Hide

Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru

hide
Hide

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

By Thomas Rees and John Thomas; published in 1871+.

These following section was extracted by Gareth Hicks from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Feb 2008)  - translations by Maureen Saycell (Feb/Mch 2008)

TROEDYRHIW, (Saesonig)

Is this Mount Zion ?

(Vol 2, p 442 )

"Yr oedd rhai o aelodau yr eglwys yn Market Square, Merthyr, yn son er's blynyddau am gael achos Saesonig yn y lle poblog a chynyddol hwn. Pan gynygiodd Mr. S. Morley, A.S. bum' mil o bunau at adeiladu capeli Saesonig yn Neheudir Cymru, darfu i Mr. W. Sharp, ac eraill, yn y lle hwn, anfon cais at Mr. Davies, Caerdydd, am gael cyfran o rodd Mr. Morley at adeiladu addoldy Saesonig yma, a chaniatawyd eu cais iddynt. Cafwyd tir mewn man nodedig o gyfleus, ac adeiladwyd yma gapel hynod o dlws, yr hwn a agorwyd yn Ebrill, 1871. Y mae yma eglwys wedi ei ffurfio, ac Ysgol Sabbothol neillduol o effeithiol. Oddiar agoriad y capel hyd fis Mai, 1872, buwyd yn ymddibyna ar weinidogaeth achlysurol. Yn awr y mae galwad wedi cael ei rhoddi i Mr. G. Drayton Bird, myfyriwr yn yr athrofa yn Nghaerodor, ac yntau wedi dechreu ei weinidogaeth yma dan amgylchiadau addawus iawn. Er nad yw yr eglwys ond ieuangc, a chymharol fechan o rif, y mae yn unol ac yn weithgar a'r gwrandawyr yn lluosog."

Translation by Maureen Saycell (Feb 2008)

  "Some members of the church in Market Square, Merthyr, have been talking for some time about having an English cause in this growing and populous place. When Mr S. Morley, M.P. offered £5,000 to build English chapels in South Wales, Mr W. Sharp and others here sent an application to Mr Davies, Cardiff, to ask for a portion of this money, their request was granted. Land was found in an extremely convenient place, and a very beautiful chapel was built here, which was opened in April, 1871. A church has been established, and a very efficient Sunday School. From the opening of the chapel until May, 1872, they were dependent on occasional preachers. Then a call was sent to Mr G. Drayton Bird, a student in Bristol College, he has begun his ministry here in a very promising way. Although it is a new church, comparatively low in numbers, it is united and industrious with many listening."

 

SOAR, PENDERYN.

(Vol 2, p 442-443)

"Mae plwyf Penderyn yn swydd Brycheiniog, ac yn cyffinio a rhan ogleddol o blwyf Aberdar, yn Hirwaun. Ffermwyr gan mwyaf yw y preswylwyr,  ac y mae eu stock yn gynwysedig yn benaf mewn defaid, y rhai a borant yr haf ar y mynyddoedd o gylch, ond yn y gauaf a dynir i lawr i'r iseldir. Plwyf creigiog a mynyddog ydyw. Mae yn ymyl pentref Penderyn greigiau calch a llawer o weithio arnynt, a lluaws o weithwyr yn cael eu cynaliaeth oddiwrthynt. Mae yma ddau bentref bychan mewn rhyw chwarter milldir y naill i'r llall, a'r ddau yn ochr y ffordd sydd yn arwain o Hirwaun i Aberhonddu. Gelwir yr un nesaf i Hirwaun yn Pontbrendu, a'r llall wrth enw y plwyf. Mae gan y Bedyddwyr gapel yn y Pontbren, er's blynyddau lawer. Yr Annibynwyr fu yn digaregu y ffordd iddynt. Bu llawer o bregethu gan yr Annibynwyr yma yn niwedd y ganrif o'r blaen a dechreu hon, ac yr oedd ganddynt luaws o aelodau ar hyd y plwyf. Yr oedd Howel, Pantycynfarth; William, Caerhowell; Richard, Bryncil; John Rees, Gellyffynon, a Jenkin William, Hepste, yn aelodau yn Hermon, Ystradfellte.  Mae un yn fyw yn bresenol o aelodau Hermon a fu yn teithio o Pantycynfarth i Hermon, Ystradfellte, am lawer o amser. Enw y wraig dda hon yw Gwenllian Evans, Porth, Ystradfellte. Derbyniwyd hi yn aelod yn er's tua thriugain-a-phedair neu chwech o flynyddau yn ol. Yn Hermon y tybiai yr hen bobl dda hyny yr oedd y man lle "yr oedd yn rhaid addoli." Teithiasant lawer hyny i gyfarfodydd gweddi a phregethu i wahanol ranau y plwyfydd cyfagos, a phrofasant o les mawr i achos y Gwaredwr y cylchoedd hyn pan yr oedd cyfleusderau a breintiau yn llai aml nag yn bresenol.

Medi, 1859, ffurfiwyd eglwys ar y Darenfoel, lle cyfagos i bentref uchaf Penderyn, mewn ty anedd, yr hwn a roddid yn rhad at wasanaeth yr achos. Cangen ydoedd o Hirwaun, ac aelodau o Nebo oedd yn dechreu yr achos. Cychwynwyd yr eglwys gan Mr. D. Thomas, Hermon, mewn cysylltiad a  Mr. W. Williams, Hirwaun. Bu eglwys Nebo o gymorth mawr i'r eglwys fechan mewn mwy nag un ystyr, byddai rhai yn dyfod o Hirwaun i gynorthwyo mewn cyrddau gweddi a chyfeillachau crefyddol, a chymerodd yr eglwys swm o'r ddyled i ffwrdd pan adeiladwyd y capel. Enwau y rhai oeddynt yn cychwyn yr achos yn benaf yw y rhai hyn : - John Jenkins, Coedcaedu, ond yn bresenol Trebanog; efe oedd yn gweinyddu fel diacon; John, Simon, a William Richard, tri brawd o ardal Penygroes, Penfro. Bu y tri farw yn ieuangc o'r darfodedigaeth yn fuan ar ol dechreu yr achos. Edrychid arnynt fel bechgyn da a chrefyddol, a chafwyd colled fawr ar eu hol. Daeth Rees Williams, John Davies a'i briod; Evan Edwards, Darenfoel, fel yr adnabyddid ef, a Thomas Jenkins i roddi eu hysgwyddau o dan yr arch. Y pedwar diweddaf a dderbyniwyd yn aelodau yn y lle. Yn fuan ar ol dechreu daeth amryw chwiorydd yma hefyd megis Ann Edward, priod Evan Edward, a Mrs. Jenkins, priod John Jenkins, a Gwenllian James. Yr oedd y rhai hyn yn aelodau gweithgar a selog, ac y maent yn parhau felly hyd y dydd heddyw. Ar ol bod am amryw fisoedd ar y Darenfoel a golwg obeithiol ar yr achos, a chymeryd i ystyriaeth faint y lle a bychandra y boblogaeth; dechreuwyd siarad am gael capel. Ar ol tipyn o ymgynghori a phestruso, deuwyd o'r diwedd i'r penderfyniad mai gwell fyddai i adeiladu capel bychan at eu gwasanaeth. Cafwyd tir gan Mr. Morgans, Bodwigaid, am goron y flwyddyn a hono yn cael ei dychwelyd, yn ymyl y ffordd syd arwain o Hirwaun i Aberhonddu, a thua dwy filldir o bellder o'r blaenaf. Gosodwyd y gareg sylfaen i lawr tua dechreu 1860, gan Mr. Allen, yr hwn a fu garedig ar lawer achlysur tuag at yr achos. Medi, 1860, agorwyd y capel, yr hwn a fesurai 30 troedfedd wrth 20 troedfedd. Costiodd rhwng pob peth 270p., ond y mae hyn yn cynwys ty anedd sydd mewn cysylltiad ag ef.  Mae yn cynwys 180 o eisteddleoedd. Yr oedd y gweinidogion canlynol yn bresenol yn yr agoriad:- Meistri J. Morgans, Cwmbach; D. Price, Siloah, Aberdar; W. Edwards, Aberdar; W. Williams, Hirwaun; J. Rees, Cwmaman; D. A. Jones, Treherbert; J.   Mathews, Castellnedd; J. Stephens, Brychgoed, a D. Thomas, Hermon. Ar ol i Mr. D. Thomas, Hermon, ymadael i Abercanaid, rhoddodd yr eglwys alwad i Mr. Evan M. Evans, Bethel, Aberdar, yr hwn a urddwyd Ionawr, 1866. Pregethwyd ar yr achlysur gan Meistri W. Edwards, Aberdar; J. Morgans, Cwmbach; D. Price, Siloah, a S. Davies, Soar, Aberdar; W. Williams, Abercwmboy, a W. Williams, Hirwaun. Y mae Mr. Evans yn parhau i lafurio yma a'r achos yn myned rhagddo, er nas gellir disgwyl fod yr eglwys na'r gynnulleidfa yma yn lluosog."

Translation by Maureen Saycell (March 2008)

"The parish of Penderyn is in Breconshire, bordering on the northern edge of the parish of Aberdare, Hirwaun. Most of the residents are farmers, their stock is mainly sheep which graze the hills in the summer, and come down to the lowlands in the winter. It is a hilly and rocky parish. Near the village of Penderyn there limestone rocks which are worked by many people, and they provide an income for many workers. There are two small villages about a quarter of a mile apart, both alongside the road from Hirwaun to Brecon. The one nearest to Hirwaun is called Pontbrendu, and the other one takes the name of the parish. There has been a Baptist Chapel in Pontbrendu for many years. The Independents cleared the way for them. There was a lot of preaching by the Independents in the area at the end of the last century, and they had many members in the parish. There were Howel, Pantycynfarth; William, Caerhowell; Richard, Bryncil; John Rees, Gellyffynnon, and Jenkin William, Hepste, all members at Hermon, Ystradfellte. There is one current member of Hermon who travelled from Pantycynfarth to Hermon, Ystradfellte, for a very long time. The name of this good lady is Gwenllian Evans, Porth, Ystradfellte. She was accepted as a member there either sixty four or sixty six years ago. The old people felt that Hermon was the place "where one had to worship." They travelled a great deal to prayer meetings and preaching to various parts of nearby parishes, and proved to be very beneficial to the Lord's cause in an area where there were fewer opportunities than there are at present.

In September 1859, a church was formed on Darenfoel, near upper Penderyn, in a dwelling house, which had been given free of charge for the use of the cause. It was a branch of Hirwaun, and it was members of Nebo that started the cause. The church was started by Mr D. Thomas, Hermon, in conjunction with Mr W. Williams, Hirwaun. Nebo church was a big help to this little church in more than one way, some would come from Hirwaun to help with prayer meetings and religious meetings. The church also took on some of the debt when the chapel was built. The names of those most responsible for raising the cause are:- John Jenkins, Coedcaedu, currently of Trebanog; he officiated as a deacon; John, Simon, a William Richard, three brothers from Penygroes, Pembrokeshire. The three of them died at a young age of consumption, soon after cause was started. They were looked upon as good religious boys, and they left a great sense of loss. Rees Williams, John Davies and his wife, Evan Edwards, Darenfoel, as he was known, and Thomas Jenkins came to put their shoulders under the coffin. They were the last four members to be accepted here. In the early days many sisters came here such as Ann Edward, wife of Evan Edward, a Mrs. Jenkins, wife of John Jenkins, and Gwenllian James. These were faithful and industrious members, and continue to be so to this day. After many months at Darenfoel, the cause was looking hopeful, especially considering the large area and small population, there began to be talk of a chapel. Following consultation and consideration, it was decided to build a small chapel to worship in. Land was given by Mr Morgan, Bodwigaid, for a crown (five shillings) a year, which was returned, near the road from Hirwaun to Brecon, about two miles from the former. The foundation stone was laid around 1860, by Mr Allen, who was generous to the cause on many occasions. In September 1860, the chapel was opened, it measured thirty feet by twenty feet. The total cost was £270, this includes a dwelling house in conjunction with it. It contains 180 seats. The following ministers were present at the opening:- Messrs J. Morgans, Cwmbach; D. Price, Siloah, Aberdare; W. Edwards, Aberdare; W. Williams, Hirwaun; J. Rees, Cwmaman; D. A. Jones, Treherbert; J.  Mathews, Neath; J. Stephens, Brychgoed, a D. Thomas, Hermon. After Mr D. Thomas, Hermon, left for Abercanaid, the church sent a call to Mr Evan Evans, Bethel, Aberdare, he was ordained in January1866. Sermons were given at the service by Messrs W. Edwards, Aberdare; J. Morgans, Cwmbach; D. Price, Siloah, a S. Davies, Soar, Aberdare; W. Williams, Abercwmboy, a W. Williams, Hirwaun. Mr Evans continues to work here and the cause goes from strength to strength, despite the fact that neither church nor congregation will be very large."

 

[Last Updated : 6 March 2008 - Gareth Hicks]