aeth un a'r newydd i foneddwr cyfoethog iawn, fod y dyn cyfoethocaf yn mhlwyf Aberdar wedi marw y boreu hwnw. Synodd y boneddwr, a gofynodd am ddau neu dri o'r rhai a farnai ef y mwyaf cyfoethog yn y plwyf, a oeddynt wedi marw, a phan ddywedid wrtho nad un o honynt hwy ydoedd, " Wel," atebai, " nis gwn i am neb mor gyfoethog a hwy yn y plwyf hwn." " Ydyw," meddai ei hysbysydd, "mae y gwr a fu farw y boreu hwn lawer yn gyfoethocach nag un o honynt; Thomas Philip o'r Forch ydyw, ac y mae pawb yn barnu ei fod ef yn etifedd teyrnas nefoedd."

Yr oedd ysgoldy wedi cael ei adeiladu yma er's mwy nag ugain mlynedd yn ol gan eglwys Ebenezer, yn yr hwn y cynhelid Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfeillachau crefyddol, a phregethu achlysurol. Ar anogaeth Mr. Edwards, a diaconiaid Ebenezer, ymgymerodd cangen Llwydgoed a'r anturiaeth o adeiladu capel yn y flwyddyn 1859. Rhoddodd gweinidog ac eglwys Ebenezer bob cefnogaeth a chymorth iddynt. Rhoddwyd llythyrau gollyngdod i haner cant neu driugain o aelodau o Ebenezer, a ffurfiwyd hwy yn eglwys Annibynol. Ar ffurfiad yr eglwys, dewiswyd Thomas Harris, Ezer Jenkins, a Richard Morris, yn ddiaconiaid. Mae y blaenaf wedi gorphen ei yrfa er's rhai blynyddau, ond y mae y ddau olaf yn aros yn ffyddlon hyd y dydd hwn. Costiodd y capel dros wyth gant o bunau. Mewn trefn i gyffroi yr eglwys ieuangc i haelfrydedd, addawodd Mr. Thomas Williams, yn awr o'r Goetre, Merthyr, yr hwn oedd y pryd hwnw yn ddiacon yn Ebenezer, ugain punt at y capel ar ddydd ei agoriad, ar yr amod i'r gynnulleidfa gasglu pedwar ugain atynt, yr hyn a wnaed. Yn yr un flwyddyn ag yr agorwyd y capel, sef 1859, rhoddwyd galwad i Mr. Abraham Mathews, o athrofa y Bala, i ddyfod yma yn weinidog, mewn cysylltiad a'r gangen yn Nghwmdar. Yn Ebenezer y cynaliwyd cyfarfod ei urddiad, fel lle canolog rhwng Llwydgoed a Chwmdar. Bu Mr. Mathews yn llafurio yma, mewn cysylltiad a lleoedd eraill, gyda mesur helaeth o lwyddiant a pharch hyd wanwyn y flwyddyn 1865, pryd y gwnaeth ei feddwl i fyny i ymfudo i Patagonia, lle y mae hyd yn bresenol. Wedi ymadawiad Mr. Mathews, rhoddodd yr eglwys yn Llwydgoed ei hun dan ofal Mr. Thomas, Abercanaid. Bu ef yma yn dra gweithgar a llwyddianus nes iddo dderbyn galwad o'r Gwernllwyn, Dowlais; yna rhoddodd Abercanaid a Llwydgoed i fyny. Yn Mehefin, 1871, rhoddodd yr eglwys yn Llwydgoed alwad i Mr. W. S. Davies, o athrofa y Bala, ac urddwyd ef yma Awst 7fed a'r 8fed, yn yr un flwyddyn. Pregethwyd ar natur eglwys gan Mr. D. Thomas, Gwernllwyn, Dowlais; derbyniwyd y gyffes ffydd gan Mr. W. Edwards, Aberdar; gweddiwyd yr urdd-weddi gan Mr. J. Thomas, Aberdar; pregethwyd ar ddyledswydd y gweinidog gan Mr. J. Peter, un o athrawon athrofa y Bala, ac ar ddyledswydd yr eglwys gan Mr. E. Evans, Skiwen. Mae pob peth yn myned yn mlaen yn gysurus a gobeithiol yma hyd yn bresenol, ac yr ydym yn credu fod dyfodol llwyddianns lawn o flaen Mr. Davies a'r eglwys.

Yma y dechreuodd Mr. W. Thomas, yn awr o Gwynfe, ei yrfa fel pregethwr, ond gan fod cangen Llwydgoed heb ymneillduo o Ebenezer y pryd hwnw, rhoddasom enw Mr. Thomas yn mysg y rhai a gyfodwyd i bregethu yn Ebenezer. Yma hefyd y cyfodwyd Mr. W. Nicholson, Treflys, Bethesda, Arfon, yr hwn sydd yn awr ar symud i'r Groeswen, Morganwg.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (April 2009)

This church is a branch of Ebenezer, Aberdare. Prayer meetings had been held from house to house in the Llwydcoed district  by members from Ebenezer and inhabitants of the area for more than 50 years. Among the faithful members who lived here years ago was Thomas Thomas, or "Thomas Philip from the Forch," as he was generally known, and his wife Margaret, notably helpful and well known. In his last years Thomas became very deaf, so that he had to keep a horn at his ear to aid his hearing. He and his wife were the life of  every meeting. Their tears, their amens, and their thanks, put fire in the feelings of the more lifeless; and what  put value and effect  in their jollity was the immaculate purity of their characters. Thomas Thomas died a few years ago. The morning that the news broke of his passing, someone took the news to a very wealthy gentleman, that the richest man in the parish of Aberdare had died that morning. This astonished the gentleman, and he asked about one or two of those who he knew to be the richest men in the parish, as to which had died, and when told that none of these had died, replied "Well, I know of no one as rich as these in this parish", "Ah, " said his informant " the man who has died this morning is richer than any of them; it is Thomas Philip of the Forch, and everyone knows that he is the heir to the kingdom of heaven"

A schoolhouse had been built here more than 20 years ago by the church of Ebenezer, where they held Sunday school, religious fellowship, and occasional preaching. At the prompting of Mr Edwards, and the deacons of Ebenezer, the branch at Lwydcoed undertook the task of building a chapel in 1859. The minister and and church at Ebenezer gave every support and assistance to them. They issued release papers to 50 or 60 of the members at Ebenezer, and they formed an Independent church. On the formation of the church, Thomas Harris, Ezer Jenkins, and Richard Morris were chosen as deacons. The first has run his course for some years, but the latter 2 remain faithful to this day. The chapel cost over £800. In order to bestir the young church with generosity, Mr Thomas Williams, now of Goetre, Merthyr, a deacon at Ebenezer at the time, pledged £20 towards the chapel on the day it opened, on condition that the congregation collected £80 towards it, which they did. In the same year that the chapel opened, namely 1859, they gave a call to Mr Abraham Mathews, form Bala College, to come here as minister, jointly with the branch at Cwmdare. They held the ordination meeting at Ebenezer, as a central place between lwydcoed and Cwmdare. Mr Mathews laboured here, with other places, with a large degree of success and respect until the Spring of 1865, when he decided to go to Patagonia, where he still is.  After Mr Mathews left, Llwydcoed by itself came under the care of Mr Thomas, Abercanaid. He was most industrious and successful here until he accepted a call from Gwernllwyn, Dowlais; and gave up Lwydcoes and Abercanaid. In June 1871, the church at Llwydcoed gave a call to Mr W S Davies, from Bala College, and he was ordained here on 7th/8th August in the same year. Mr D Thomas, Gwernllwyn, Dowlais, preached on the nature of a church; Mr W Edwards, Aberdare, received the admission of faith; Mr J Thomas, Aberdare, gave the ordination prayer; Mr J Peter, one of the teachers from Bala College, preached on the duties of a minister; and that of the church by Mr E Evans, Skewen. Everything here is going ahead comfortably and hopefully up until now, and we believe that there is a bright future ahead for Mr Davies and the church.

It is here that Mr W Thomas, now at Gwynfe, began his career as a preacher, but as Llwydcoed was not separate from Ebenezer at the time, we have included Mr Thomas's name among those raised to preach at Ebenezer. Here also was raised Mr W Nicholson, Treflys, Bethesda, Arfon, who is now moving to Croeswen, Glamorgan.

SILOA, ABERDAR

(Vol 2, p 330)

Dechreuwyd yr achos blodeuog a llwyddianus hwn dan yr amgylchiadau canlynol :-Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1841, darfu i Mr. T. Rees, yr hwn oedd y pryd hwnw yn weinidog yn Ebenezer, gymeryd ystafell yn mhentref Aberdar, er cychwyn Ysgol Sabbothol a phregethu yn yr iaith Saesonig. Cymerodd Rees Thomas a'i wraig, a rhai eraill o aelodau Ebenezer, ddyddordeb yn yr anturiaeth. Trodd yr Ysgol Sabbothol allan yn dra llwyddianus, a daeth amryw Saeson lled selog yn mlaen i gydweithredu. Y bwriad y pryd hwnw ydoedd cychwyn achos Annibynol Saesonig. Ar symudiad Mr. T. Rees o Ebenezer i Siloa, Llanelli, yn nechreu 1842, rhoddwyd i fyny bob meddwl am fyned a'r achos Saesonig yn mlaen, ond parhaodd aelodau Ebenezer i gynal cyfarfodydd gweddio ac Ysgol Sabbothol yn y Ile. Ar yr amser hwnw, symudodd Mr. David Price a'i deulu o Gwmnedd i Aberdar, a thaflodd holl bwys ei ddylanwad fel crefyddwr selog a phregethwr doniol, o blaid yr achos yn y pentref. Ar ol parhau am dymor yn cynal Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddio, a phregethu achlysurol yn y lle, a gweled y liwyddiant oedd ar y moddion hyny, barnodd y brodyr a'r chwiorydd o Ebenezer, a gyfaneddent yn y pentref, y dylasid ffurfio eglwys Annibynol yno. Yn nechreu y flwyddyn 1843, rhentiwyd Long-room hen westy y Boot, at gynal y moddion crefyddol. Ar ol cael y lle cymharol cyfleus hwnw, lluosogodd yr ysgol a'r gwrandawyr yn fawr. Gosodwyd cais ger bron yr eglwys yn Ebenezer am ganiatad i gael. pregeth yn y Long-room bob nos Sabboth. Gwrthwynebodd amryw o'r hen frodyr ganiatau y cais yn dra phenderfynol. Y canlyniad fu i'r cyfeillion yn y pentref ofyn ychwaneg, sef cael llythyrau gollyngdod o Ebenezer i'r dyben o ymffurfio yn eglwys yn y Long-room. Ar un nos Sabboth gofynodd y brawd William Richard, yn ei enw ei hun, a'r brodyr a'r chwiorydd a gydweithredent ag ef, am eu llythyrau. Mr. Williams o Hirwaun, oedd yn pregethu yn Ebenezer y nos Sabboth hwnw. Cynghorodd Mr. Williams yr eglwys i gymeryd amser i ystyried y cais, a chyhoeddi cyfarfod eglwysig y nos Iau canlynol er penderfynu yr achos. Addawodd ef ddyfod yno er rhoddi pob cynghor a chynhorthwy ag a fedrai iddynt i ddyfod i benderfyniad heddychol. Cyfarfyddwyd nos Iau a phenderfynwyd rhoddi llythyrau gollyngdod yn ol eu cais i Morgan Thomas a'i wraig; Eleanor Colson, William Richards, Howell Richards, George Edwards, David Price a'i wraig; Mary Thomas, Margaret Hughes, Rachel Williams, Jannet Williams, Mary Lloyd a Mary Bowen. Ysgrifenwyd y llythyr gan Mr. Williams, Hirwaun, yn enw eglwys Ebenezer, a chafodd ei arwyddo gan Mr. Williams a dau o'r diaconiaid. Yr oedd wedi ei eirio fel y canlyn:-" Llythyr gollyngdod i'r brodyr a'r chwiorydd sydd a'u henwau isod, i fyned i gyfodi achos crefyddol yn mhentref Aberdar, ac i ymarfer a moddion gras er ennill eneidiau at y Gwaredwr." Ar ddiwedd y cyfarfod gweddiodd Mr. Williams am fendith, a chyn ymadael cydganwyd yn wresog-

"Ffarwel gyfeillion anwyl iawn,
Dros enyd fechan ni 'madawn;
Henffych i'r dydd cawn etto gwrdd
Yn Salem lân o ddeutu'r bwrdd."

Felly ymadawyd mewn tangnefedd heddychol. Wedi iddynt gael y llythyr gollyngdod, penderfynodd y brodyr a'r chwiorydd alw gweinidogion i'w corpholi yn eglwys Annibynol. Anfonasant gais at Meistri Hughes a Roberts, Dowlais, i ddyfod trosodd i'r dyben hwnw, ac addawsant ddyfod, and cyn i'r amser penodedig ddyfod oddi amgylch, taenwyd y gair allan fod yr ymadawiad o Ebenezer yn afreolaidd, yr hyn a barodd i weinidogion Dowlais omedd dyfod i gorpholi yr eglwys. Yn ngwyneb hyny, anfonwyd at Mr. Williams, Hirwaun, a Mr. Davies, Mynyddbach, yr hwn pan yn weinidog yn Ebenezer, a ddywedasai yn fynych y dylasai eglwys Annibynol fod yn mhentref Aberdar. Cydsyniodd y ddau frawd hyn a'r cais, a chorpholasant yr eglwys yn nechreu mis Mawrth, 1843. Traddododd Mr. Davies araeth ar natur eglwys, yna pregethodd Mr. Williams ar y pwys o undeb a chydweithrediad, ac ar ei ol pregethodd Mr. Davies oddi wrth Esaiah liv. 1. Yn y prydnawn y cymerodd hyn le. Yn yr hwyr drachefn, pregethodd Mr. Davies a Mr. Williams. Yr ail Sabboth ar ol corpholiad yr eglwys, gweinyddwyd y cymundeb cyntaf gan Mr. W. Watkins, Rhymni, pryd y derbyniwyd saith at y pedwar-ar-ddeg a gawsant ollyngdod o Ebenezer. Felly yr oedd yma un-ar-hugain o aelodau yn cymuno y tro cyntaf y gweinyddwyd yr ordinhad. Yn y mis Ebrill canlynol, anfonwyd cais at y cyfarfod chwarterol yn Bethania, Dowlais, am i'r eglwys ieuangc gael ei derbyn i'r undeb, ond gwrthodwyd ei derbyn am fod amryw o'r gweinidogion yn barnu mai achos i ddiflanu yn fuan ydoedd. Pa fodd bynag, cynghorwyd y brodyr i fod yn llafurus am y tri mis canlynol, er gweled pa beth fuasai agwedd pethau erbyn hyny. Yn y cyfarfod chwarterol canlynol, yr hwn a gynaliwyd yn y Taihirion, barnwyd yn briodol derbyn y chwaer fechan yn Aberdar i gyfundeb eglwysig y sir. Yr oedd yr eglwys erbyn hyn wedi rhoddi galwad i Mr. David Price, un o gychwynwyr yr achos, ac yntau wedi amlygu ei gydsyniad a'r alwad. Cynaliwyd cyfarfodydd ei urddiad Awst 16eg a'r 17eg, 1843. Cymerwyd rhan yn y gwasanaeth gan y gweinidogion canlynol :-L. Powell, Caerdydd; T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli; Joshua Thomas, B. Owen, a Daniel Jones, Merthyr; W. Williams, Hirwaun, a T. Lloyd, Watford. Gan fod y Long-room yn rhy fechan i gynwys y gwrandawyr, cafwyd benthyg capel y Bedyddwyr at gynal y cyfarfodydd. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1843, yr oedd y Long-room lawer rhy fechan i'r gynnulleidfa arferol, fel y bu raid edrych allan am le i adeiladu capel. Yn Ebrill 1844, dechreuwyd adeiladu y capel, a chyn ei fod yn gwbl orphenedig, yn y mis Medi canlynol, awd iddo i gynal y gwasanaeth. Cynaliwyd cyfarfodydd yr agoriad Ionawr 15fed a'r 16eg, 1845, pryd y cymerwyd rhan yn y gwasanaeth gan Meistri E. Griffiths, Abertawy; T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli; M. Rees, Groeswen; J. Thomas, Bwlehnewydd; L. Powell, Caerdydd; W. Williams, Hirwaun; G. Griffiths, Aberhonddu; J. Evans, Cymer; W. Griffiths, Llanharan, ac eraill. Costiodd y capel a'r muriau oddi amgylch y fynwent 600p. Galwyd ei enw Siloa, gan gychwynwyr yr achos, er cof am eu gweinidog blaenorol yn Ebenezer, yr hwn oedd yn awr wedi ymsefydlu yn Siloa, Llanelli. Yr oedd yr eglwys wedi cynyddu i driugain o aelodau erbyn iddynt fyned capel newydd, a lluosogodd yn fawr yn dra buan wedi hyny, fel na bu yn hir cyn talu yr oll o'r ddyled. Llanwyd y capel newydd yn dra buan o wrandawyr cyson. Gan fod y boblogaeth yn ngwahanol ranau y plwyf yn cynhyddu yn gyflym, ymroddodd yr eglwys weithgar hon i gynorthwyo cychwyniad achosion newyddion mewn cyrau eraill o'r ardal. Cyn diwedd y flwyddyn 1845, yr oedd wedi sefydlu Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddio, a phregethu achlysurol yn Cwmbach, a ffurfiwyd yno eglwys yn 1847, a bu yr eglwys hono am ychydig amser dan ofal gweinidog Siloa. Bu eglwys a gweinidog Siloa hefyd yn cynal moddion crefyddol yn Mountain Ash, Aberaman, Cwmaman, a Chwmdar, cyn i achosion gael eu sefydlu ynddynt. Yr eglwys hon hefyd ddarfu adeiladu capel Bethesda, Abernant.

Yn y flwyddyn 1855, ail adeiladwyd Siloa, a chostiodd y capel, yr ysgoldy, a'r muriau oddiamgylch iddynt, 1300p. Talwyd y cwbl yn gynar yn y fiwyddyn 1860. Mae yr eglwys hon wedi bod oddiar ei chychwyniad yn rhyfeddol o dangnefeddus, gweithgar a llwyddianus. Heblaw cynydd graddol a chyson, cafodd ei bendithio ag adfywiadau nodedig o rymus yn y flwyddyn 1849, pryd yr ychwanegwyd canoedd at rif yr aelodau, a thrachefn yn 1859 a 1860, bu yma ychwanegiadau dirfawr. Mae yr eglwys hon er's amryw flynyddau bellach yn rhifo dros chwe' chant o aelodau, ac wedi bod dan ofal yr un gweinidog o'i chychwyniad hyd yn bresenol, ac yn ol yr arwyddion presenol y mae y bugail a'r praidd yn debyg o gydfyw nes y del angau i'w hysgaru.

Nis gwyddom am un eglwys o'i hoed sydd wedi cyfodi mwy o bregethwyr na'r eglwys hon, fel y dengys y rhestr ganlynol:-

• Morris Phillips. Yr hwn sydd yn genhadwr gweithgar yn Tripatore, India.
• William Jansen Davies, gweinidog y Tabernacl, Casnewydd.
• David Lewis, gweinidog yr eglwys ar y Docks, Llanelli.
• W. E. Evans, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn Nghapel Seion a Phontyberan, sir Gaerfyrddin.
• William Gibbon, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn Nghapel Isaac a Llanarthne, sir Gaerfyrddin.
• Enoch Jones. Yr hwn a addysgwyd yn athrofa Caerfyrddin, ac urddwyd yn ddiweddar yn Ohio, America.
• W. Perkins, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn Pennal ac Aberdyfi, Meirion.
• J. L. Phillips, gweinidog yr eglwys Saesonig yn Nghastellnedd.
• David Davies, yr hwn sydd yn awr yn fyfyriwr yn athrofa Aberhonddu.

Yr oedd y brodyr ieuaingc William Jones, John Harris, a David Rees, wedi dechreu pregethu, ond gwelodd eu Tad nefol yn ddoeth eu cymeryd ato ei hun yn mlodau eu dyddiau. Yr oedd David Rees wedi cael ei dderbyn i athrofa Caerfyrddin, ond bu farw cyn gorphen ei amser yno.

Bu galwad i'r eglwys hon chwech o weithiau ddewis diaconiaid, ond llwyddodd bob tro i wneyd hyny yn hollol dangnefeddus trwy bleidleisiau dirgel (Ballot).

Nid oes yma ddim dyled er's deuddeng mlynedd, ond y mae yma fwriad yn fuan i osod allan rai canoedd o bunau i adeiladu ysgoldy newydd.*

* Llythyr Mr. Price.

Translation by Gareth Hicks (April 2009)

This flourishing and successful cause began in the following circumstances; - At the start of 1841, Mr T Rees, who at the time was minister at Ebenezer, took a room in Aberdare village, to start a Sunday school and preach in the English language. Mr Rees Thomas and his wife, and other members of Ebenezer, took an interest in this venture. The Sunday school turned out very successfully, and several quite keen English people came forward to run it. The goal then was to start an English Independent cause. On Mr Rees's move from Ebenezer to Siloa, Llanelli, at the start of 1842, all thought of taking the English cause forward was dropped, but the members of Ebenezer continued to hold prayer meetings and a Sunday school in the place. At that time Mr David Price and family moved from the Vale of Neath (Gwmnedd?) to Aberdare, and threw all the weight of his influence as an ardent religious man and humorous preacher, behind the cause in the village.  After persevering for a time holding Sunday schools, prayer meetings, and occasional preaching in the place, and seeing how successful these things were, the brothers and sisters of Ebenezer, and the whole village, decided to form an Independent church here. At the start of 1843, they rented the Long-room of the old inn, the Boot, to hold religious affairs in. Having got the place relatively convenient for them, the school and listeners increased greatly. They made a plea to the bosom of church in Ebenezer for permission to have a sermon in the Long-room every Sunday. Some of the old brothers resisted this request most strongly. The result was that the friends in the village asked for more, namely to have release letters for the purpose of forming a church in the Long-room. On a Sunday night, the brother William Richard, in his own name, and that of the brothers and sisters who lined up with him, asked for their letters. Mr Williams, from Hirwaun, was preaching in Ebenezer on that Sunday. Mr Williams counseled the church to take time to consider the request, and announced that there would be a church meeting on the following Thursday to settle the matter. He pledged to come there to give them all the counsel and assistance he could to arrive at a peaceable resolution. They met on the Thursday night and decided to issue release letters  in line with their request to Morgan Thomas and his wife; Eleanor Colson, William Richards, Howell Richards, George Edwards, David Price and his wife; Mary Thomas, Margaret Hughes, Rachel Williams, Jannet Williams, Mary Lloyd a Mary Bowen. The letter was written by Mr Williams, Hirwaun, in the name of Ebenezer church, and  signed by Mr Williams and 2 of the deacons. It was phrased as follows; "Letter of release to the brothers and sisters who are named below, to go and raise a religious cause in the village of Aberdare, and to practice with grace in order to gain their souls unto the Redeemer."  At the end of the meeting Mr Williams asked for a blessing, and before leaving they sang warmly together -

Goodbye dear friends
For a short while we part
Hail the day we will meet again
In fair Salem at the same  table

Thus they left in peaceable peace. After getting the release letters, the brothers and sisters decided to call on ministers to formalise them into Independent church. They sent a request to Messrs Hughes and Roberts, Dowlais, to come over for that purpose, and they agreed to come, but before the stated time arrived, the word spread that the departure from Ebenezer was irregular, which served to prevent the Dowlais ministers from formalising the church. Faced with that, they approached Mr Wuilliams, Hirwaun, and Mr Davies, Mynyddbach, who when a minister at Ebenezer, had regularly said that there should be an Independent church in Aberdare village. These 2 brothers agreed to the request, and formalised the church at the beginning of March 1843. Mr Davies delivered a speech on the nature of a church, Mr Williams preached on the importance of unity and teamwork, and after him Mr Davies preached from Esaiah book 1. This took place in the afternoon. Later on Mr Davies and Mr Williams preached. On the second Sunday after forming the church, they celebrated their first communion with Mr W Watkins, Rhymni, when 7 new members were admitted on top of the 14 who were released from Ebenezer. Thus there were here 21 members the first occasion they administered the ordinance. In the following April, they sent a request to the Quarterly Meeting in Bethania, Dowlais, for the young church to be accepted in to the union, but they were refused as some ministers believed the cause would soon disappear. However, the brothers were advised to be industrious for the following 3 months, to see how things were then. In the following Quarterly Meeting, which was held in Taihirion, the brothers decreed it was fitting to accept their little sister in Aberdare into the church connection in the county. The church had by then given a call to Mr David Price, one of the founders of the cause, and he'd accepted the call. His ordination took place on August 16/17th 1843.  Taking part in the proceedings were the following ministers;- L. Powell, Cardiff; T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli; Joshua Thomas, B. Owen, and Daniel Jones, Merthyr; W. Williams, Hirwaun, and T. Lloyd, Watford. As the Long-room was too small to hold the listeners, they had the loan of the Baptist chapel for the meeting. Before the end of 1843, the Long-room was far too small to hold the regular congregation, so they had to look for a place to build a chapel. In April 1844, they started to build the chapel, and before it was fully completed, in the following September, they used it to hold a service. The opening ceremony was held on January 15/16th 1845, when the following took part in the proceedings; Messrs E. Griffiths, Swansea; T. Rees, Siloa, Llanelli; M. Rees, Groeswen; J. Thomas, Bwlchnewydd; L. Powell, Cardiff; W. Williams, Hirwaun; G. Griffiths, Brecon; J. Evans, Cymer; W. Griffiths, Llanharan, and others. The chapel and the walls around the graveyard cost £600. It was called Siloa, by the founders of the cause, in memory of the former minister in Ebenezer, who had now moved to Siloa, Llanelli. The churech had increased to 60 members by the time they went to the new chapel, and it grew greatly quickly after that, so that they weren't long paying off the whole debt. The new chapel very soon filled with regular listeners. As the population in various parts of the parish was growing quickly, this industrious church devoted itself to assist new causes in other outskirts of the district. Before the end of 1845, it had established a Sunday school, prayer meetings, and occasional preaching in Cwmbach, and a churcho was frmed  there 1847, and that church was for some time under the care of the minister at Siloa. The minister and church of Siloa  were also involved in religious matters in Mountain Ash, Abraman, Cwmaman, and Cwmdare, before causes were set up there. This church was also involved with building the chapel Bethesda, Abernant.

In 1855, they rebuilt Siloa, and the cost of the chapel, schoolhouse, and surrounding walls was £1300. The whole lot was repaid early in 1860. This church has been from its beginning wonderfully peaceful, industrious and successful. Apart from gradual and consistent growth, it was blessed with a notably strong revival in 1849, when hundreds were added to the number of members, and again in 1859 and 1860, there was a great increase. This church for some years now has numbered over 600 of members, and has been under the care of the same minister from its beginning until now, and according to the present signs the shepherd and flock are likely to stay that way until death parts them.

We don't know of any church of its age that has raised more preachers than this church, as the following list shows;

• Morris Phillips. Now a missionary in Tripatore, India.
• William Jansen Davies. Minister at Tabernacl, Newport
• David Lewis. Minister at the Docks, Llanelli.
• W. E. Evans. Minister at Capel Seion and Pontyberan, Carmarthenshire
• William Gibbon. Minister at Capel Isaac and Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire
• Enoch Jones. Educated at Carmarthen College, ordained lately in Ohio, America
• W. Perkins. Minister at Pennal and Aberdovey, Merionethshire
• J. L. Phillips. Minister at the English church, Neath
• David Davies. Now a student at Brecon College

The young brothers William Jones, John Harris, and David Rees began to preach, but their heavenly father in his wisdom took them unto himself in the flower of their days. David Rees had been accepted in to Carmarthen College, but died before finishing his time there.

This church had to choose deacons six times, but succeeded each time in making it wholly peaceful through a secret ballot.

There has been no debt here for 12 years, but there is a plan to spend hundreds of pounds in building a new schoolhouse.*

 *Mr Price's letter