Caenarfon (1859)



Glorious tidings reach us from Carnarvonshire The towns of Car­narvon, Bangor, Pwllhely, Portmadoc, Tremadoc, Conway, and Llandudno, are awakened to a blessed extent. The chief work, however, is in the vast slate-quarries, amongst the thousands who toil in the great excavations and caverns made by their own hard hands and strong arms. From Bethgelert to Waenfawr, Llanberis, Dinorwie, Pentir, Beth­esda, Capel Curig, Bettws-y-coed, and Dolyddelen—the vil­lages which surround Snowdonia—the revival has already spread. Like a belt of fire, it encircles the mighty moun­tains, and whatever natural ice and snow may be found on any of their high peaks, or in their craggy recesses, there is but little moral ice now left which has not felt, in some degree, the melting power of this gracious influence.

From the Pennant slate quarries (Bethesda) we hear:­" Strange and wonderful sights are witnessed here. The chapels are lighted up every night from seven to eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve o'clock, and sometimes until one and two in the morning. A great many persons, from the old man of fourscore to the child of five or six, have power with God and prevail, nor will they let Him go until they are blest. Truly, this is the greatest outpouring of His Spirit, as a Spirit of life and power, ever experienced by our nation and country. It is granted to all who use the key of fervent prayer, without any exception; but it would seem that the young people have the largest share, or, being their first love, they show it more than ethers. In them the revival throws its effects far into the future. At one time our worldliness greatly hindered and injured our heavenly-mindedness; but now spiritual things absorb the attention, and nothing is heard but religious conversation in going and coming along the roads, in the works, in the shops, and other places. Ever since the Queen's visit, and the dreadful wreck of the Royal Charter, religion has been the great topic of the day."

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.

Later...

A correspondent from the neighbourhood of Carnarvon says:—" There is not only less drinking than usual but fewer public-houses—two have been closed at Ebenezer and Clwt-y-bont. A trial of the effects of the revival on the young men of the quarries was made in the last winter fair at Carnarvon. They generally took the lead in drunken­ness and dissipation, but how different the scene last time! Instead of spending their time in the taverns drinking and feasting, they held meetings to pray for the salvation of sinners and to praise God for their own conversion. A prayer-meeting, long to be remembered, was held at Pendref chapel on the fair night, and another on the second day of the fair at Moriah, chapel, at two o'clock in the afternoon. The fair throughout was such as had never been seen before. The public-houses were nearly empty, and all appeared to attend to their proper business. Someone was asked, ‘What kind of fair have you had this year?' The reply was, 'The people called for something to eat as usual, but there was very little drinking.' On their return home, the young people testified how much more happy they were now when able to go and return from the fair, without following the usual practice of drinking to excess. It was only twelve months before, that many of them had been guilty of drinking, quarrelling, and fighting. Now, for the first time, they had found that the way of duty is the way of pleasure and safety."

Extracts taken from 'The Welsh Revival' by Thomas Phillips

Additional Information

Would you please contact us if you know where these meetings took place?


Related Wells