A SIGNALLY great and powerful work of grace has lately commenced, and still continues increasingly to proceed, In the principality, almost every church having, in some measure, participated in its divine and blessed influence.
The cheering result is a general awakening, as well as a vast amount of additions within the last six or seven months. I am happy that notwithstanding the unprecedented stir, the said revivals have not been accompanied with any extravagant enthusiasm, or wild unseemly excitement, as too often is the case when an extraordinary increase takes place. It evidently appears that Divine agency has been, and still continues to be, at work, to a surprisingly great and glorious degree, amongst us. The Lord is doing great things for us, whereof we are glad.
Thousands of immortal souls are snatched from the grasp of the evil one, and brought to the knowledge of the truth; many of whom were notorious in sin, and ringleaders in the servlce of satan, but now are docile and submissive subjects of Immanuel, having willingly bowed to his sceptre, together with hundreds that have been wandering; some of them for years, from the fold of their Saviour, who are returning with weeping, begging to be restored again to the enjoyment of the gracious privileges of God's house.
From, "The Baptist Reporter," February 1850, page 72.
Dowlais, by Mr W. R. Davies, Aug, 10, 104 immersed by Mr D. in 84 minutes, who on that day, addressed, preached, baptlzed, received the candidates, and presided at the Lord's table. Alas! alas! he is gone! How great our loss.
From, "The Baptist Reporter," November 1849, page 434.
REV W R DAVIES OF DOWLAIS
At roughly the same time as the revival, there was a bad outbreak of cholera (May-Oct).
Dowlais, which is a hamlet of Merthyr, has been greatly afflicted with the cholera. Mr. W.R. Davies, the excellent pastor of the Baptist church in that place, lost an amiable daughter by cholera. This affected him very much, and he and his family went for a short time to the seaside, he occasionally returning home to attend to his duties. On the 19th August, he baptized in the river Taff, 104. persons, on a profession of their faith in Christ.. He was thirty-four minutes administering the ordinance. He took his station in the river, and the deacons handed the candidates to him and received them again, Mr D. was a most laborious preacher; he preached twice in his own chapel the same day, broke bread, and received the 104 candidates into church fellowship. The church consists of about 700 members. On the 1st September he was called to exchange earth for heaven. The cholera attacked him, and exactly two weeks after this extraordinary service his remains were interred in the silent grove.
From, "The Baptist Reporter," November 1849, page 434.
The church was knocked down at the end of the twentieth century.