186? Thorne, Pembrokeshire. ‘In 1859, the Rev. David Evans assumed the pastorate and remained until 1870, when he was elected Agent of the South Wales Home Mission Society, after which he removed to Swansea. During Mr Evans’ pastorate, a Revival took place at Thorne. The human origin of it is to be ascribed to a young girl from the neighbourhood, who had returned from Ireland, where she had been in service. As we know from history, Ireland, especially Ulster, was in the throes of a Revival at this time, and this young girl being a servant at a very religious home was simply saturated with the Revival Spirit which she brought with her to Thorne on her visit to her friends. Meeting with some Wesleyans, she went with them to a prayer service and poured out one of the most fervent prayers every offered in the district. A deacon in a neighbouring church dates his conversion from that evening. Prayer meetings were often held during that period of Revival, not only in the chapels but also in the cottages around. After a few weeks had passed by, the Rev. David Evans invited the Revs. Lewis Evans, of Pembroke Dock, and William Powell, of Pembroke, to come and pay a visit to Thorne Chapel, which they did on a week evening when a full congregation received them gladly. The Rev. W. Powell said that he was very delighted to behold such earnestness, and asked was there anyone who felt a desire in his heart to follow Christ out and out. As a result, about 35 young men rose one after another in response. During the next few weeks, 35 more were added. At the close of the service, the Rev. Lewis Evans said that he had heard of the movement and had come down to Thorne to become an eye-witness of it, and he felt convinced that the Spirit of God was working amongst them, for he had seen something that day which was not of man or of the wisdom of men, but of God. One man who was addicted to drink came into the church saying that if he could serve God as faithfully as he had served the devil, he should be a good Christian. Of the 70 who came into the fold at this time, some of them are still faithful members in different churches; not more than about five lapsed into the world.’ [William Evans & Oscar S. Symond, The History of the South Pembrokeshire Calvinistic Methodist Churches, (Wrexham, 1913), pp.30-1]
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones
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