(Full text of the document held under Source Reference S379 "Calvinistic Methodist Archives - Bethel Llanwyno")
Chapter 7 - Changes
The preceding chapters have brought us forward in time almost to the present day. Now we
must go back to the year 1886, for it was in that year that a number of
families left Bethel to start a cause in Ynysybwl. About that time,
people were flocking to this area from the different counties of Wales.
Only the old village existed at that time; Bethel becamc full to
overflowing in a very short space of time. This was the most prosperous
time (at least in terms of numbers) for the cause in this area but they
could not rest on their laurels. Unfortunately for Bethel and the
neighbourhood, the Pit was opened about a mile away and, around the
pit, the village which is now called Ynysybwl grew up, whereas the old
village remains almost the same in terms of external appearance and
population. There
has been much loss and gain in the history of Bethel but this, the biggest loss in its
history, took place most suddenly and unexpectedly. If the pit had been opened nearer the chapel, doubtless it would have been necessary to extend
Bethel's boundaries years ago. The present building holds about 350
people but as a result of the split the building is big enough to hold the
members. Years ago, the cause in Llanwynno began to lose its
agricultural character - farm after farm breaking connection with the
place, for many reasons - farms changing hands, apathy and new religious
facilities - such that the cause had almost come to depend on the inhabitants of
the old village and a few farms round about.
It had been a flourishing
period in the history of the little church up to now; there was no other life in
the place and life in the church held a high place in the hearts of the local
inhabitants. It appears that local singing was famed in the area and a
few people were skilled enough to lead lessons in a Singing School. It is said
that the youth of Bethel had paid one Gwilym Thomas (a famous musician in his
day and a hero of Tynewydd Pit at the time of the flood; living in
Caerphilly at the time and moved to Ynyshir after that) to 'lead' and 'teach the
principles' of music to the youth of Llanwynno, and people came from far and wide
to the singing school.
But this was lost; the flock was scattered and
families moved to the new village. Jerusalem, Ynysybwl today has over 300 members whilst
Bethel had to falI back on its old resources, as there had not been many houses
built in the old village. Bethel remains at the same membership as before, aboul
80. It's safe to say at this point that five or six families who moved away
from Ynysyhwl have failed to leave their first love and continue to come up
through the wind and the heat to Bethel their old place of worship.
