(Full text of the document held under Source Reference S379 "Calvinistic Methodist Archives - Bethel Llanwyno")
Chapter 3 - Old Characters
The Men
Griffiths Glyn Coch and Evans Darwonno - two men who went
to Eglwys y Llan (Llan Church) at the end of every month to commune while they
were zealous members with the Methodists. Griffith Glyn Coch was a great
benefactor to the cause of Bethel in Llanwonno. In his will he left two pieces
of land to the trustees of the cause in that place. On these two pieces of land
there now stands Penuel (MC) and Carmel Pontypridd, English Baptist. Bethel
Llanwonno accepted a few pounds of land revenue from the named
churches.
Mr. Joseph Davies was an old school master
in the place. He kept school in the old chapel before there was any mention of
any other kind of school in the neighbourhood. He was also a faithful member of
the Hen Gapel and a powerful prayer. He had some bodily characteristics; he was
lame and he had a small hand and foot. His characteristics as a religious person
was his manner of listening to the message from the lips of the Servants. He always
sat beneath the pulpit and when the message was powerful two streams of tears
were to be seen trickling down his cheeks. As the mood increased and the
congregation warmed, he was pulled to and fro as if his spirit was shattering.
He was a keen thinker and rather ahead of his time, and because of this he was
not appreciated in his own circle. If you wish to be popular you have to stay
within the present time and not be backward or forward. The person who is before
his time gets consistently persecuted as much if not more than he who is in the
past. Mr. Joseph Davies died in Merthyr Poorhouse.
Titus Jones - a school master again, he kept school in his own house. He lived
in the village for years and the house still stands and it is presently known as
number 17 Mynachdy Terrace. It would take a long chapter to relate his
humour and witty sayings. He preached occasionally and the influence of his
preaching on the congregation was wonderful. Although he was amusing his funny
sayings caused considerable levity on the congregation. The following story is a
good indication of his life. The desire arose in him to describe hell to the
children in his care. He used action to show his love. He moved every piece of
furniture from the school room. After that he collected straw and ferns and
placed them in a heap in the middle of the stone floor. One window about two
feet square was in the room. After preparing everything and the children inside
he locked the door and [set fire to] the straw and ferns. After the flames
started to take hold, he shouted at the top of his voice to the children Flee!
Flee! and every child went to the small window, the only means of escape. In
spite of his drollery he did a great deal of good in Llanwonno. Like Joseph
Davies he died in obscurity. He married in his old age. Many unprincipled men
borrowed money from him and they never paid it back because Titus Jones did not
have proof that he was owed the money, such was his faith in human nature. This
remarkable man died in the Union Poor House.
These were the ‘type’ of
religious people in the Hen Gapel. It is a pity there is not more material
available about the old characters - [it] would be worth
recording.
The Women
Among the old characters the women were no
less remarkable than the men. Strong, godly women each one deserving a
chapter:
The first in the list is Shened Domas
Howell, grandmother of Glanffrwd and the Rev. Idris Thomas, referred to as one
of the saints of Llanwonno. A far from ordinary woman, well informed and wise
and also at times she was able to ascend to a high ground of praise. At these
times she would be on her feet in the service, not to disturb others, but to add
to the solemnity of the service by stunning everyone around her.
Shan Phillip (Shan o’r Cwm, Shan from the valley) the
deaconess as she was called in Heol Fach, Ystrad because in Heol Fach
(small road) she spent the best part of her life. Before there was a
cause in Ystrad or the Rhondda Shan came to Bethel, Llanwonno to
worship the God of the Fathers. To men in the present day, who can go
to the chapel in their ‘carpet slippers’, the story of Shan
Phillip is rather incredible. That a woman would cross two mountains,
about eight or nine miles, twice a week to be present in the chapel,
but Shan Phillip did this for years, from Ystrad over Penrhys mountain
down to Pontygwaith and up then to the place they now call Stanleytown
over the narrow….. ? Gwyw all the way to Bethel Llanwonno. Her
companion on these journeys was Mr. Evan Davies (Penrhys), brother
of Mr. George Davies (later of Tynewydd) and whoever was missing,
they were always there and a romance arose around their pilgrimages.
The history of this masterpiece alone is worth passing down to future
generations.
Magws Williams or Magws Ty Cwreid (Chapel House) as she was called.
She lived in the old Chapel House for about sixty years. Generations of
Preachers stayed there. Magws had strong powers. The following is related as
an example. From the Hirwaun Class Mr. Matthews of Ewenni was raised to preach.
At that time there was only one class in Hirwaun and Aberdare. Mr. Edward
Matthews therefore went to Llanwonno to undergo a test. After the sermon, coming
down from the chapel he heard the women talking among themselves and the sermon
was the topic of their amusement. ‘Be quiet will you’, she said. ‘This man will
become a great man’. So it was. Magws was one of these who could smell
the ’scents of truth’, as Dr. Cynddylan Jones would say.
Mrs. Ann Davies was the wife of
Mr. George Davies, Tynewydd and Mrs. Jane Thomas the mother of Glanffrwd and of the
Reverend Idris Thomas. Mrs. Jane Thomas died about 1900 but her name still
perfumes the region. She spent her latter years at Brynffrwd, the house next to
the chapel and great was her welcome to the servants of the Lord who came to
preach in Llanwonno.
