Wesleyan Methodist Chapel - Cwmbran (1904)



The revival which has broken out in South Wales does not remain in that part alone, and it does not require the presence of Evan Roberts to infuse the spirit of this revival into the Christian Church. Extraordinary services have taken place in the Wesleyan Chapel at Cwmbran during the past fortnight. Cwmbran is situated exactly half-way between Pontypool and Newport, and not far from the villages where the Spirit of God has been manifested so recently in such a remarkable way. The first signs of the revival took place three Sundays ago when after the sermon had been preached by the circuit lay agent on “Let me die the death of the righteous, he asked a few to testify for Christ, and one after another stood up and told what God had done for them. The last to testify was a brother who had been the greatest drunkard in the neighbourhood. He told them how God led him to see the light when he was quite drunk (a statement for which the writer can vouch), and had now kept him for two years. His words took a firm hold of his companions, of whom no less than six have surrendered all to Christ during the past week, some of them being notorious drunkards. The meetings have not been carried on in the usual way. They have been opened by prayer and reading, with short running comments by Mr A. Brace, a young local preacher, varied with invitations to come to the front of any with whom God’s Spirit was striving at the commencement and at different stages of the meeting. What was and is remarkable right throughout the meetings is the spontaneity, on some occasions as many as half a dozen commencing to pray at one time, and continually brothers and sisters are on their feet to pray, waiting turns. One old brother attempted six times to pray, and each time was forestalled by someone. It was a glorious sight to see sinners rising and coming to the penitent form seeking forgiveness. Amongst those who have confessed Christ is a young man who had been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. After the singing of ‘Come to Jesus’, the question was asked, who will come to Him now? A man got up and shouted, I will, and then broke down. Then his wife came out to the penitent form and all his children. Another case occurred during the singing of ‘Throw Out the Life Line’. A passer-by who was drunk was so affected by the singing that he turned into the meeting. It was wonderful to see the change that took place in him before the meeting was over. He came forward and confessed Christ, and when the meeting closed he was a sober man. To describe all the incidents would take too much of your space. Never has the Spirit of God been felt in such a powerful manner before. Up to the present there have been sixty converts, and the meetings are to continue.

From, 'The Great Revival in Wales', by S B Shaw, p21-22

Additional Information

Chapel demolished.


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