By the time he
arrived in Anglesey in May 1905 Evan Roberts was one of the
undoubted celebrities in the religious life of Wales. People
flocked from every village and town to see and hear him, in
particular evangelical Protestants came from all over Britain,
from the continent of Europe and from the United States of America
as well as scores of journalists. The young miner, 26 year of
age, had made Wales a one vast chapel with people flocking to
meetings to praise God and to pray for forgiveness and new life in
Christ. There were all kinds of additions on sale to propagate
his unique ministry and Evan Roberts made a great use of the
press. He welcomed the journalists, many of them were of his
generation. Roberts told them during his visit to Anglesey
The Scriptures say that some people who wished to approach Jesus
Christ were unable to do so on account of the press. Thing have
changed since then, and now the press is a great help to bring
people to Jesus.
The Presbyterian
Church of Wales Book Agency in Caernarfon produced a badge with
the revivalist photograph on it while a Liverpool firm, C
Glasstone of 145 Smithdown Road, Liverpool sold a poster of him
for a shilling, and hundreds of them had been placed in the
windows of houses and shops in the city of Liverpool during his
evangelistic visit in April and early May.
Roberts on his visit
to Anglesey was coming to a county which had experienced countless
revivals. In the eighteenth century, there had been a revival in
Aberffraw in 1777, in Brynsiencyn in 1794, throughout Anglesey in
1822, in Newborough in 1840, and then the 1859 and 1850 Revival as
well as the Richard D Owen Revival of 1884 and 1885. Only 20
years had passed since the revival of Richard Owen. A
contemporary of Owen, Reverend John Pritchard of Amlwch described
him vividly:
Richard Owen was a strange man! Yes, he was a really strange man.
One could utter
exactly the same words for Evan John Roberts. They were strange
preachers, but remember that Richard Owen, the vehicle of God in
1884-85, had changed the spiritual atmosphere and the religious
expectation of most of the Nonconformist chapels of the island of
Anglesey.
The revivalist spirit
was extremely important in the Nonconformist structure of the
county, and in particular in the attitude and the ethos of the
Welsh Calvinistic Methodists (later known as the Presbyterian
Church of Wales). This was reinforced from time to time. When D
L Moody and Ira Sankey, the revivalists from the United States of
America, came to Liverpool in 1874, a wealthy Nonconformist family
of Menai Bridge and later Treborth, near Bangor ensured that the
ministers of religion of every denomination in Anglesey were
allowed to visit the crusade and to experience God's power in the
preaching and the praise. Evan Roberts had another advantage, and
that was, a great affection amongst the chapel members of Anglesey
for the visitation of exciting, unique preachers from south
Wales. They were given a warm welcome. Preachers such as Dr
Cynddylan Jones, a Calvinistic divine, Reverend W E Prytherch of
Swansea who had an unforgettable service at the Association held
in the village of Brynsiencyn in 1894. One has to mention the
Reverend Joseph Jenkins, New Quay, the spiritual father of the
1904-05 Revival, and his visits to Holyhead, Llangefni and
especially Amlwch. Over 60 were converted under his ministry at
Amlwch and they became members of Bethesda Welsh Calvinistic
Methodist Chapel. The same phenomenon was experienced in Moriah
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Llangefni through the
ministry of the Reverend Joseph Jenkins and the young ladies from
his home chapel in New Quay, Cardiganshire who travelled with
him. The Revival gathered pace and the impact was felt all over
the island, from Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to Llangristiolus, from
Llanerchymedd to Pentraeth.
The desire to have
the physical presence of Evan Roberts amongst them dominated
everything. One of the most persistent ministers, who desired to
see him in Anglesey, was the Reverend Hugh Williams of Amlwch. He
had already come under the influence of Joseph Jenkins in the
prayer meetings in Llaethdy Bach, Amlwch. Hugh Williams decided
to travel to South Wales to invite Evan Roberts to Anglesey. The
enthusiastic evangelist W Llewelyn Lloyd decided to come with
him. He had as a Presbyterian student visited the mining valleys
of Glamorganshire and a few weeks earlier he had heard Evan
Roberts in Llansamlet. The journey from Anglesey to Cardiff, then
to the Rhondda, and eventually to Nantymoel are worth narrating
and they were joined by two others from the Calvinistic Methodist
camp of Anglesey, namely John Williams and John Evans both of
Holyhead. Then their meeting with Evan Roberts in Nantymoel and
his succinct message to the chapels of Anglesey, Remember the
Blood of Calvary. The verdict of Hugh Williams was this
Without doubt, he is one of the most spiritual men Wales ever saw,
even Europe, in a long time.
It is a verdict worth
pondering on from a person who had been a divinity student in
Germany and later accepted a Doctorate in Theology from Princeton
University in the USA. The ad hoc deputation from Anglesey had a
promise, but Reverend John Williams of Liverpool had sent a letter
to the Anglesey Presbytery to emphasise
That they should prepare for the coming of Mr Roberts, that is, by
approaching those who neglected the services of the chapels,
especially in the towns.
A message was sent
from the monthly meeting of the Presbyterians held in Amlwch to
all the Districts in the county to invite them to co-operate as
Chapels with other Christians from the Nonconformist
denominations. As Anglesey was regarded as a large Calvinistic
Methodist Chapel the brothers and sisters belonging to the
Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, Independents had no choice but to
co-operate. The Calvinistic Methodists were responsible for the
arrangements as well as for the expenses incurred, though Evan
Roberts did not expect anything only his board and lodging. The
Tyst (Witness) the national Newspaper of the Welsh
Independent denomination was quite critical through the highly
entertaining articles of the Reverend R P Williams, Holyhead and a
brother, we must remember of Henry Williams, Tynlleiniau,
Presbyterian elder in Tynymaen. When R P Williams in his sermons
arose to a crescendo, Henry Williams would stand up in his home
chapel of Tynymaen and loudly proclaim, 'Well done, Robert, carry
on.'
On 16 May 1905 the
revivalist Evan Roberts left his hotel at Capel Currig and
travelled by train from the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed to
Rhos-goch on Anglesey, where a pony and a trap awaited to take him
to his affluent lodgings at the Wylfa Mansion near Cemaes, the
second home of the recently deceased Liverpool Welsh builder and
Presbyterian elder, David Hughes who was the father-in-law of John
Williams. He received a warm welcome, hundreds of people waited
patiently to have a glimpse of him as he travelled the narrow road
to the Wylfa. He looked like a prince, acknowledging the presence
of the ordinary people, and he raised his hands as the welcome of
the spectators was heard all over the countryside. The long
expected Mr Evan Roberts had arrived and he would have at least
another fortnight rest before starting on his campaign.
It opened in the
Calvinistic Methodist Chapel at Amlwch on Tuesday evening 6 June.
Two of his helpers from south Wales, Annie Davies from Maesteg and
his own young sister Mary Roberts had arrived on Monday afternoon
and were staying in the home of the Reverend Richard Matthews.
They had an excellent meeting to open the campaign. The singing
was exceptional, and though the service began at 4.30 in the
afternoon, Evan Roberts and his team did not arrive till 7.00
o'clock. The revivalist spoke effectively on the need for praying
at home in accordance with the advice of Jesus. The meeting was
tested by one of Evan Roberts' loyal lieutenants, Reverend Thomas
Charles Williams of Menai Bridge. Very few of the congregation
were not members of a chapel or a church.
The following day,
Wednesday, 7 June the second meeting was held in Amlwch. Evan
Roberts spoke of his conversion and enthused the large
congregation. Hymns were sung with gusto, Mary Roberts read from
the Gospel of Luke, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and the
Reverend John Williams, Liverpool tested the meeting. It was a
glorious meeting according to the Liverpool Welsh minister. Then
the congregation was invited to recite the Lord's Prayer in both
languages. Thursday, 8 June was a memorable day, it was the
birthday of Evan Roberts. He was 27 years of age, and he received
a large number of birthday cards and a number of visitors from
Scotland and England. He gave part of the address he had given on
the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus which he had earlier given in
Sun Hall, Kensington in Liverpool. They had 12 converts in this
meeting.
Friday 9 June was the
turn of the village of Cemaes, Anglesey to hear Evan Roberts. The
service was to be held at Bethesda Welsh Calvinistic Methodist
Chapel. But they had to change the arrangements and move to the
open air, an entirely new and difficult decision. The journalists
estimated a crowd of 4,000 people at Cemaes. Young people were in
complete control of the meeting, praying fervently, and one
commentator mentioned that a large percentage of them were farm
workers. Evan Roberts mentioned that he had received a telegram
from the secretary of the well-known American evangelists,
Alexander and Torry from their headquarters in Bristol inviting
him to address a Conference of Missionaries in Jerusalem during
the first week of August 1905. Roberts answered
Thank you very much for the invitation. I cannot accept it. Let
the divine fire descend of the Conference.
The following day was
a Saturday and Evan Roberts was on another journey this time from
Cemaes to Caernarfon to meet with the Liberal politician, David
Lloyd George who was going to address a Conference on the vexed
question of education. But in every railway station from Cemaes
to Caernarfon he was recognised. With him was Reverend John
Williams and the sympathetic journalist Gwilym Hughes. This was a
strange meeting, between the political hero of Wales and the
religious hero of Wales. They had a brief conversation after they
had shaken hands, and as a final farewell, Lloyd George uttered
these words in Welsh
Chwifio'r cledd yw
fy ngwaith i, ond eich gwaith chwi yw adeiladu'r Deml.
(Waving the sword in
my work, but your work is to build the Temple.)
On the Sunday the
revivalist efforts were concentrated on a small town in the heart
of Anglesey known as Llanerchymedd but affectionately known in
literary circles as the Athens of Wales. The local Calvinistic
Methodist Chapel opened its doors at 8.30 in the morning. It was
a large chapel seating at least eleven hundred; and within an
hour the temple was full. The local well loved minister, Reverend
Richard Thomas presided and a number of young women were prominent
in the devotional aspect as well as the singing and the prayers.
There were people present from all over Wales, from Glasgow,
different parts of England as well as France. One of the young
people said in Welsh
Os oeddynt hwy yn
methu deall ei gilydd yn siarad, y gallai Duw ddeall pob iaith
(If they cannot
understand each other speaking, God could understand every
language.)
At 10 o'clock Evan
Roberts arrived with his sister Mary and Annie Davies in a
carriage from Wylfa. The revivalist presented an inspiring speech
on the need to move all the barriers in the way of the Spirit.
One has to forgive he said. It was a waste of time to come to a
service if we could not forgive each other. He tested the morning
service with the question in Welsh
A oes yna rywrai
yn y dorf fawr yma yn dymuno rhoi ei hun i'r Gwaredwr?
(Is there someone in
this large congregation who would like to give themselves
completely to the Saviour?)
Only one responded.
Evan Roberts began another address on a verse from the Gospel of
John, I am the way, the truth and the life. He tested the meeting
the second time but on this occasion no one responded.
The evening meetings
were to be held in the chapel of the New Hall as well as in the
Welsh Baptist Chapel. A similar service was held as in the
morning but this time there were charismatic manifestations
exhibited. A number of individuals responded and yielded
completely and the young revivalist expressed his joy at seeing
the hard hearted accepting salvation. The congregation exhibited
their enthusiasm by waving their handkerchiefs in an ecstatic
manner. Hundreds upon hundreds of them.
It augured well for
the Monday gathering at Llanerchymedd. On Monday 12 June people
flocked from every part of Anglesey and hundreds upon hundreds
crossed the suspension bridge from Caernarfonshire, and
Denbighshire. Tickets had been prepared for the Monday meeting
but the local people went for them. There was not even one ticket
left for the visitors who came in the unbearable heat. Many of
the local people were persuaded to sell their tickets for half a
crown each. But within an hour the most grasping amongst them had
sold tickets for seven shillings and sixpence each and two for a
pound. When Evan Roberts heard that the entrance tickets were
being sold at an exorbitant price, he put a stop to the greedy
individuals by stating that the service was to be held in the open
air. Not everyone agreed with this, but a writer who called
himself the Minister of Pentre Gwyn (White Village) in his column
in the Welsh language newspaper Yr Herald Cymreig (The
Welsh Herald) was all in favour of the decision taken by Evan
Roberts.
It was quite ridiculous to squash the crowds into tight and
overbearing chapels, when the climate of summer allows everyone to
meet together on the field or on the sea shore.
Evan Roberts arrived
by 6 o'clock to see a large congregation. We know that he did not
like open air meetings as it was nearly impossible to keep such a
crowd under control. It was also a strain on the vocal chords in
an age without a microphone. The revivalist gave a fiery address
on the subject of the importance of missionary work at home and
abroad. He confessed
I am afraid that I have made a mistake by coming to Anglesey. You
are mostly chapel members, and perhaps I could have done better
work in Glamorganshire amongst the thousands who are not members
of any chapel. Pray for them.
On Tuesday 13 June,
large crowds flocked towards Elim Chapel in the rural village of
Llanddeusant. It was a beautiful summer day and the glorious
singing of the revival pilgrims could be heard in the open air. A
downpour of rain dispersed the crowd for fifteen minutes but the
meeting was eventually held in the open air. The verdict of Evan
Roberts on the meeting in Llanddeusant was endearing
Yr wyf wedi gweled
mwy o Dduw yn y cyfarfod hwn nag yn yr un cyfarfod ym Môn.
(I have seen more of
God in this meeting than any other that has been held up till now
in Anglesey.)
They moved on
Thursday 15 June to the village of Gwalchmai; a village that had
produced in the nineteenth century a large number of powerful
preachers. The weather was still pleasant and the meeting was
held on Pendref field where so many of north Wales Association
preaching meetings had been held over the years. Everything
seemed splendid for a local hero, Reverend Thomas Williams
presided. He gave his own charisma on the meeting and Evan
Roberts was extremely relaxed as he listened to a pulpit giant
putting the large crowd at ease. A wonderful response was
experienced and the crowd grew between 5 and 6 o'clock as those
returning from the market in Llangefni joined the worshippers. At
the end of the meeting Evan Roberts went to Pencraig to see Mrs
Mary Williams, the mother of Thomas Williams and the widow of
Peter Williams, a pig driver, and a great admirer of the Reverend
Edward Mathews of the Vale of Glamorganshire, a delightful
original preacher of great distinction. Evan Roberts sang to Mrs
Williams, 'What a friend we have in Jesus'.
The following day
Evan Roberts was expected in the hamlet of Bryndu, a mile from the
railway station of Tŷ Croes, and the turn out was even better than
in Gwalchmai. It was reckoned that five thousand people had come
to Bryndu, and amongst them four Protestant ministers from
Germany. There was a meeting for two hours before Evan Roberts
arrived with his assistants, Sidney Evans, Sam Jenkins, Annie
Davies, Mary Roberts, May John and Llewelyn Lloyd. Roberts did
not address the large congregation but sought converts and he was
soon successful. But he was reluctant to cease from his
evangelisation.
There are other Welsh people somewhere in this crowd ready to
accept the gospel. No one has asked him to accept the
invitations. Will he put his hand up.
Another individual
accepted immediately and he was caressed by those around him as if
he had won an award to a local agricultural show or in an
eisteddfod. The Bryndu service had ended on a positive note.
On Saturday 17 June
David Lloyd George had invited Evan Roberts and John Williams (Brynsiencyn
and Liverpool) to spend a relaxing day in his territory of
Eifionydd. But Evan Roberts was accompanied on the train journey
by hundreds of his admirers and they flocked in to the carriages
at Caernarfon and Pwllheli. Another train full of his admirers
was on its way from Barmouth and south Merionethshire but because
of problems on the railway it arrived half an hour late at
Criccieth. The town of Criccieth was full of his admirers, they
lined the road from the station to Garthcelyn, the home of William
George, the brother of the politician. The Lloyd George family
was expecting him as well as three local ministers. They were the
guests for dinger. By 2 o'clock thousands had arrived in the town
and they were extremely upset that Evan Roberts had stayed at
Garthcelyn rather than on his feet imploring on sinners to seek
salvation. A deputation was sent by the Free Church Council to
plead on him to hold a short service and avoid disappointing those
who had travelled a great distance. He refused as he wanted to go
and see the birthplace of the nineteenth century preacher, John
Elias of Anglesey in the parish of Abererch, just outside Pwllheli.
Just after 2 o'clock he was in the carriage, with the Lloyd George
family and they were greeted at every village such as Llanystumdwy
and Chwilog. A wreath of beautiful roses was thrown to him by an
old lady in Fourcrosses and after seeing Cynllwyn Bach (the
birthplace of John Elias) they had tea in Fourcrosses the local
temperance and trade union activist, D R Daniel, a proud supporter
of Lloyd George. Evan Roberts and John Williams caught the train
at Chwilog for Anglesey, as his crusade was to be at Llangefni on
the Sunday, the morning service at the John Elias Memorial Chapel
of Moriah. It was a rainy day but the people flocked to Llangefni.
The door of Moriah opened at 8.30 and one had to show an entrance
ticket. The congregation was soon moved by the extraordinary
powerful Welsh Wesleyan Methodist evangelist, Reverend Hugh Hughes
of Bethesda. He said the truth that they as a congregation
expected too much from God's servant, Evan Roberts
Diolch
amdano, ond rhaid cofio fod un mwy nag ef yno.
(We are grateful for
him, but one has to remember that there is one who is greater than
him in our midst, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ).
Evan Roberts did not
arrive till 10.30. He was staying at Gwalchmai. He rose to his
feet and asked one question after another for at least ten
minutes. It was a service not to be forgotten, the solos, the
prayers, the singing and the strange expression on the face of
Evan Roberts. He shivered as a reed. John Williams of Liverpool
made the comment, 'that it would be a service we will remember for
eternity.'
In the afternoon
prayer meetings were held in the chapels of the Baptist,
Independent denominations, in Moriah and its recently opened
sister chapel of Lôn y Felin (The Path of the Mill) as well as in
the Town Hall. Moriah was opened again for 4.30 and soon it was
overflowing while another service was held at the Town Hall under
the direction of W Llewelyn Lloyd. It was quarter to seven when
Evan Roberts began his address, rebuking the congregation in his
tears for being reluctant to enjoy the word simple. Within a few
minutes after he had completed his address the whole congregation
erupted and the worshippers relished the opportunity to praise
God. It was indeed an enthusiastic gathering.
On Monday an open
air meeting was held on Dinas field with around five thousand
gathered. He did not speak but he was in deep meditation. Around
him was a huge Prayer Meeting with individuals praying and
expressing their thanksgiving sincerely to God. Under the capable
hands of the extremely interested new minister of Moriah, Reverend
J H Williams, the service became a glorious charismatic meeting.
Llangefni had not seen a similar gathering for years. Scores of
women of every age fainted in their enthusiasm, other cried and
others expressed their deep feelings by uttering over and over
again the sentence in Welsh, 'Iesu Grist am byth' (Jesus
Christ for ever.) For most of this week Evan Roberts would be
ministering in the seaport of Holyhead. And on Tuesday, 20 June
the meeting was to be held on a piece of ground called Ucheldref
(The Hightown) which had witnessed similar services throughout the
nineteenth century. Evan Roberts had been invited to stay at the
Manse of Hyfrydle Welsh Presbyterian Chapel in Barcer Hill. The
minister, Reverend John Williams had moved out so that Evan
Roberts could have more room, and it was left to the Reverend R R
Hughes to welcome him on behalf of the family. He was unable to
get Evan Roberts to eat or drink before the evening service in
Holyhead. It was a windy night and five thousand people had
gathered in the open air, and as Reverend R P Williams said
Roedd pawb yn
cymeryd diddordeb yn Mr Evan Roberts, beth bynnag oedd eu
diddordeb yn y Diwygiad.
(Everyone took an
interest in Mr Evan Roberts, whatever their interest in the
Revival.)
Evan Roberts arrived
at Ucheldre by 6.30 but he was not his usual pleasant self. He
began to criticise the listeners because they were so reluctant to
respond to God's Spirit. Only ten responded and the rain came to
dampen the meeting. Indeed the meeting came to an end in an
outpouring of rain. But a large section of the young people had
no intention of going home. These were the young people who
filled Hyfrydle Welsh Presbyterian Chapel and had a prayer meeting
for an hour and a half to end a day of spirituality.
On Wednesday Holyhead
witnessed another large meeting, but Evan Roberts was still
annoyed. He was dissatisfied with the large number of prayers,
for they only needed a few earnest ones rather than a thousand.
He wondered if the Holy Spirit behaved differently in Holyhead on
Wednesday to what happened in nearby Llangefni on Monday night.
But it was obvious that at least a thousand people, that is one
out of every five people in the crowd could not understand the
Welsh language they were mostly English and Irish folk as well as
a number of visitors from the continent of Europe, from France,
Germany and the Netherlands. Evan Roberts was extremely reluctant
to speak in English, the occasional phrase now and again. The
unforgettable Hugh Hughes, the fiery evangelist of Bethesda, went
to the rostrum and his voice could be heard throughout the area.
At the end of the meeting the young people filled two large
chapels, Hyfrydle and Tabernacl, without the presence of the
revivalist.
Thursday night
another meeting in Holyhead. It was a lifeless, disappointing
meeting according to the Reverend R P Williams though there was a
large gathering. The tongue of Evan Roberts had been tied by the
Lord as the congregation were not willing to respond to the will
of Almighty God. Only 13 responded to Christ that night.
On the Friday the
largest crowd seen in Holyhead during the revival came to praise
and pray. It became a memorable service. The cry of Evan Roberts
was the cry he had uttered at Blaenannerch in south Cardiganshire
in September 1904. Listening to Seth Joshua's address he fell on
his knees, his face streaming with sweat, and took up a phrase
uttered by Joshua 'Bend me Lord.' Evan Roberts cried at
Holyhead: Plyg nhw, O Dduw, plyg nhw. (Bend them, O Lord,
bend them.) The congregation was utterly conquered and thousands
danced with joy. The testimony of the level headed R R Hughes was
this
Ni ellid gweld y
gwynt, ond gwyddid ei fod yno wrth weld yr ŷd yn plygu o'i flaen.
Ac fe ellid gweld effeithiau rhyw ddylanwad anweledig yn cerdded
dros y dorf ar faes Ucheldref.
(One could not see
the wind, but one knew it was there when they saw the corn bending
before it. And one could see the effect of an invisible influence
moving amongst the crowd on the field Ucheldref.)
Three different
things were noticed in this service
1) Evan
Roberts for the first time in Anglesey coming to the platform on
his own. Sam Jenkins had been expected but he did not come to the
platform.
2) The
complex character of the revivalist. On the one hand he was
extremely serious and on the other he was full of joy when
evangelising. His prayer had been a miracle of grace. No one had
heard anything like it in Holyhead.
3) The large
crowd had been overwhelmed by joy and a great deal of the
profession of faith. Hats were thrown into the air like the hat
belonging to the elder from the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel
of Ebeneser, Kingsland, John Moses and handkerchiefs were waved in
glory.
The crusade moved
that weekend to the Menai straits and the Lord's Day services were
to be held in Brynsiencyn. On Sunday morning the field was full
of horse carriages, at least 700 of them. Both services were to
be held in the open air. The June sun came out and the Anglesey
police had prepared pails of cold water as well as drinking
utensils for the thirsty pilgrims. Evan Roberts introduced the
same theme throughout the day – obedience of the believer and
activities of the disciples of Jesus. The evening service that
attracted a larger gathering, reckoned to be around four thousand
strong. Ten individuals responded to the invitation to accept
Christ but many were unable to come to the throne of grace. The
Brynsiencyn evening service came to an end with a fervent prayer
and the thousands reciting after him in Welsh the sentence
Achub y gwrthodwyr er mwyn Iesu Grist (Save those who refuse
for the sake of Jesus Christ.)
The following day
June 26 the revivalist took part for the first time ever in a
Sasiwn (Association) of his own denomination, the Welsh
Calvinistic Methodists to be held at Llangefni. This Sasiwn
became known as Sasiwn y Golomen (The Association of the
Dove). In the afternoon with Evan Roberts present in the large
crowd a dove stood above the preacher, Reverend Thomas Charles
Williams as he preached on the Three Crosses situated at Calvary.
The bird became a symbol of the heavenly dove, and a proof of
God's blessing on the revival. The crowds were flocking again by
5.30 to hear another Anglesey born preacher, Reverend John
Williams, Princess Road, Liverpool preaching on the unusual theme
that God could raise from these stones children to Abraham. Evan
Roberts expressed in public appreciation of the ministry of his
most dedicated supporter in north Wales, and he was in good form,
full of joy for a glorious service with the famous preacher of
Brynsiencyn in dazzling form.
The Tuesday evening
meeting was in Beaumaris Castle and boats and carriages came
throughout the afternoon to the medieval town. They opened the
gates at 4 o'clock, and the proceedings were in the hands of
ministers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church though the Reverend J H
Hoyt was allowed to address the crowd. He had travelled from
Canada to the meeting to see God at work in Evan Roberts. Another
minister, Reverend Farrier Hume of Bristol who became a great
friend of Evan Roberts prayed in English with feeling on the God
who was in existence before the Castle had been built to reveal
himself in power. John Williams of Liverpool who has close
connections with the town and who had tremendous talents it was
Evan Roberts, without any educational attainments, was the chief
attraction. When he spoke there was perfect silence. The crowd
was thrilled by his message, one of his most enthralling he had
delivered in Anglesey on the theme of Christian Unity. It was a
service to remember.
On Wednesday night
they had another meeting in Beaumaris Castle. In the afternoon,
some of the local dignitaries had intended to take Evan Roberts to
enjoy the countryside in the carriage of the Mayor of Beaumaris,
Hugh Thomas, the local medical director, Dr Thomas and Dr Lewis
Hughes from Dowlais. But they failed due to the curiosity of the
crowd, he had to escape to his lodging house through the back
entrance. In the service at the castle Tegfan Roberts, a notable
soloist, kept the large crowd entranced as they waited the coming
of the young revivalist. It was quite late for him arriving and
he sat on the platform for half and hour without a word. After
the contribution of John Williams, the revivalist stood and
apologised for being late in arriving. But there was a purpose
behind it. He did not want to exhibit himself but rather praise
Almighty God amongst his people. The climax of the persuasion and
the invitation was to hear the accent of an American, a minister
from Boston, New England praying for forgiveness for himself and
his fellow pilgrims who had crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the
revival in Anglesey. His cry was answered before the end of the
meeting.
On his way to catch
the steamer at Beaumares on Thursday afternoon Evan Roberts was
given a bunch of flowers by a young lad with his cap in his hand.
The meetings in Menai Bridge were to be held in a field on the
outskirts of the town. Large crowds came to the meetings, at
least nine to ten thousand at the first of the three meetings.
But the converts were again few.
On Saturday afternoon
one had an entirely new experience, an opportunity to visit the
Parish Church at Llanddona by 1.30. The local vicar, Reverend
Peter Jones had invited Evan Roberts week before to come to his
Church and Parish. The vicar presented a devotional address which
made a lasting impact. Evan Roberts responded. The meeting at
Llanddona was a meeting of deep conviction with enthusiastic
praise to crown the dignified Anglican service.
The second meeting in
Menai Bridge was again in the open air though it was a cold and
wet evening. On the platform sat Mrs Annie Davies, the widow of
Richard Davies (1818-96), local MP for Anglesey from 1868 to
1886. She was the daughter of the extraordinary Liverpool Welsh
preacher, Henry Rees, the brother of William Rees (Gwilym
Hiraethog). The climax of the evening were the solos sung by Sam
Jenkins.
On the Lord's Day,
the meeting was centred on Tabernacle Welsh Calvinistic Chapel in
Benllech, a chapel which seated 800. By 9 o'clock in the morning
the chapel was full. Even Roberts was at his best, and gave a
large number of memorable sentences. The testing was in the hands
of W Llewelyn Lloyd. Annie Davies sang the hymn of Gwilym
Hiraethog Dyma gariad fel y moroedd... (Love is like the
oceans...) In the opinion of many Nonconformists this was free
church worship at its best.
The evening service
was to be in the open air, and Evan Roberts spoke on wisdom and
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He said
Mae yr Ysbryd Glân
gyda ni. Nid oes eisiau i ni weddïo am iddo ddyfod. Geilw yr
Ysbryd yn barhaus, geilw ar bawb. Dyma'r perygl – peidio gwrando
ar y llais.
(There is no need for
us to pray for it to come. The Spirit calls on us continually, it
calls on everyone. This is the danger – refusing to listen to the
voice.)
The mission in
Anglesey was slowly coming to an end, and after Tabernacl
Tynygongl, they moved for the last meeting on Monday 3 July 1905
to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. This was also an open air meeting in a
field behind the Rhos-y-Gad Presbyterian Church of Wales Chapel.
A large platform had been prepared. The minister of Rhos-y-Gad,
Reverend W J Williams presided and with him on the platform were a
large number of well-known ministers from Anglesey and
Caernarfonshire. Evan Roberts started crying during his address
when he said
Diolch
am gael fy narostwng i gael mynd yn isel.
(I am grateful
for having been humbled.)
The crowd could not
stand such self-examination, the service became an opportunity for
prayers, continual expressions of faith, a time of great glory.
According to a correspondent from Yr Herald Cymreig this
was the most remarkable service of the whole Anglesey campaign. A
large number responded.
The following day 4
July 1905 Evan Roberts left Anglesey after a successful crusade to
a large meeting in Caernarfon to be held in the early afternoon.
One has to ask what was the impact of this crusade in the island
of Anglesey. One can suggest a number of observations
1) The
Temperance Movement
The revival gave a
substantial boost to the movement, and in Llanfair PG, for
example, all the public houses except one ceased to exist.
2) The
Chapels and their spiritual witness
The revival gave a
boost to every denomination. What it did above all was to nurture
people to pray in the prayer meetings. Thomas Charles Williams
had warned his denomination in a large gathering at Liverpool on
Whit Monday 1900 of the scarcity of praying members in the
churches. But he expressed his joy that the situation had changed
when he introduced a document on the spiritual history of the
chapels on behalf of Anglesey Presbytery to an Association held in
Llanerchymedd in June 1907. The revival had brought into
existence a new breed of praying men and women.
3) The Young
People
The young people were
given a wonderful opportunity through the revival and all the
chapels benefited. The young people were in the middle of the
campaign of Evan Roberts and many of them became leaders. But the
biggest problem as the Reverend Thomas Charles Williams testified
was that the warmth of the revival was often not felt inside the
sêt fawr (official circle) as it was on the ordinary pew.
There often arose conflict between the elderly leaders and the
young folk in the chapels, and between some of the most
enthusiastic members who had been converted and the officers who
had not been emotionally charged by the revival. But the majority
of the chapels were fortunate in its ministers and elders who
showed gracious wisdom towards the young. We can take as an
example, Thomas Jones, the Headmaster of Gwalchmai Primary School,
a native of Cardiganshire and an elder in Jeriwsalem, Gwalchmai
since 1900. He was inspired by the revival in 1905 and this is
the tribute to him
His knowledge and sympathy with the young people of the church and
his natural godliness were vehicles of sanctification for the
growth of the religious community and the furtherance of Biblical
knowledge.
He was
not the only Anglesey leader to be praised. One came across
elders like Thomas Jones in large number of chapels. They
encouraged the spiritual growth of the younger generation.
4) The World
of Praise in the Churches
The
revival gave a boost to the 'songs of praises' within the worship
of the chapels. In Dothan Chapel for example the precentor Thomas
Edwards always on every opportunity gave out the revival hymns.
Some chapels in Anglesey had a service to prepare people to
understand the tunes and appreciate the hymns. In Moelfre
Presbyterian Chapel of Llanallgo, William Roberts, Bryn Engrad
held a Ysgol Gân (a Singing School) at 5 o'clock every
Sunday School for 50 years following the revival.
5) Building
Chapels
As a
result of the revival a number of chapels were enlarged in
Anglesey and some new buildings appeared. The Penucheldre Chapel
was enlarged under the guidance of a young minister, Owen Thomas,
who came to pastor them during the revival. A new chapel was
built at Tynymaen during the revival. Bryntwrog Chapel was also
built at the cost of £750 in the great year of the revival, 1905.
6) Social
Benefits
The
revival proved a tremendous blessing socially. The conscience of
leaders in local government were awakened. Leaders saw the need
for better housing and better conditions for workers and they made
an attempt to curb the abuse of alcohol and to regulate the
opening hours of public houses. Nonconformity as a religious
movement had an extension of life for at least hundred years, as a
result of the revival and the tribute offered by a Caernarfon
based minister, Reverend R D Rowland (Anthropos) during the Evan
Roberts campaign in Anglesey sums it up well for us
Y mae y gwaith a
wnaed, ac a wneid drwy offerynoliaeth Mr Evan Roberts, yn dwyn
ffrwyth toreithiog yn ein plith. Y mae yr eglwysi wedi eu deffro
a'u cynhesu, yr Ysgol Sabbathol yn adfywio, a'r pobl ieuainc yn
fwy byw nac erioed i bethau'r Efengyl.
(The work that has
been done, and will be done through the instrument of Mr Evan
Roberts has brought a remarkable harvest to us. The churches have
been awakened and warmed, the Sunday School has been revived, and
the young people are more alive than ever to the gifts of the
Gospel.)
7) The Welsh
Language
According to
Professor John Morris-Jones (a great supporter of the revival) as
well as Anthropos the revival extended the life of the Welsh
language and gave added glory and strength to it. The language
was struggling its existence before the revival, but the stand
point of Evan Roberts with his Welsh only policy gave added status
to the language in the outlook of thousands who attended the
Anglesey campaign.
8) Dawn
Môn (The Anglesey pulpit style)
The echo of the
revival was felt for years in the voices of some of the most
eloquent Anglesey preachers. Revered Dr Thomas Williams died on
12 January 1942, and till his death one felt the effects of the
1904-05 revival in his preaching, and in the south Wales
Association Preaching Service at Aberporth in south Cardiganshire
in 1924, three miles from the village of Blaenannerch where Evan
Roberts had come under the ministry of Seth Joshua twenty years
earlier, Thomas Williams nearly relegated the flame of the
revival. Everyone at the Aberporth gathering rose to their feet,
four thousand in all, and one had the same kind of reaction as in
the revival of 1905. Dr Cynddylan Jones, a staunch Calvinistic,
uttered the glorious phrase 'Dyma'r Pentecost' This is the
Pentecost).
In trying to
understand the strange phenomenon witnessed in Wales in 1904-06 I
am leaving the last word to the urbane solicitor William George,
the brother of the Welsh wizard, who himself had enjoyed
fellowship with Evan Roberts during his mission at his home,
Garthcelyn.
Tri Diwygiad a
thri Rhyfel mewn cyfnod o ddeugain mlynedd. Meddwi ar yr Ysbryd
Glân yn y Diwygiadau ac ar waed gelynion yn y Rhyfeloedd a'r bobl
yn ymddangos mor frwdfrydig a diffuant dros y naill achos a'r
llall.
(Three Revivals and
three Wars in a period of forty years. Intoxicated with the Holy
Spirit in the Revivals and on the blood of enemies in Wars and the
people seemed as enthusiastic and sincere for both causes.)
He adds in Welsh
Awel yn chwythu i
Galfaria, a chroes awel yn hyrddio i faes y gwaed, dyma hanes y
werin erioed.
(A breeze blowing to
Calvary and a difficult breeze thrusting us to the field of blood,
that is the history of the ordinary people at all times.)
But William George
was not completely honest. Who persuaded the ordinary people to
sign up for the 1914-18 War, a terrible confrontation, but
Christian leaders like his own brother and Dr John Williams,
Brynsiencyn and Sir John Morris-Jones, the generals in the
campaign of Evan Roberts in Anglesey. William George blames the
ordinary people and forgets the persuasion of his own brother as
Minister, and later Prime Minister. This is the kind of behaviour
we Christians often do. We are so mixed up as the poet R
Williams-Parry said in Welsh, Yn gymysg oll i gyd.
We are celebrating in
Llangoed but also preparing ourselves for another revival. We can
pray with the hymn writer
Tyrd
Ysbryd Glân i'n calonnau ni
A deued
dy Oleuni nefol
Tydi wyt
Ysbryd Crist
Dy ddawn
sydd fawr iawn a rhagorol.
These
words can be translated as
Come
Holy Spirit to our hearts
And bring
thy heavenly light
Thou art
the Spirit of Christ
Thy gift
is great and commendable.
