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Hanes Eglwysi Annibynol Cymru

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(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By T Rees & J Thomas. Vol 2, 1872; pages 94-95.

This extract (in Welsh) is by Darris G.Williams, January 2004.
It relates to Pantycrwys near Cwmclydach in the parish of Llangyfelach;  -  there is also a translation by Heulwen Jenkins

Pantycrwys

Mae y lle hwn yn agos i flaen Cwmclydach, yn mhlwyf Llangafelach.  Yn y flwyddyn 1862, adeiladwyd yma ysgoldy bychan yn mesur o fewn y muriau 23 troedfedd wrth 15.  At gadw Ysgol Sabbathol, cyfarfodydd gweddio, a phregethu achlysurol y bwriedid ef.  Cafodd y ty hwn ei agor Gorphenaf 27ain, 1862, pryd y pregethwyd gan Meistri P. Griffiths, Alltwen; R. Pryse, Cwmllynfell; J. Rees, Canaan, ac E. Owen, Clydach. 

Y personau fuont a'r llaw flaenaf gyda chychwyniad yr achos hwn oeddynt Mr. Thomas Davies, gweinidog yr eglwysi yn Horeb, Treforis, a Baran; Llewellyn Bevan, John Thomas, Evan Thomas, Morgan Thomas, Thomas Thomas, a'i feibon, Thomas a Stephen, yn nghyd a rhai eraill o aelodau Baran; David Davies a'i wraig, aelodau o Rhydyfro, a Howell Hopkin, aelod o Glydach. 

Ar ol cael ty cyfarfod yn eu hardal blinodd y bobl yn fuan fyned i Baran, a manau pellenig eraill i addoli.  Ni buont yn dawelnes iddynt gael eu ffurfio yn eglwys, yr hyn a wnaed yn mis Awst, 1866, gan Mr. T. Davies, yn cael ei gynorthwyo gan Mr. John Howells, un o ddiaconiaid y fam-eglwys yn Baran.  Ar y pryd hwnw cafodd David Davies ei neillduo yn ddiacon, a gwasanaethodd ei swydd yn ffyddlon nes iddo gael ei symud yn ddisymwth trwy ddamwain angeuol yn y gwaith.  

Ar ol ffurfio yr eglwys, a chael moddion crefyddol cyson bob Sabboth, cynyddodd y gynnulleidfa yn raddol fel y bu raid helaethu y ty yn 1869.  Mae yn bresenol yn mesur 33 troedfedd wrth 23 y tu fewn i'r muriau, ac nid yw y ddyled sydd yn aros arno ond ugain punt.  Mae rhif yr aelodauyn awr yn 65, a'r gwrandawyr tua yr un rhif, neu ychydig yn rhagor.

Er nad oes fawr dros naw mlynedd er pan gychwynwyd, yr achos hwn y Mae amryw o'i gychwynwyr wedi cael eu rhifo yn mysg y meirw, megisJoseph Rees, Cynhordy, a'i wraig; David Davies, a'i wraig; gweddw John Thomas, a Hannah Davies, a'i mherch.  Dan ofal gweinidogaethol Mr. Davies, Treforis y mae yr achos hwn wedi bod o'r dechreuad, ac yr ydym yn hyderu mai dan ei ofal ef y bydd am flynyddau etto.  Gan fod cyflawnder o lô yn y ddaear oddiamgylch y lle hwn, mae yn debygol y bydd yma boblogaeth fawr yn mhen ychydig flynyddau.

Translation by Heulwen Jenkins (Jan 2009)

This place is near the edge of Cwmclydach, in Llangyfelach Parish. In 1862, a small schoolhouse was built here measuring 23 feet by 15 within the walls. The intention was to hold Sunday School, prayer meetings, & occasional preaching. This house was opened  July 27th, 1862, when Messrs. P. Griffiths, Alltwen; R. Pryse, Cwmllynfell; J. Rees, Canaan, & E. Owen, Clydach preached.

The persons who were foremost in starting this cause were Mr. Thomas Davies, the minister of the churches of Horeb, Morriston & Baran; Llewellyn Bevan, John Thomas, Evan Thomas, Morgan Thomas, Thomas Thomas & his sons, Thomas & Stephen, together with some other members of Baran; David Davies & his wife, members of Rhydyfro, & Howell Hopkin, a member of Clydach.

After having a meeting house in their area the people quickly tired of going to Baran, & other distant places to worship. They were not quiet until they were formed into a church,which was done in August, 1866, by Mr. T. Davies, helped by Mr. John Howells, one of the deacons from the mother church in Baran. At that time, David Davies was set apart as deacon, & he served his office faithfully until moved by a fatal accident in work.

After forming the church, & having religious means consistently every Sunday the congregation gradually grew so it was necessary to enlarge the house in 1869. The present one measures 33 feet by 23 within the walls, & the debt on it is not 20 pounds. The number of members is now 65, & listeners about the same number, or a little more.

Although there is not more than nine years since this cause was started many of the principals are counted amongst the dead, like John Rees, Cynhordy, & his wife; David Davies & his wife; John Thomas' widow & Hannah Davies & her daughter. This cause has been under the ministerial care of Mr. Davies, Morriston since the beginning, & we trust it will be under his care for years yet. Because there is an abundance of coal in the ground around this place, it is likely there will be a large population here within a few years.

  [Last Updated : 19 Jan 2009- Gareth Hicks]