The History of the Cause
Bethel Llanwynno
(Full text of the document held under Source Reference S379 "Calvinistic Methodist Archives - Bethel Llanwyno")
Chapter 9 - Preachers & Ministers
Apart
from the old local preachers already named, two constant preachers were
raised in Llanwonno, namely the Reverend Gwilym Glanffrwd Thomas and
the Reverend Idris Thomas. The history of Glanffrwd as a bard and
literary man and eisteddfodwr of distinction is known to every
Welshman; he was a powerful and popular preacher. If he had stayed with
the Methodists he would have been in the first rank as a preacher but
his stay with the Association he started was a short one. He was a
school master in Llwynypia before he started preaching. In the old
neighbourhood he had his first encouragement. His book on the History
of Llanwonno, quite unique in the Welsh language, testifies to the
impression that the mountains, the wells, the rivers and the
customs of the giants had on his mind and his spirit. This is not the
place to give the history of his life because his connection with the
Association did not continue after he started preaching. After
completing the customary course he received a call to shepherd the Methodist
Church in Siloam Gyfeillion (Trehafod). He was not there many months; he joined
the Church of England and climbed to a high position in a short time; before his
death he was Dean of St. Asaph. He died comparatively young, forty seven years
old. His remains were brought to the cemetery at Llanwonno Church, the place that
was so sacred to him. Peace to his dust.
The Reverend Idris Thomas was
his brother, who was raised like him in Llanwonno and who was a shepherd of the
Church for a long time after that. The Reverend Idris Thomas was born in 1862.
He started preaching in 1886. When he started preaching he was following his
occupation as a signalman under the R.R.(?) He was staying in Cardiff at the
time and it is likely that it was in Cardiff Class that he was raised to preach.
He
was educated at Cardiff University 1891 – 92 and was ordained in his religious
work in the Ministry in Maesteg Association in 1892. He shepherded Bethel Church
from 1892 until 1909 - until the day of his death. The prophet had honour in his own land
and his family its own house – this does not often occur. It is likely that if
he were alive today he would be the Shepherd of Bethel Church
Llanwonno. He was taken from the midst of his work to his reward when he
was only forty-nine years old. He died suddenly in his chair when he was looking
at Sunday School examination papers. He was buried in Llanwonno Church, the
family burial place.
With his mother in Brynffrwd, bordering on the chapel,
he lived the greater part of the years of his pastorate. Mrs. Jane Thomas has
been mentioned earlier as a virtuous and good woman; she died in 1900. About
four years after this the Reverend Idris Thomas married Miss Judith Jones,
of Ferwig, Cardiganshire; she was a sister to Mrs. M.P.Morgan, Blaenanerch. In 1909
the marriage was ended by death and after this Mrs. Thomas returned to Cenarth
to live and there she is at this time. It is evident, that for Mr. Idris
Thomas there was a very dear place in the bosom of the Church in Bethel
Llanwonno. The church honoured him and he honoured the Church, his steadfast
faith that there were none like the people of Llanwonno. He did powerful and
continuous work during the seventeen years he was a pastor in the church. It is
a pity that he was cut down in the midst of his days, but no one knows the mind
of the Lord. His sister is the only one who lives in the place now - Mrs
Griffiths, Brynffrwd; she and her family continue to worship in the old place of
worship.
The Reverend Idris Thomas was not
the first Shepherd of the Church of Bethel. The Reverend William Davies, Merthyr
was that. He came to Bethel from Cwmaman, Aberdare. It is not absolutely certain
how long he stayed in the old village. He came as Bethel’s Shepherd in
1884 and went from here to Merthyr in 1893, but at first he did not live in the old
village. During the nine years he stayed in Ynysybwl, Jerusalem separated
from Bethel (in 1886). He moved to live in Ynysybwl soon after this. So his connection as Bethel’s Shepherd lasted just two or three years, but he was the Church’s
first pastor.
After the death of Reverend Idris Thomas the Church was without a
Shepard for four years. In 1913 a call was given to the Reverend William Gregory
of Llys y Frnydd ar Ewenni in the Vale of Glamorgan, and he is Bethel’s pastor at this
time.