Bangor (1859)



Similar statements are made respecting the work at Pwllhely, Bangor, Carnarvon, Nevin, and the whole of the districts called Lleyn and Eifionydd. Immense additions are made to the churches. In one month of the present year it is stated that one hundred and ninety-one persons joined the communion of various denominations in the town of Pwllhely. In the letter communicating this intelligence it is said:—" The meeting held at the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel on the night of January 20 was extraordinary. The sight was awfully stirring—young men who had been indifferent about their souls before, now cried out the loudest, 'What must we do to be saved?' while aged men with hoary hairs were as lively as lambs, praising God for visiting His people with showers of heavenly rain."

In the month of December last, a correspondent at Bangor states:—" Although we have no loud expression of feeling under the ministry, we have amongst us warm hearts towards the Redeemer and His cause. In one day thirty persons joined the Calvinistic Methodists at the Tabernacle, and not a week passes without additions to all denomina­tions in the city. There is a most powerful movement amongst the children. They meet to pray everywhere, in the roads, the houses, the school-rooms, &c. They are full of the spirit of prayer, and it is remarkable what high and enlarged ideas they have, though expressed in humble language. They pray for all classes; sometimes a youth may be heard praying earnestly for an ungodly father, who was himself a month before a swearer and blasphemer. We know many examples of the kind. About twenty of these children have been admitted as candidates at Upper Bangor."

Later still, it is stated:—" The good work continues to go on amongst the various congregations in the city and neighbourhood. Old hearers have been led to decide for Christ; backsliders are reclaimed; young people who had been religiously trained, but who had sold their birth­right,' are now seeking a home in the house of God; prodigals are returning to their offended Father, and many young children are under deep religious impressions. .. We rejoice,' but it is with trembling.' "

Later...

Bangor, Bethesda, &c.—" Before this gracious visitation, the moral state of this neighbourhood was most deplorable. The young people, especially, appeared to grow worse and worse, shaking off every religious restraint, becoming more callous and thoughtless, and acting as though they thought that religion was a barrier to mental vigour and progress. The openly ungodly and drunken portion of the community appeared to have been left to themselves, and to commit sin with greater boldness and presumption. The Christian Church seemed too feeble to make direct efforts to with­stand these increasing evils.

"But, through the goodness of God, the state of our neighbourhood is completely changed. Many of the young people who had sold their religious birthright, and had gone astray through the influence of sin and the world, are now arrested and brought back again into the Church of Christ. Many prodigals have been reclaimed, and with humble con­trition have sought and found their Father's house. Riot­ing and drunkenness are rapidly decreasing, the public-houses are emptied, the noisy mirth usually proceeding from such places is no longer heard, the coarse oaths and profane expressions are abandoned and hated, the most presumptuous are now afraid of sinning openly—the ser­mons heard, and the advice received long since, are now remembered by very many, and seem to come with fresh power, so as to awaken the conscience, and to fill the soul with anxious concern. This takes place at midnight in bed, on the roads, or when busily engaged at their work in the midst of the rocks. Thus God is saving the souls of men from sin and wrath! Life has been breathed into the dry bones, and already there is an exceeding great army' of quickened souls in this populous place and the surrounding district.

" Party spirit and sectarian contentions have disappeared —the narrowness and prejudice with which Christians of various denominations regarded each other are fast dying away—and instead of these things, we have instances of love, liberality, and brotherly kindness, reminding us of many of the blessed admonitions given by our Lord to His disciples in His sermon on the mount.

"The spirit of prayer has been given us in a greater de­gree than ever; this is felt more or less by all who are under the influence of this revival. The people delight in prayer, and hence we hear of prayer in all sorts of places, and at all hours. There are not many families in which an altar has not been erected, on which the morning and even­ing sacrifice are offered. The gift of prayer also is given in a marvellous degree: those who can hardly speak at all on other subjects are eloquent before the throne of grace. The old hymns are more appreciated than ever, and some of the anthems and tunes recently introduced are put aside for the present, in order to give place to such as can be used by the whole congregation.

"The Bible also is valued in these days by very many who took no delight in it heretofore: its pages are anointed by the tears of many Marks and Marthas; its simple verses are as the refiner's fire, and the fuller's soap,' puri­fying and cleansing the unbelieving and worldly heart. It may be said that the Bible-marks of a spiritual change may be found in large numbers of those who have been the subjects of the present awakening—namely, humility, meekness, patience, watchfulness, reverence, and godly fear."—November 1859.

From ‘The Welsh Revival’ by Thomas Phillips

Additional Information

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