1780 approx. Crugybar, under ministry of Isaac Price.
‘Crugybar in the time of Isaac Price, and after, was proverbial for religious fervour and enjoyment [hwyliau]. Sometimes the people of Crugybar would visit Llanwrtyd, and other times the people of Llanwrtyd would visit Crugybar, and sometimes they would be singing and praising all along the way. The present age remembers some of those old fiery people, namely Dafydd Sion Edmwnd, Nancy Jones, who is known throughout Wales by the name ‘Nani Crugybar’, &c. The latter was a woman respected and accounted in the world, and noted for the sweetness of her gifts in praising and rejoicing. She was the Miriam of the religious revivals of her age. That which made the heavenly enjoyments and songs of these companions so acceptable and effectual was their holy and blameless lives.’ ‘Many famous believers had been in this church from time to time, besides those referred to already, those who were famous for their religious fervour. But perhaps the most famous of all, and the one who left the most enduring influence on his age, was Dafydd Jones of Caio, the translator of Dr Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, and who composed many sweet hymns of his own. He was a man, in every meaning of the word, far above his age – he had received the best education, and had seen more of the world, His father was an important man in the world, and respected as a drover, and his sons followed him in the same way of life. D. Jones spent the early part of his life irreligiously, and he became the head of the household before knowing anything of religion, It is said that in the old chapel of Troedrhiwdalar, into which he turned as he returned home from England one Sabbath, that the arrows of conviction reached his heart. He immediately returned home and joined the church at Crugybar; and his joining it was the means of many revivings of the cause there. Between him being a rich and influential man in the region, and a lively and hardworking man in religion, he was instrumental in awakening the old church out of its sleep. ‘Dry Dissenters’ is what the Methodists called the Independents in those days, but Dafydd Jones of Caio was not such.Also Llanwrtyd & Troedrhiwdalar also under his care.
‘Mr Price was remarkably gifted and lively of spirit, and the cause revived greatly under his seraphic ministry, as many years before the end of his ministry the two churches – Llanwrtyd and Troedrhiwdalar – became noted for fervour and religious revivals. At a time of powerful revival, one day Mr Price was going through the village of Llangammarch. There was there an old fiddler by the name of Thomas Prees. When he saw Mr Price passing, he shouted after him, ‘Isaac Price, come here.’ ‘Why, Thomas?’ said Mr Price. ‘So that you can have my fiddle, because you’ve taken all the people already,’ Thomas replied. Close to the whole period of his ministry was a period of religious revival, or a succession of powerful revivals without much space between them.’ [HEAC iv. 363]The following description of him as a preacher is given:- ‘In relation to his ministry it can be said that he was a son of thunder, and a son of consolation. As a son of thunder he would raise his voice against the sins of the age; the whole neighbourhood was sobered and reformed; and the vain games and dancing were almost completely given up. He was also a son of consolation in his ministry; he would proclaim free salvation through the death of the cross, so that scores of hearts would melt throughout the place, and praise God for hours after the sermon had ended. During the time of the powerful revival there would be praising from one place of worship to the other.’ [HEAC iv. 370]