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THE INDEPENDENTS |
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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 |
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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 |
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Membership was |
120 |
1849 |
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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. |
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