1805 Llanidloes. ‘In 1799, when William Hicks and John Hughes were appointed to the Welshpool Circuit, Llanidloes was taken on the plan, more carefully attended to, and the work greatly prospered. Many good families identified themselves with the Society - men of influence and position in the town, such as D. Davies, the currier; Price Wilson, saddler; E. Lewis, grocer; R. Rees, and others. In 1800 a site was secured upon which to build a chapel from Mr Edward Glynn of Shrewsbury, who also left in his will £150 in order to reduce the debt. The Society was continued as a portion of the Welshpool Circuit up to the year 1807 when it became the head of a new Circuit. In the spring of 1805 John Hughes, who was that year stationed at Liverpool Welsh Circuit, visited Llanidloes and other places on his way to Brecon, reporting a great revival of religion, which through the instrumentality of the ministers, Mr Gartrell and Hugh Ransom, and the local preachers of the Welshpool Circuit, had spread all over the country from Llanidloes to Builth. ‘The revival,’ says Mr Hughes, ‘was different to those he had seen in North Wales, there being no noise or sensationalism in connection with it.’’ [David Young, The Origin and History of Methodism in Wales and the Borders, London, 1893, pp.290-291]
‘In the latter end of April [1805?] I took a Tour of the South which proved a very delightful one.
I spent some days at Llanidloes very comfortably & profitably & on my way to Brecon preached at St. Harmons Rhayader & Newbridge & promised to preach at Builth on my return. The revival which had taken place in the Country between Llanidloes & Builth was very considerable & bore every mark of a genuine work of God, without that noise & wildness which marked the revival in the North in some places. Mr Gartrell & Radford [Rev. James Gartrell and Rev. William Radford, who were stationed on the Welshpool Circuit 1804-5] together with the local Preachers in the W. Pool Circuit were Instruments in this blessed work which continues to spread, rapidly. The preaching was principally in English. Poor dark, barren Radnorshire, thy day of visitation is also come! But alas while the work is extending in this quarter, the Sun is gone back many degrees in the neighbourhood of W. Pool & Beriew which ten years ago were so flourishing!’ [‘The Journal of the Rev. John Hughes’, Bathafarn, xi. (1956), p.47, original of the journal is NLW 3501B]
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones
Would you please contact us if you know where these meetings took place?