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Chapels - Llanrhidian

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This project is fully described on Glamorgan Chapels Database

This Llanrhidian database compiled by Gareth Hicks with contributions from;

  • Jeff Coleman

If a chapel is already mentioned on the main parish page then its name will act as a link to that section for any data recorded there - such as extant records and OS Grid references

Some chapels may have more than one entry if it is not possible to correctly identify each from a particular source

(For an explanation of the various non-conformist denominations see Wales - Genealogy Help Pages )

Sources referred to (indicated by number shown in brackets after the data entry) where there may be more data available

Additional sources

Baptist

Tirzah Baptist chapel, Llanmorlais

  • Tirzah Baptist chapel, Llanmorlais on the gower.com site

Baptist chapel, Llanrhidian

  • Baptist chapel, Llanrhidian Rev - Davies 1880 (1)
  • In this [Higher] division also there are places of worship for Baptists, a congregation in the late Countess of Huntingdon's connexion, and Independents ; and in the Lower division, another belonging to the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion. Sunday schools, connected with the established church and the several dissenting congregations, are supported by subscription. ( A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1833)
  • There are chapels for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists Slaters Directory for 1880

Mount Hermon Baptist chapel, Penclawdd

  • Mount Hermon Baptist chapel, Penclawdd SS53309536 Built in 1807, builder J.Harris?, disused pre 1997 (9)
  • Mount Hermon Baptist, Penclawdd Erected in 1807 John Williams, Minister, Penclawdd 1851 (11)
  • Mount Hermon chapel on the explore-gower site
    A brief quote;
    "Originally painted white, Hermon Chapel, erected in 1807 ... an important landmark for the many ships ... on the Burry Estuary ...... also used briefly as a day school ... now fallen into total disrepair

Trinity Baptist chapel, Penclawdd

  • Baptist chapel, Penclawdd Rev John Thomas 1880 (1)
  • Penclawdd - A Baptist chapel erected in 1803 with 430 sittings Rev Islwyn Richards 1910 (8)
  • Trinity Baptist chapel, Penclawdd SS53969581 Built in 1803, modified, altered or rebuilt 1867 and 1905 (9)

Congregationalist

Bethel Ind chapel, Penclawdd

  • Welsh Independent chapel, Pen-clawdd Opened in 1818 Still open in 1992 (40
  • Bethel Ind chapel, Penclawdd Rev John L Jones 1880 (1)
  • Penclawdd - a Congregational chapel erected in 1816 550 sittings Rev Arthur Thomas Jenkins 1910 (8)
  • Bethel Ind chapel, Penclawdd SS54139564 Built in 1816, modified, altered or rebuilt in 1848, 1870 and 1884 (9)
  • Bethel Ind, Penclawdd Erected in ? John Evans, Minister, Three Crosses 1851 (11)
  • Bethel Welsh Ind chapel on the gower.com site
  • Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
  • Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry for this chapel (in Welsh) - with translation by Deric John
  • Cambrian N32 RELIGION, METHODIST, WESLEYAN, BIBLE CHRISTIANS ETC 17 February 1816 NEW CHAPEL IN THE HUNTINGDONIAN CONNEXION AT PENCLAWDD (6 & 10) [Unclear whether this relates to this chapel or not but the built date agrees ]
  • Cambrian C10 DEATHS, DEATH NOTICES 28 February 1829 REV. REES JONES, 46, MINISTER OF THE CALVINISTIC METHODISTS AT BETHEL CHAPEL, PENCLAWDD (6 & 10)
    [This is the only Bethel chapel, Penclawdd that we know of - either the Cambrian description is wrong or it changed denomination?]

Capel Isaac Ind chapel, Penclawdd

  • Capel Isaac Ind chapel, Penclawdd SS54989598 (9)

Carmel Congrgational chapel, Cilonnen Rd, near Three Crosses

  • The chapel is shown on the NLS 1890 map near a farm called Penmynydd on the Cilonnen Rd.
  • Coflein only has this note in its data section  "The shell of Carmel Chapel is visible on aerial photographs."
  • https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/185086 is a photo of the ruins and there is reference to a date 1885 on a stone there.

  • https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3847852 Capel Carmel Chapel has this note
    "Adeiladwyd Capel Carmel yn 1865 yng Nghilonnen gan aelodau o Gapel y Crwys, addoldy'r Annibynnwyr ym mhentre Crwys gerllaw. Caewyd y capel bach hwn ymhell cyn 1996 ac roedd hi'n dadfeilo y pryd hynny pan dynnwyd y llun. Heddiw mae e'n adfail llwyr."

    "Carmel Chapel was built in 1865 [?] in Cilonnen (trans. ash nook) by members of nearby Capel y Crwys Welsh Independent Chapel, Three Crosses. This little chapel closed well before 1996 when the photo was taken and it was then quite dilapidated. Today, sadly, it is a complete ruin."

  • There is disagreement above as to the date the chapel was founded, it wasn't listed in the 1851 Religious Census so at least we can assume it wasn't built at that time

Capel Annibynol y Crwys, Chapel Rd, Three Crosses

  • Carmel (should say Capel y Crwys) Congregational chapel, Three Crosses
  • Independent chapel, Three Crosses Rev John L Jones 1880 (1)
  • There is a book by Jones, Wyn. Capel y Crwys 1788-1988 : hanes Annibyniaeth yn ardal y Crwys, Bro Gwyr = Three Crosses chapel 1788-1988 : a history of Congregationalism in the Three Crosses area of Gower. [Three Crosses] : Capel y Crwys, 1988 (2)
  • There is a book by O.R. Owen: Capel Annibynol y Crwys, Three Crosses: braslun o hanes eglwys Annibynol y Crwys, (Abertawe, 1938) (3)
  • Three Crosses Welsh Ind chapel, Llanrhidian Higher Founded in 1700 Not still open in 1992 (4)
  • There is a Welsh Congregational chapel at Three Crosses Rev Enoch Celenydd Mason 1895 (7) and founded in 1700 with 600 sittings Rev John Charles Lloyd 1910 (8)
  • Independent chapel, Three Crosses SS57139414 (9) [this OS grid ref is correct for the chapel in the middle of the village of Three Crosses]
  • Capel y Crwys is still open in 2005. It was a daughter chapel of Mynyddbach, Llangyfelach (JC 10)
  • Three Crosses Ind chapel Erected in 1788, re-erected and enlarged in 1831 John Evans, Minister, 3 Crosses 1851 (11)
  • "The meetings at Cwm-mawr developed to the extent that a Welsh congregational chapel was erected at Three Crosses in 1788, and this was later enlarged on the adjoining plot to Capel y Crwys in 1877" + other references in 'Gower's Nonconformist chapels in 1851 and in 2001' by Gary Gregor. vol 55 2004
  •  
  • 1837; THREE CROSSES CHAPEL, LLANRHIDIAN SOLEMNIZED FOR MARRIAGES (6)
  • Cambrian H82 BUILDINGS, RELIGION, CHAPELS 07 June 1878; MAY 31, THE 1ST MARRIAGE AT THREE CROSSES CHAPEL, LLANRHIDIAN. D. FRANCIS & MISS A. THOMAS PRESENTED WITH BOUND BIBLE. P8 (6 & 10) [what happened between 1837 and 1878 ? Unless the 1875 rebuild made it into a 'new' chapel?]
  • Western Mail N50 RELIGION, NON-CONFORMIST, PRESBYTERIAN, CONGREGATIONALISTS UNITARIANS,DISSENTERS 03 July 1902 ; CYMANFA MORGANWG. CONFERENCE OF WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF GLAMORGAN AT THREE CROSSES NEAR SWANSEA. (6 & 10)
  •  
  • Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here below is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh) copied from the Cd published by Archive CD Books. With translation by Maureen Saycell
  • See also the Welsh Religious Buildings Trust site but ignore the confusing reference to Carmel in the title

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • "Capel y Crwys Independent Church in Three Crosses, Llanrhidian, Glamorgan (now Swansea), was established in 1788. New chapel buildings were built in 1831 and 1877. The Church's ministers during the 20th century were the Rev. James John, appointed 1899, J. C. Lloyd, 1909, O. R. Owen, 1935, Eynon Thomas, 1957, Caradog Evans, Vincent Evans and the Rev. Neville Morgan, 1976. The Church began as a Welsh language institution. It remained bilingual before the Second World War but subsequently became mostly English in language"
    "Records ........ comprising Church histories, 1938, 1988; annual reports, 1899-1972; programmes and orders of service, 1935-1988."

Methodist

Zoar Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Crofty

  • There are Calvinistic Methodist chapels at Llanrhidian, Llanmorlais and Crofty 1895 (7) and 1910 (8)
  • Zoar Presbyterian chapel, Crofty on the gower.com site
  • Crofty (Zoar Croft School), Llanrhidian Higher SS5395 Denomination not given Built in 1884? (9)
  • Zoar Crofty English CM chapel Pencaerfenni Lane, Crofty, Abertawe, Abertawe SA4 3SD - still open in 2006

Penuel CM chapel, Llanmorlais

  • There are Calvinistic Methodist chapels at Llanrhidian, Llanmorlais and Crofty 1895 (7) and Rev John Badham 1910 (8)
  • See under Baptists for A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1833 and Slaters Directory for 1880
  • Penuel CM chapel, Llanmorlais SS52459361 Built in 1843, modified, altered or rebuilt in 1866 and 1886, disused pre 1998 (9)
  • Penuel Welsh CM Erected in 1844 William Williams, Minister, Penclawdd 1851 (11)

Ebenezer CM chapel, Llanrhidian Lower

  • Ebenezer CM chapel, Llanrhidian Lower SS48889189 [this grid ref points to a place called Oldwalls on streetmaps, right next to Llanrhidian village] Built in 1850 (9)
  • Still open in 2005 (JC 10)
  • Old Walls CM, Llanrhydian (Llanrhidian Lower Hamlet) Erected in 1813 William Griffiths, Minister, Burry Green 1851 (11)
  • Records of Ebenezer chapel, Old Walls, Llanrhidian Lower on the NLW archives site.
    Brief quote;
    " Old Walls Chapel, Llanrhidian, was erected in 1813 prior to the formation of a local Society 'formally united with the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists'. In 1824, William Griffiths, the 'father' of Calvinistic Methodism in Gower, was invited by Lord Barham to become the minister of Old Walls Chapel, and he remained there until his death in 1861. In 1852, Old Walls Chapel was rebuilt."
  • There are Calvinistic Methodist chapels at Llanrhidian, Llanmorlais and Crofty Rev Clement Evans at Llanrhidian 1895 (7)
  • Ebenezer Old Walls English CM chapel Old Walls, , Llanrhidian, Abertawe SA3 1HA - still open in 2006

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • "........... two marriage registers, 1922-1946 and 1948-1961, of Ebenezer Chapel, Old Walls, Llanrhidian Lower."

Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Penclawdd

  • CM chapel, Penclawdd Rev W D Williams 1880 (1)
  • Index entry for 'Penclawdd' in the History of the Methodists in West Glamorgan by The Rev. W Samlet Williams 1916 (Index) (5)
  • There are Calvinistic Methodist chapels at Llanrhidian, Llanmorlais and Crofty 1895 (7) and Rev D M Davies at Penclawdd 1910 (8
  • Tabernacle CM chapel, Penclawdd SS53909587 Built in 1836, modified, altered or rebuilt in 1848, 1867 and 1892 (9)
  • Believed to be still open in 2005 (JC 10)
  • Tabernacle Welsh CM, Penclawdd Erected in 1836 William Williams, Minister, Penclawdd 1851 (11)
  • Tabernacle Presbyterian chapel on the gower.com site
  • Tabernacle Penclawdd English CM chapel West End, , Penclawdd, Abertawe SA4 3YX - still open in 2006

 

 

Other (inc un-identified)

Wern Oleu, Llanrhidian Higher

  • Wern Oleu, Llanrhidian Higher SS56619574 Denomination not given (9)

 

 

Capel y Crwys Independent Church in Three Crosses, Llanrhidian

Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+).
Here below is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh) extracted by Darris Williams from the Cd published by Archive CD Books - with translation by Maureen Saycell (Feb 2008)

(Vol 2, p 30-35)

Mae y Crwys yn mhlwyf Llanrhidian, ar gwr uchaf y rhan hono o Forganwg a elwir Browyr. Mae yma gapel helaeth a chynnulleidfa luosog o amaethwyr, glowyr, a gweithwyr cyffredin yn ymgynnull. Nid oes genym hanes manwl am ddechreuad yr achos hwn. Cangen ydyw o'r eglwys sydd yn awr yn y Brynteg, ond y mae y ferch wedi myned lawer yn gryfach na'r fam er's ugeiniau o flynyddau bellach. Pan oedd yr eglwys a fu wedi hyny yn Rhydymardy, ac sydd yn awr yn Brynteg, yn addoli mewn anedd-dy yn Nhrefuchaf, Casllwchwr, mae yn debyg fod rhai o ardal y Crwys yn perthyn iddi, ac er mwyn eu cyfleusdra eu hunain a'u cymydogion, darfu iddynt drwyddedu anedd-dy a elwir Ty'rcethin at bregethu ynddo. Mae yn debyg i hyn gymeryd lle tua y flwyddyn 1700, neu yn fuan ar ol hyny. Nid yw yn hysbys pa cyhyd y bu y gynnulleidfa yn ymgynnull yno. Cafodd capel ei adeiladu yn y Cwmmawr, yn yr un gymydogaeth, yn gynar yn y ddeunawfed ganrif, oblegid yr oedd wedi cael ei ailadeiladu, neu ei adgyweirio yn y flwyddyn 1766, fel y dengys y sylw canlynol o lawysgrifau William Jones, aelod yn y Mynyddbach. "Mehefin 29ain, 1766. Y Sabboth hwn yr oeddid yn casglu arian at gynnulleidfa'r Cwmmawr, ac fe gasglwyd rhagor na dau cymaint ag a gawsom ni oddiyno at ein capel. Er nad oes neb yn danod iddynt, ond er hyn i gyd nid yw hyny yn eu boddloni. Maent yn eu cleimio fel dyled, ac yn cleimio mwy na'r tri chymaint ag a roisant hwy i ni. Yr wyf fi yn tybied fod eu gweinidog, er ei fod yn wr da a duwiol, wedi ymollwng i dymerau anghristionogol rhyfedd." Ar ol bod am lawer o flynyddau yn addoli yn y Cwmmawr, barnwyd fod eisiau cael addoldy mewn man mwy cyfleus a chanolog o'r ardal, ac felly yn 1788, adeiladwyd capel y Crwys, yr hwn sydd yn sefyll ar fan amlwg, lle y mae amryw ffyrdd yn croesi eu gilydd. Ailadeiladwyd y capel hwn yn y flwyddyn 1831, ac y mae yn addoldy mawr iawn mewn lle gwledig. Amgylchynir ef gan fynwent helaeth. Yr unig weinidog a fu yma, heblaw y gweinidog presenol, nad oedd hefyd yn weinidog i eglwys y Brynteg, oedd William Llewellyn, yr hwn a urddwyd yma yn 1746. Gan i Thomas Jones gael ei urddo yn Nghasllwchwr y flwyddyn ar ol urddiad W. Llewellyn yn y Cwmmawr, mae yn naturiol casglu mai methu cyduno wnaeth y ddwy eglwys ar un o'r ddau ymgeisydd, ac i bob un o'r eglwysi urddo yr un mwyaf hoff ganddi. Mae hanes William Llewellyn, yr un fath a Thomas Jones, yn hollol anhysbys i ni. Y cwbl a wyddom am dano ydyw iddo gael ei urddo yn y Cwmmawr yn 1746, a'i fod yma yn 1751. Dywed Mr. Davies, Mynyddbach, mai aelod o eglwys Ty'rdwncyn ydoedd, ac iddo farw heb fod yn hir ar ol ei urddo. Yn 1754, yr ydym yn cael eglwysi y Cwm­mawr a Rhydymardy drachefn wedi ymuno dan yr un weinidogaeth, ac felly y buont o hyny hyd urddiad Mr. Isaac Williams, yn y Brynteg, yn 1849. Cyn belled ag y gallwn farnu, yr oedd eglwys y Cwmmawr yn wanach ac yn llai ei rhif nag eglwys Rhydymardy, hyd nes yr adeiladwyd addoldy y Crwys yn 1788, ond er y pryd hwnw aeth yr olaf yn flaenaf, ac y mae yn parhau i gadw y flaenoriaeth hyd yn bresenol. Bu yr eglwys hon ar rai adegau, yn nhymor gweinidogaeth lwyddianus Mr. John Evans, yn cynwys tua thri chant o aelodau. Wedi i Mr. Evans ymgymeryd a gofal yr achos yn Mhenyclawdd, unodd llawer o aelodau y Crwys a'r eglwys yno, ac er y pryd hwnw nid yw yr aelodau mor lluosog ag yr oeddynt cyn hyny. Mae yr eglwys hon wedi bod yn ganmoladwy am ei hysbryd tangnefeddus trwy holl ysbaid hirfaith ei hanes. Ni chlywsom fod dim tebyg i derfysg wedi bod ynddi erioed. Ar ol marwolaeth Mr. Evans, yn Ionawr, 1856, buwyd heb weinidog sefydlog yma hyd Rhagfyr, 1857, pryd y symudodd Mr. John Lloyd Jones yma o Dyddewi, mewn cydsyniad a galwad unfrydol yr eglwysi yn y Crwys a Phenyclawdd. Mae Mr. Jones wedi gwasanaethu y ddwy eglwys yn effeithiol o'r pryd hwnw hyd yn awr, ac yr ydym yn hyderu fod etto flynyddau lawer o ddefnyddioldeb o'i flaen yn y cylch pwysig hwn. Mae yr eglwysi yn y Crwys a Phenyclawdd er's rhai blynyddau bellach wedi dechreu myned trwy gyfnewidiad pwysig gyda golwg ar iaith y gwasanaeth crefyddol. Mae y Saesonaeg yn ennill tir yn gyflym yn y ddwy gynnulleidfa, ac yn debyg yn mhen ychydig iawn o flynyddau etto o lwyr ymlid yr hen Gymraeg o'r pulpudau. O herwydd sefydlogrwydd y boblogaeth nid yw y cyfnewidiad yn debyg o effeithio mor niweidiol yma ag y mae wedi gwneyd mewn rhai manau.

Dichon fod amryw o aelodau yr eglwys hon yn yr oesau gynt wedi cyfodi yn bregethwyr, nas gallasom ni ddyfod o hyd i'w henwau. Y rhai canlynol yn unig y gwyddom ni am danynt.

  • Thomas Jones. Yr hwn a fu yn weinidog yn Newmarket, sir Fflint, am un-ar-ddeg-a-deugain a flynyddau. Daw ef etto dan ein sylw yn nglyn a hanes yr eglwys yno.
  • Thomas Edwards, Ebenezer, Arfon. Yn nglyn a'r eglwys a wasanaethodd mor ffyddlon trwy holl dymor ei weinidogaeth, y daw ei hanes yntau dan sylw.
  • Henry Edwards, brawd Thomas Edwards. Gyda hanes yr eglwys yn Moelfro, Mon, y rhoddwn ei fywgraphiad ef.
  • Michael Thomas, Wootton Bassett. Yr oedd ef yn nai fab chwaer i Mr. Evans, y gweinidog. Daeth yn ieuangc o ardal Capel Iwan i'r ardal hon i gadw ysgol, a dechreuodd bregethu yma yn 1829. Aeth i'r athrofa i Gaerfyrddin yn 1832, ac ar derfyniad ei amser yno, derbyniodd alwad o Wootton Bassett, sir Wilts, lle yr urddwyd ef yn 1838. Bu yno yn ddefnyddiol a pharchus iawn hyd ei farwolaeth, yr hyn a gymerodd le Medi 12fed, 1857, pryd yr oedd yn bump a deugain oed. Brawd iddo ef oedd y diweddar Mr. Samuel Thomas, St. Clears.
  • John Marks Evans, mab Mr. Evans y gweinidog. Bu ef yn gweinidogaethu yn olynol yn y Sarnau, Maldwyn, Llacharn, sir Gaerfyrddin, a Newton, Morganwg, o'r flwyddyn 1839 hyd 1868, pryd y gorfodwyd ef gan waeledd ei iechyd i roddi ei swydd i fyny. Mae yn awr yn byw yn Abertawy.
  • Joseph Hugh, oedd hen wr da a phregethwr cynorthwyol parchus yn yr eglwys hon, a'r eglwysi cymydogaethol, am lawer o flynyddau. Bu farw mewn henaint teg yn nhy ei ferch, yn agos i Bentre-estyll tua saith mlynedd yn ol.

Mae llawer o ddynion rhagorol iawn am eu duwioldeb a'u ffyddlondeb wedi bod yn yr eglwys hon o bryd i bryd, y rhai y mae eu henwau yn perarogli yn yr ardal hyd heddyw; megis Morgan Morgans, Rhianfawr; Samuel Eaton, Poundffald; David John, Cwmynant; John Roberts, Ystlysyrhian; David Beynon, Hopkin Rees, wyr yr hybarch Lewis Rees, Mynyddbach, ac amryw eraill a ellid enwi.

Mae ysgoldy cyfleus wedi ei godi mewn cwr o'r ardal a elwir y Wernoleu, yn yr hwn y cedwir Ysgol Sabbothol, cyfarfodydd gweddio, a phregethu achlysurol. Cangen o'r eglwys hon hefyd yw yr eglwys yn Ngwaenarlwydd.

COFNODION BYWGRAPHYDDOL. (Not extracted in full)

Yr ydym wedi rhoddi cymaint o hanes y gweinidogion fu yma yn dechreu yr achos ag a wyddem, yn nglyn a hanes y Mynyddbach.

  • WILLIAM LLEWELLYN.................
  • WILLIAM EVANS...........
  • NOAH JONES..............
  • JONATHAN LEWIS...............
  • DANIEL LEWIS.............
  • THOMAS EDWARDS..............
  • LEWIS POWELL...............
  • JOHN EVANS..............

Translation by Maureen Saycell (Feb 2008)

"Crwys is in the parish of Llanrhydian, on the upper edges of Glamorgan in the area called Gower. There is a large chapel, with a numerous congregation of farmers, coal miners and general labourers gathering here. We do not have much detail of the beginnings of this cause. It is a branch of Brynteg, but the daughter has become much stronger than the mother for many years now. When the church that was Rhydymardy, and is now Brynteg, worshipped in a dwelling house in Treuchaf, Neath, it is likely that some from the area of Crwys belonged there, and for their own convenience and their neighbours, they got a licence for the dwelling house named Ty'rcethin, to allow preaching. This appears to have taken place around 1700, or soon afterwards. How long the congregation met there is not known. A chapel was built in Cwmmawr, which is in the same area, early in the eighteenth century, because it was either rebuilt or repaired in 1766, as shown by the following comment in the writings of William Jones, a member at Mynnyddbach. "June 29th, 1766. This Sunday the collection was for the congregation at Cwmmawr, and we collected twice as much as we got from them for our chapel. Although there is no reproach, this does not satisfy them. They are claiming it as a debt, and claiming more than three times the amount they gave us. I have doubts that their minister, despite his being a good and Godly man, has allowed himself some very unchristian acts." After worshipping in Cwmmawr for many years, it was decided that there was a need for a larger more central chapel in the district, and so in 1788, Capel Crwys was built, which stands on a visible site, where many roads cross. This chapel was rebuilt in 1831, and it is a large chapel in a very rural area. It is surrounded by a large cemetery. The only minister that was here, other than the present minister, who was not also at Brynteg, was William Llewellyn, who was ordained here in 1746. As Thomas Jones was ordained in Neath the following year, it is a natural conclusion that the churches could not agree on one of the applicants, and that each church went with their favourite. The history of William Llewellyn, likewise Thomas Jones, is totally unknown to us. All we know is that he was ordained in Cwmmawr in 1746, and that he was here in 1751. Mr Davies, Mynyddbach, states that he was a member of Ty'rdwncyn, and that he died soon after being ordained. In 1754 we find Cwmmawr and Rhydymardy under joint ministry again, and so they remained until the ordination of Mr Isaac Williams, in Brynteg, in 1849. As far as we can judge, Cwmmawr was much weaker, and with less numbers than Rhydymardy, until Crwys was built in 1788, but then the lesser became the stronger, and remains in the lead up to the present. This church had at times, in the successful term of Mr John Evans' ministry, over three hundred members. After Mr Evans took on the care of the cause in Penyclawdd, many members moved from Crwys there, and since then the membership has not recovered. This church must be praised for it's peaceful spirit throughout it's long history. We are not aware of any trouble within it at all. After the death of Mr Evans ,in January 1856, there was no settled minister until December, 1857, when Mr John Lloyd Jones moved here from St. David's, with an united call from the churches of Crwys and Penyclawdd. Mr Jones has worked very effectively for the two churches from then until now, we hope he has many more useful years ahead of him in this important area. The churches of Crwys and Penyclawdd have been undergoing important changes linguistically within the religious services. English is rapidly gaining ground in both congregations, and it seems likely that in a few years that the old Welsh will be gone from the pulpits. As the population here is settled the change is thought to be likely to cause less damage than it has in some places.

No doubt many members of this church have become preachers, although we were unable to name them. The following are the only ones we know of:-

  • Thomas Jones. Who was a minister in Newmarket, Fflintshire, for fifty one years he will be spoken of again in the history of that church.
  • Thomas Edwards, Ebenezer, Caernarfonshire.His story will be told with the history of the church that he served faithfully throughout his ministry.
  • Henry Edwards, brother of Thomas Edwards. His biography will be included with the church at Moelfre, Anglesey.
  • Michael Thomas, Wootton Bassett. He was related to Mr Evans, the minister, through his sister. He came from the area of Capel Iwan at a young age to keep a school, he began to preach here in 1829. He went to Carmarthen College in 1832, and at the end of his time there he accepted a call to Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, where he was ordained in 1838. He remained there until his death on September 12th, 1857, respected and very useful. He was forty five years old. He was a brother to Mr Samuel Thomas, St. Clears
  • John Marks Evans, son of Mr. Evans the minister. He was a minister successively at Sarnau, Montgomery, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, and Newton, Glamorganshire, from 1839 to 1868, when ill health forced him to give up his post. He now lives in Swansea.
  • Joseph Hugh, he was a good old man who had been a supporting preacher here and at neighbouring churches, for many years. He died in fair old age at his daughter's house near Pentre Estyll about seven years ago.

Many excellent men known for their faith and religiousness have been in this church from time to time, some whose names shine in the area even today: Morgan Morgans, Rhianfawr; Samuel Eaton, Poundffald; David John, Cwmynant; John Roberts, Ystlysyrhian; David Beynon, Hopkin Rees, grandson of the venerable Lewis Rees, Mynyddbach, and many others who could be named.

There is a convenient schoolhouse in the area known as Wernoleu, where there is held a Sunday School, prayer meetings and occasional preaching. The church in Waunarlwydd is a branch of this church."

Biographical Notes. (Not extracted in full)

  • WILLIAM LLEWELLYN.................
  • WILLIAM EVANS...........
  • NOAH JONES..............
  • JONATHAN LEWIS...............
  • DANIEL LEWIS.............
  • THOMAS EDWARDS..............
  • LEWIS POWELL...............
  • JOHN EVANS..............

 

 

[Last Updated : 3 April 2012 - Gareth Hicks]