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ABERDARE HISTORY

18 — DEVELOPMENT OF DISSENT : THE INDEPENDENTS


 

 

 

THE INDEPENDENTS

 

The most prominent figure connected with the rise of the Independents in the first half of the 19th century was Joseph Harrison who was ordained at Ebenezer in June 1817. At this time, the church membership was 26. Religious fervour of the early 1820s made it necessary to build a gallery, which was erected in 1823 at a cost of £60.

1823

The four non-conformist denominations at Hirwaun branched out into their separate ways and the Independents built Nebo at Hirwaun. The Application for a license was in the name of David Jenkins, Thomas Harrison, John Harrison and Joseph Harrison – dated the 20th November 1823 and endorsed on the 21st November 1823 NLW LL/P.D.M./13.

Joseph Harrison was the minister of both Ebenezer and Nebo and continued to be so until 1835.

1829

The Great Revival of this year led to a great influx of new members among the Independents. Both Nebo and Ebenezer had to be enlarged. Costs of rebuilding the latter in 1829 came to £700 but by 1831, through Harrison’s efforts, the debt had been reduced to £385. Shortly before he left in 1835, this stood at £200. This was due to a remarkable movement in 1834–35 to reduce the debts of the Independent Chapels. Ebenezer’s contribution was £94..12..9 (110 people contributing 10/- or more, and Harrison himself gave £7). This was an outstanding achievement as the total membership in 1832 was only about 140.

Harrison was most meticulous in his record keeping of both churches. His Baptismal Registers have already been mentioned but his register of confirmations is also of considerable interest with regard to the growth of local Independency.

The following are figures of confirmations by Joseph Harrison during the period 1817–35:

 

Year

Ebenezer

Nebo

Year

Ebenezer

Nebo

1817

2

-

1827

8

15

1818

4

-

1828

17

6

1819

3

-

1829

71

44

1820

5

-

1830

66

22

1821

23

-

1831

19

7

1822

20

-

1832

9

4

1823

7

 

1833

10

3

1824

7

5

1834

no record

1

1825

6

33

1835

11

4

1826

5

8 to July 11

 

 

 

 

The effect of the 1829 Revival is clearly seen in the large number of confirmations in 1829 and 1830 but the fact that the total confirmations up to 1832 suggest a total membership considerably in excess of 140 (as given above) and indicates that there was probably much backsliding when it was spent.

1835

In this year, there was an unfortunate dispute between Harrison and his two churches. He had written an article in which he expressed his willingness to administer adult baptism by total immersion if candidates for confirmation so desired. There was bitter opposition from the more orthodox members. At the end of June together with some supporters from Nebo he set up another Independent Chapel in Hirwaun Capel-Y-Drindod and shortly afterwards he set up at Aberdare, Salem Robertstown.

1836

In December of this year the new church at Hirwaun had 12 members including 5 of the Harrison family. It finally petered out after 1842.

At Aberdare, he had more success. Together with 16 supporters, he established a conventicle in the Long Room of the White Lion, “near the Toll Gate at the lower end of the common”. Later they erected a wooden building known officially as Salem but popularly called Ty’r Planca.

1841

They leased land from Dr James Lewis Roberts on a site known as Gadlys Uchaf Farm and there they built a stone chapel also called Salem. The cost was £500. Its early development can be seen from the following figures of new members by confirmation and admissions by letter of transfer.

 

YEAR

NEW MEMBERS

YEAR

NEW MEMBERS

1837

15

1840

6

1838

17

1841

65

1839

No record

1842

25

1851/52 There were 100 members at Salem and 70 Sunday School Scholars

1836 July

The Rev J. Davies was inducted into the joint pastorate. His ‘call’ was signed by 118 at Ebenezer and 77 at Nebo. By 1840 when Davies left, there were nearly 300 at Ebenezer and nearly 200 at Nebo. The two chapels now decided to maintain separate ministries. In March 1841, the Rev William Williams was inducted at Nebo where he remained until his death on 14th January 1877, a period of 36 years.

1840 Aug

The Rev Thomas Rees of Aberbargoed received a call to Ebenezer and the dramatic circumstances of his arrival are worthy of mention. In addition to his Ministry, Thomas Rees had kept a shop at Aberbargoed and during the Chartist Riots he had issued large quantities of provisions on credit and was subsequently unable to meet his obligations. As a result, he spent a few days at the Debtor’s Gaol at Cardiff from which place he came straight to Ebenezer. During his brief Ministry, 60 new members were added. His salary was £4..15..0 a month.

1842 March

He moved to Siloam Independent Church Llanelli thence to Swansea. As Dr. Thomas Rees of Swansea, he was a noted 19th century theologian and author of many articles and books including the ‘History of Protestant Non-Conformity in Wales’.

1844

In the early part of July of this year, William Edwards of Brecon was ordained and he remained until his death in August of 1854.

The cholera epidemic of 1849 added considerably to the membership of the chapels of Aberdâr. Between May 27th and December 30th Ebenezer received 139 new members. A comparison of membership figures for 1841 and 1852 suggests that this influx was ephemeral.

 

Membership of Ebenezer

 

1841

300

Membership of Ebenezer

 

1852

340

However, some part of the explanation of the slow rate of increase lay in the emergence of new chapels during this period. Even before Rees’ departure in 1842, meetings for prayer etc. were conducted in the village of Aberdare by Ebenezer members included among whom was a man called David Price. Their original intention had been to set up an English Church.

1843 March

14 members of Ebenezer were incorporated into a separate Independent Church meeting in the Long Room of the Old Boot Hotel. By the end of April, their number had increased to 21 and in August, David Price was ordained a minister of this Church where he remained until his death on December 5th 1878. The ordination was held in the Baptist Chapel of Carmel, Penpownd.

1844 April

Land was leased from the Ynyslwyd Estate at Green Fach. At this time, there were three Public Houses there:
1) The Cross Keys, where the Surveyor’s Office now stands
2) The Swan Inn, where Green Street Methodist Church now stands
3) The Green Dragon, now demolished.
In front of the Green Dragon stood two cottages in one of which lived the Vicar of St. John’s. The small green in front of his house gave the name to the district.

1844

Building began and it was completed within a few months.

1845 Jan 16

The Church was consecrated. Its cost was £600 and the membership totalled 60. The Church was registered at Llandaff on April 12th 1843 under the name of Zoar but out of respect for the Rev Thomas Rees who had moved to Siloam Llanelli, it was decided that it too should be called Siloa. There is no evidence that Llandaff was ever notified of the change.

1855

Siloa was rebuilt and a vestry was erected at the rear. Total cost was £1,300, which as cleared before 1860.

1848

 

Membership was

120

1849

 

Membership was

270

1852

 

Membership was

300

In the meantime, the Independents had extended their activities to the lower end of the Parish and religious services were being conducted in various private houses in Aberaman.

1846 Nov 6

Members were incorporated into a church at 242 Cardiff Road. This church was now under the care of David Price.

1848

They leased land for “a Congregation of Calvinistic Independents” on Abergwawr Farm from Jennet Roberts and Dr James Lewis Roberts. The new chapel was called Saron and was formally consecrated in August 1850. The initial cost was £650 but by the end of 1850, there were 218 members.
At Cwmbach, David Price had conducted Sunday Schools and prayer meetings as early as

1846

1845 and in 1846 a small brick edifice was built at a cost of £66 (Capel Brics).

1852

Henry Lewis was ordained as Minister. His first task was the erection of a new chapel and this was built with a seating capacity of 300 at a cost of £329..16..5. It was called Bryn Seion.

1852

There were 70 members and 70 Sunday School Scholars.

1851 Apr 12

The notable Joseph Harrison died. Obituary notices listed his activities as a great builder of chapels, interest in music etc. but not the least of his claims to fame were his meticulously kept list of confirmations and in particular his baptismal registers. The latter had been kept for the period 1817 to 27th March 1851 Registers for the period 1817 to 1836 recorded place of birth-parish; those for later years did not.
 

Record year was 1828 when 86 infants were baptized.

The total for the whole period was more than 1,600.