Similar growth was experienced at Bwlchderwin. The church there had only 30 members at the start of February 1832, but by the start of May there were more than 80.
Henry Hughes, Owen Owens, Cors-y-wlad(Dolgellau, 1898), pp. 62-63.
1831 Cwmcoryn ‘In the month of November, in that year, 1832 [1831], the most powerful revival that was seen in the last sixty years broke out... The revival broke out in Cwmcoryn when we were not expecting it. Thomas Pritchard, y Nant, had been announced as preaching there one evening. He was not known as a remarkable revivalist. But he never came to fulfill the engagement, and therefore a prayer meeting was held, when something so powerful descended which resulted in rejoicing throughout the place, the majority of whom were old members and some who were not members. And Hugh Jones, Corsyceiliau, was one of this last class— a young man about 18 years old. And though he had little knowledge or care for the gospel, he was so pricked in his heart that he cried out several times, which cries went to the heart of all in the place. He was like a wild bull caught in a net, and for a while he was like one half out of his mind. He turned out a good Christian and was chosen when he was only a very young man as an elder in Cwmcoryn, which office he served faithfully whilst he was there, and subsequently in Babell. There was another young man, about the same age as the previous, who was also a hard young man, who rarely went to the Sunday School. One time Cadwaladr Owen was preaching there at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, one weekday, from the words “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The young man listened and was sat opposite him, and in the middle he began to blush, and shortly afterwards gave a piercing cry as if he had been stabbed in the heart. Had he experienced the powers of the world to come? The following week he went to the seiat, and related his experience, trembling and repentant. And by the efforts of the friends there, he was led to the only place of rest for the soul, that is Jesus Christ. He began to learn the Bible and treasure it in his memory, and buy good books to read, so that he grew in grace beyond the expectation of all. He would pray with consistency and feeling, and tell his experience more often than usual, and that with zest and effect. He was not content to let a prayer meeting or church meeting go by without taking part in it... He continued like this for about two years, when there came a whisper that the lad was not keeping his path as he should. That turned out too true, and to the disappointment of us all, he gave himself up to base practices, and perform every sin with greediness. After two years he returned, and with seven spirits worse than himself. The conviction of the two lads were so alike, and yet they turned out so unalike in their lives. This will remain unexplained until the day God judges the secrets of men. The little church grew from 17 to 60 in a few weeks. The despised became a great nation in comparison. About half the new converts would rejoice, and the other half would be sober and quiet. Not as much was thought of these at the time, as of the others, yet they went on rooting themselves in the faith, while many of the others fell away and backslid, so that it could be said, “the last shall be first, and first shall be last.” Many times I desired to experience these heavenly feelings myself, which produced the rejoicing, but not even once was my request granted.’ ([Robert Hughes], Hunan-Gofiant ynghyda Phregethau a Barddoniaeth y Diweddar Barch. Robert Hughes, (Robin Goch), Uwchlaw’rffynon, Pwllheli, 1893, pp.33-5; NB errors with respect to dates, see DCC p.334) Evan Williams, Morfa Nefyn started preaching in this revival (sources???; see DCC p.335) John Jones, the jumper, Staylittle, Montgomeryshire (Sources???; see DCC p.342-3) Ioan Jones, Rhuthyn converted in this revival (sources???; see DCC p.343) John Jones, Talsarn traveling & preaching during the revival (CJJ pp.214-221) Other information (DCC p.334-5)
‘RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
IN
CAERNARFONSHIRE.
We were supplied with the following account by a friend, who had gathered it together on his journey through that region, at the end of March 1832.
The following Revivals are mostly in Lleyn and Eifionydd.
Llanystundwy.—The Revival started in this place on the day of the Sabbath School Jubilee, October 14, 1831. To the private society who profess godliness in this place were added . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Pentreuchaf.—The Revival started here thus: A young girl, by contemplating on her bed, began to vex herself because she judged that she had quenched the Holy Spirit, and disregarded the word of God. These considerations spread like wildfire through the whole region. There were added to the church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Llanystundwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Y Gyfyng—Pennant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Garn Dolbenmaen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Bron y Gadair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Bwlch Derwen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Pencoed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Four Crosses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Yr Efail newydd 3—Bodruan 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Llithfaen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cwn Corin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Dydweiliog 30—Garnfadren 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Rhyd bach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Clynog Uchaf 25—Isaf 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Dinas 12, and many children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
____
The total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Edeyrn, scores of children-Nefin, 100 children.
Many additions in Pwllhely, Capel y Nant, Ty mawr, Llanllyfni, &c. from the places no account was obtained. This makes more than six hundred.
In Pont y Cim, there was there a boy especially wicked, and very hard. When the family were going to the church meeting, one of them had to remain home, in order to be with him constantly and mind him. But when the Revival began among the children, no one stayed home with him, and so he had to go to the chapel as well. He went there and sat by the door; and when the children started singing and rejoicing, he hung his head and wept. Then he was heard beginning to give thanks that it was not too late to save an old sinner like him. Then he began singing:
Ar Galfaria, rhwng y lladron, On Calvary, between the thieves,
Y gorphenwyd agor ffynnon, An open fountain was finished,
I olchi’n llwyr y rhai aflana’: To wash completely the uncleanest:
Pwy a wyr na olchir finna’. Who knows that I may not be washed also.’ (translated from Y Drysorfa ii. (1832), pp.140-41)
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones
Would you please contact us if you know where these meetings took place?