Neuaddlwyd Chapel (1821)




1821 Neuaddlwyd under Dr Thomas Phillips, P Griffiths & D Griffiths etc., Glynarthen & Henllan. ‘[A]nd about the end of the first summer, a powerful revival broke out, the most powerful I ever remember. It did not break out with him [Daniel Griffiths], but the stirring started one Sabbath when Dr Phillips was preaching on 1 Peter 4:6. That was an amazing Sabbath. There was a great noise in the chapel, and no noise as well. I will remember that stirring whilst I live. The fire rekindled in a fellowship meeting in Cilfforch and subsequently, under the Rev. T. Griffiths, Hawen, in Caehaidd (a farm of that name). This renewal was so powerful that there was hardly anyone who was not obliged to feel it. With this movement, Daniel started, and various other of the students, sailing splendidly on successful gifts; he would preach wherever he was sent for. He went down to Aberaeron, and towards Ffosyffin, and down to Newquay, and up to Llanddewi-aberarth, Llannon, and Cefn Llanddewi. These places were in the Methodists’ area, and some started towards Neuaddlwyd from these parts. Some chapels would send for him as if he had the revival at his finger tips. The Arminians would send for him, and he went everywhere. He preached out in the fields, on top of the mines [or quarries], and thousands followed him in every region. When he went down to the Pembrokeshire Association, many whispered through the crowd that Daniel Griffiths was there, and many sought to catch sight of him. This was related to me by the oldest minister in Carmarthenshire today (Feb. 1.) But, despite all the good he did for religion in Cardiganshire, many tried to persecute him, and blacken him if they could. Many lies were said about him—he was threatened—he was evil spoken of—he was desired to become a soldier—he was told to go to some other region—he was warned not to go to preach at a farmhouse near Ffosyffin, because there would be some weather, for sure; but he took no notice of them, because preaching and saving souls was his motto everywhere. Many thousands followed him. Perhaps no greater crowd was seen than that in Aberaeron listening to him on a Sabbath night when he spoke in the King’s Yard. Many remember the meeting. Some were born anew there, and they are on the walls of Zion today. He received much kindness for Glamorganshire, in gifts, when in Cardiganshire, and received many from the people of Neuaddlwyd and its neighbourhood, so that he did not have to spend a single penny the whole time he was there. The start of the first summer he came to the school, he went to the North during the holidays, and hundreds will always remember him. He had several calls in the North to be Minister, but he was not inclined to answer any of them.’ (P. Griffiths, Cofiant y diweddar Barch. Daniel Griffiths, Soar, Castellnedd, Swydd Forganwg, p.17-20; EM 1823, p.339; S. Thomas, Cofiant y Parch. Phylip Griffiths, Alltwen, Trefynnon, 1902, pp.39-40; HEAC ii. 122) This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones


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