Oddfellows

The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees

Llanelli & District Oddfellows

Grand Master: David Bowen

David Bowen (Dafydd ap Owen) (1829-1890) lived in Thomas Street, Llanelli, and was a local historian, novelist and poet as well as being the South Wales correspondent for Baner ac Amserau Cymru. Writing under the name David ab Owen he was a prominent member of the Llanelli Eisteddfod which was held every year.

1856 David Bowen wrote Hanes Llanelli (History of Llanelli) and won a prize at the Llanelli National Eisteddfod. He signed Hanes Llanelli – ‘A Native’. Later known as Deheufardd, (Southern Bard), he was Grand Master of the Llanelli and District Oddfellows which society was established in 1879 and held their meetings in the Ivy Bush, Park Street.

1879 Llanelli and District Oddfellows society was established.

1902 John Innes wrote, “Eisteddfod held, the proceedings of which were produced in book form. A prize for the best history of Llanelly was divided between David Bowen (Deheufardd) and ‘Mathetes’. Mr Bowen’s essay is a very accurate piece of work. The book also contains short histories of Felinfoel and Pontyberem”.

David Bowen's history of Llanelli is a valuable source of information for modern day historians and covers early history, industries, the docks, religious history, the mechanics’ institute, education, births and deaths and future prospects. Originally written in Welsh for the Eisteddfod it has been translated into English by Ivor Griffiths of Penyrheol near Gorseinon.

The following is from the section on religious history:

The Religious History of the Place

Establishment of Nonconformism in Llanelli

The Welsh are regarded even by other nations, as a devout and religious people. In truth their religion is their main characteristic. It is a true statement from the works of one of the old bards “Eu Ner a foliant” (“Their Lord they praise”). As already noted, Catholicism was strong in the parish and Protestants afterwards having a moderate influence on the people. Nonconformism appeared in Llanelli around 1650. Nonconformists started preaching in Cribyn Walter, near Felinfoel in 1650, and worshipped in peace until the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, when severe persecution came upon them.

They were scattered, meeting at night in secret places near Troserch sanctified by their prayers. They would not dare make their appearance near the town, so they kept their religious meetings in some far corner of the countryside. Afterwards they formed a church in Llanedi under the leadership of the Reverend Stephen Hughes, Mydrim. “Religious people of Llanedi! Understand that religion was planted among your ancient fathers by the immortal Stephen Hughes, seraph of Carmarthenshire.”

The Independents of Llanelli went to Llanedi to worship for many years. Preaching began in Llanelli in 1770 by Mr Thomas, Ffosyrefail, Llandeilo-fach, but he only preached once every two months for almost ten years. They obtained a piece of land to build a chapel near a place where there had once been a house called ‘Ty Als,’ and a spring in the corner called Ffynnon Als.

In 1780 they built a chapel which they called Capel Als. It was extended in 1827; re-extended in 1839, and extended for the third time in 1852, and now it is one of most beautiful chapels in Wales. The church numbers between 500 and 600 members. There is no church more generous in the denomination. Its first ministers were the Reverends Evan Davies and Howell Williams, and the present minister is the Reverend David Rees.

In 1839, some of the members of Capel Als formed an English church in Heol-y-Parc (Park Street) Llanelli. Their first minister was the Reverend James James (Iago Emlyn), who was there for nearly two years.

In 1841 they ordained the Reverend Thomas Roberts as their minister. He later moved to Gloucestershire. The present minister is the Reverend R. Hancock.

In 1841 a number of Capel Als members formed Siloa church, Glanymor. Their first minister was the Reverend T Rees. He laboured among them from 1842 until 1849 when he left for Kendall. He was followed by the Reverend David Davies and then in a few years by the Reverend Thomas Davies from Llansamlet. The chapel has been rebuilt, and was opened in May 1856. It is a very beautiful chapel. It appears that religion is prospering in Llanelli.

The Baptists

It is debatable whether the Baptists began as early as the Independents. Undoubtedly they were the first in the outlying neighbourhood of the town. I believe that congregations of Baptists were meeting in a dwelling house near Felin-isaf in 1653. There was a man named Anthony Matthews living in the Felin and he was a prime mover in the cause. They were terribly persecuted around 1661, and during this time they held their services in the Alltfawr in the parish of Llannon. Some of them went to America during this persecution. Afterwards, the Baptists established themselves as a church in Felinfoel. In 1773 they raised a chapel in the lower part of town but did not hold regular services there for many years.

In 1822 they exchanged the land under the chapel in the lower part of the town with a Mr Roberts, for the land where Seion chapel stands today.

Seion was built in 1822, and rebuilt in 1838. The church was attached to Felinfoel until 1831 when it was incorporated as a church on its own. Their first minister was the Reverend David Bowen, and they ordained the Reverend James Spencer as co-minister a few years after the incorporation.

Their present minister is the Reverend John Rhys Morgan (Lleurwg).

It is a prosperous church with between 300 and 400 members. There is a small chapel related to Seion in Cwmbach where they hold Sunday school, and there is also a service often held there. The Baptists intend to establish an English church in Llanelli in the near future.

In 1840, the church of Bethel, Glanymor, was formed. The chapel was built the same year and was extended in 1850. Their minister is the Reverend W. Hughes who has laboured in their midst for 12 years. The chapel is being renovated this year (1856). The church is in a prosperous state with between 300 and 400 members.

The Calvinistic Methodists

The Calvinistic Methodist cause started in this place in a very strange manner. Mr Jones, Llangain, frequently preached in Goppa-fach. His sermons were famous, and hosts of people crowded to hear him.

One communion Sunday, two members of the Baptists in Felinfoel went to listen to him after their morning service, instead of waiting for the communion in the afternoon. They had to journey between eight or nine miles. For this indiscipline they were called to account, which occasioned their departure from Felinfoel and they joined the Methodists at Goppa-fach. The name of one was Walter Bowen, clothier and merchant (father of the late Reverend John Bowen), and the name of the other was Henry Rees, a smallholder (the father of Mr William Rees, Cilfig Cottage).

Shortly after this they formed a church in a dwelling house in the town. They met in the house of an old maid named Martha, and they called the assembly ‘Society Martha’. Preaching began in the town in 1786 in a house called Gellion, near Culheol. For years the members would attend Holy Communion in Llanlluan chapel or Goppa-fach, but eventually they succeeded in having communion at Gellion, and Mr Davies, Cynwyl administered the sacrament there for the first time. It was in Gellion that they held the first Sunday school in Llanelli.

Gellion soon became too small, and in 1809 they built a small chapel on the spot where the present chapel stands, and it was renovated in

1821. The church expanded and the congregation greatly increased so that they felt the need for a larger chapel. So, in 1840 the present chapel was built which cost £1,600, and all praise to them, none of the debt is outstanding. The membership is over 300. This year they have started building a beautiful chapel near the South Wales Railway.

There is a branch school of the Methodists near Furnace.

The Wesleyans

The English Wesleyan cause began here around 1793 and expanded considerably since then. The Welsh cause was very weak over the years, but has lately revived somewhat. The English Wesleyans have recently built a splendid chapel in the Gothic style, which they opened in May 1856. The cost of the building was £1,500 and the outstanding debt is at present only £300. The Welsh Wesleyans have bought the old chapel of the English cause, and started holding services there at the beginning of June, and I am confident that they will proceed with more prosperity than they have done in previous years.

Llanelli is known for its fervour in its religion. Possibly there is not a neighbourhood in Wales containing the great number of working class with such keenness in religious matters. The inhabitants have been taught to contribute as the Lord brings them success. Let us hope that this fervour and devotion will never leave the town of Llanelli.

According to the last accounting made in 1851, the number of persons worshipping in the town church was 1,313 and the number worshipping in the Nonconformist chapels was 6,923. This was a great number in comparison to the number of inhabitants.

In 1848 the parish was divided anew for ecclesiastical purposes. A new ‘district’ was formed. A church and parsonage was built, and it was called St Pauls, and it was endowed by the church deputies.

The district of St Paul’s contained part of the manor of Westfa. The population of the ‘district’ in 1851 was 3,056, of which 77 were in Westfa. The priest at St Paul’s is the Reverend David Edward Williams, and he holds one Welsh and two English services every Sunday.

The parish church was renovated in 1849 and it is a beautiful church.

The present vicar is the Reverend Ebenezer Morris and the Reverend D M Rees is the curate.

Sincere thanks to Ivor Griffiths for providing the above English translation.