Revival
in the Nantlle Vale
Press
cuttings from January / February 1905
"People
are flocking in crowds to hear Evan Lloyd Jones,
who is said to be another Evan Roberts. He is barely
20 years old, and like Evan Roberts belongs to the
working classes, being a quarryman employed in Nantlle
Vale. He resides at Nebo, a village situate high
on the mountain side. Moved in the first instance
to take part in a revival meeting in his own village
and chapel, he inspired the youth of the district
to united prayer for the outpouring upon them of
the Spirit. The next day, for the first time in his
life, he ascended the pulpit, on this occasion at
Talysarn, where a great revival meeting was being
held in the Capel Mawr. At the close of the meeting
28 conversions were recorded. This meeting was but
the beginning of his mission. Since then he has been
engaged daily in the numerous quarry villages in
the Nantlle Vale, and, young as he is, he is everywhere
accorded the lead. The young quarryman wields an
extraordinary influence over the people, and crowded
audiences are nightly attracted to his meetings."
6th
January | Caernarvon Herald
"The
Revival Meetings in the Nantlle Vale are assuming
large proportions. All through the district meetings
are held nightly, and large numbers join the churches.
The result of the meetings at Nebo alone during the
week has been the conversion of 28. The public houses
are emptied, and one original old man at a meeting
thanked God "there would be no compensation
for heaven".
At
Talysarn on Monday the meeting lasted until three
o'clock in the morning. The whole village has been
transformed. No swearing is heard in the streets,
and there is no drunkenness."
7th
January |
North Wales Chronicle
"A
steady protest is being made against late hours.
In this connection the Rector of Penygroes openly
protested against this feature of the movement, plainly
stating that late hours tended to immorality, and
the county was in ill- favour in that respect already.
Nantlle
Some
strange scenes are witnessed at the Revival Meetings
in this district. At Talysarn last week several women
fainted, and strong men are described as having rolled
on the chapel floor as if in agony."
13th
January |
Caernarvon Herald
"During
the last week a number of unusually fervent meetings
was held in the Nantlle Vale. Rev. Idwal Jones held
meetings at Talysarn; and at Llanllyfni on Thursday
and Friday evenings Rev. Joseph Jones, assisted by
two ladies, addressed meetings. On Sunday, the morning
service was a remarkable one, the Rev. W.E. Williams,
the preacher, deciding not to preach and allowing
the meeting to take its own course. In the evening,
Mr. Williams essayed to preach, but the audience
broke forth into a paroxysm of religious fervour,
there being singing, praying and speaking proceeding
at the same time. Some people laughed, others danced,
and others seemed to be in fits of terror or of intense
and overpowering emotion."
18th
January |
Caernarvon Herald
"Rev.
D.T.Hughes, Rector of Talsarnau, delivered a series
of revival addresses at Penygroes, Llanllyfni and
Talysarn churches during the past week. There is
every index that the revival in these parts is a
very real thing, and as a consequence of special
services and sermons conducted by the Rector, Rev.
W.E.Jones, and curates, nearly a hundred persons
have joined the churches as communicants."
21st
January |
North Wales Chronicle
"inquiries...
have enabled an approximately accurate estimate of
the number of converts during the present revival
to be made... an aggregate total of 9000 for North
Wales up to date.* Of
individual localities, the district of Rhostryfan
and of Nantlle Vale lead with an aggregate of 1000
and 500 respectively. These two districts... estimated
at 10% of the population of North Wales... account
for over 20% of the total number of converts."
3rd
February |
Caernarvon Herald
*(a
note RE: "up to date". The revival began
October 31st 1904 and was of a year's duration, at
least in terms of Evan Roberts' direct involvement;
so that these figures from our perspective of nearly
a century on are unlikely to be a complete picture
of the revival's impact in our area, dramatic as
they are. There were probably many more whose lives
were touched by the Lord.) |
