Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru.

(History of the Welsh Independent Churches)

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

Extracted  by Gareth Hicks from the CD published by Archive CD Books (Jan 2008) - with translation by Eleri Rowlands (Feb 2008)

Soar, Llandderfel

(Vol 1, p 510/11)

" Mae y capel hwn yn mhlwyf Llandderfel. Bu Sion Edward yn byw yn Melinddimel, ychydig islaw y lle y mae Soar, a bu Dr. Lewis, Llarnuwchllyn, a Robert Roberts, Tyddynyfelin, yn pregethu llawer yn ei dy, yn mhell cyn codi Soar. Cynhelid Ysgol Sabbothol a phregethid yn achlysurol gan Mr. M. Jones, yn Gwern-braich-y-dwr, ac yn 1827, adeiladwyd yma dy bychan saith lath ysgwar. Mae careg uwchben ei ddrws ac arni, " Soar, adeiladwyd 1827." Codwyd ef ar dir Syr Watkin Wynne, Barwnig, ond heb brydles, ond telid ardreth o haner coron y flwyddyn. Yr oedd Meistri W. Williams, Wern, a Mr. J. Ridge, Bala, yma yn ei agoriad. Bwriedid ef ar y cyntaf i fod yn ysgoldy yn unig, ac elai yr aelodau i Bethel i gymundeb, ac nid oeddynt ond ychydig mewn nifer, ond y mae yma eglwys wedi ei ffurfio bellach er's blynyddau. Mae y lle o'r dechreu wedi bod yn nglyn a Bethel, a'r un gweinidogion yn olynol yn gofalu am dano. Pan oedd. Syr Watkin yn gwerthu amryw o'i diroedd rai blynyddoedd yn ol, gwerthodd Wern-braich-y-dwr, a gwerthwyd capel Soar hefyd. Parodd gwerthiad y Soar yma, a Soar arall yn sir Drefaldwyn, gynhwrf mawr ar y pryd hwnw. Prynwyd y Soar yma gan John Davies am 30p., a chyflwynwyd ef i Simon Jones, Michael D. Jones, John Peter, Robert Jones, Edward Wynne, Edward Roberts, William Jones, Thomas Owen, ac Humphrey Ellis, fel ymddiriedolwyr. Dyddiad y weithred ydyw, Medi 29ain, 1860.

Codwyd i bregethu yn y gangen fechan yma :-

• Evan Lloyd. Urddwyd ef yn Hebron, Lleyn, a bu farw yn dra annisgwyliadwy. Daw ei hanes dan ein sylw pan ddeuwn at eglwysi sir Gaernarfon.
• David Price. Ni bu yn pregethu ond ychydig. Bu farw Awst 23ain, 1861, yn 21 oed. Claddwyd ef yn Bethel.
• John Roberts. Mae yn awr yn fyfyriwr yn athrofa y Bala.
• Mae Edward Wynne yn yr ardal hon er's llawer o flynyddoedd bellach, ac yn bregethwr cynorthwyol cymeradwy gan yr holl eglwysi."

Translation by Eleri Rowlands (Feb 2008)

 "This chapel is in the parish of Llandderfel. Sion Edward lived in Melinddimel, a little below where Soar stands, and Dr Lewis, Llanuwchllyn, and Robert Roberts, Tyddynyfelin, preached a lot in his house, a long time before Soar was built. A Sunday school was held and Mr M. Jones preached occasionally in Gwern-braich-y-dwr, and in 1827 they built a house seven yards square here.  There is a stone above the door with the inscription, "Soar, built 1827" It was built on land belonging to Sir Watkin Wynne, baronet, but without a lease, but rates of half a crown a year were paid. Mr W. Williams, Wern and Mr J. Ridge, Bala were at the opening. At first it was meant to be a schoolroom only, and the members went to Bethel to communion, and there were only a few of them, but a church has been established for a few years now. It has had close connections with Bethel from the beginning, with the same ministers caring for both. When Sir Watkin sold several plots of land some years ago, he sold Wern-braich-y-dwr, and Soar chapel was sold too. The sale of Soar and another Soar in Montgomeryshire caused a great stir at that time. This Soar was bought by John Davies for £30, and it was presented to Simon Jones, Michael D. Jones, John Peter, Robert Jones, Edward Wynne, Edward Roberts, William Jones, Thomas Owen, and Humphrey Ellis, as trustees. This came about on September 29th, 1860.

        Raised to preach in this small branch were:-

• Evan Lloyd. He was ordained in Hebron, Lleyn, and he died quite unexpectedly. His story will come about when we come to the churches in Caernarfonshire.
• David Price. He preached for only a short while. He died on August 23rd, 1861, at 21 years old. He was buried in Bethel.
• John Roberts. He is now a student in Bala college.
• Edward Wynne has been in this area for many years now, he is an acceptable lay preacher by the account of all the chapels."

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