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Unitarians |
1811 |
The Rev John Jones left Hen Dŷ Cwrdd and was succeeded by
the Rev Thomas Evans (Tomos Glyn Cothi) under whose ministry Hen Dŷ Cwrdd became
uncompromisingly Unitarian. Until this time, Unitarians and others who denied the
doctrine of the Trinity were penalized politically far more than orthodox non-conformists.
This was, however, remedied in 1813 by the so-called Unitarian relief Act. Hen Dŷ Cwrdd
immediately took out a new registration at Llandaff, but still called itself Presbyterian.
The Application was signed by the Rev Thomas Evans and Richard Rees and Samuel Rees,
Gentlemen of Wyrfa. It was dated the 27th.March 1813 and took effect the next day.
NLW /P.D.M./12.
There is considerable material on the life of Tomos Glyn Cothi a gifted teacher
and a radical reformer. His diaries (mss preserved) throw interesting sidelights
on the contemporary social life of Aberdare. The following information is extracted
from the church registers. |
|
1792 |
43 members |
Total Offertory |
£29..9..2 |
1822 |
45 members |
Total Offertory |
£29..10..5½ |
See also Cardiff Free Library Mss. 5.153 |
|
Returns of Thomas Dalton Deputy Clerk of
the Peace
for the County of Glamorgan of Non-conformists
Dated January 25th 1830
According to those returns, there were 50 Unitarians in Aberdare. Thus, it appears
that throughout this period their number remained fairly constant. |
1833 |
Tomos Glyn Cothi died and his tombstone gives the date as January
27th and age 68. A memorial tablet at the chapel however gives the date as the 29th
January and that he died in his 69th year. It also says that when the grave was
re-opened in 1848 on the occasion of his daughter’s funeral he was found lying
on his face. This gave rise to the story that he was buried alive. |
1833 |
October: A note in the Church records of a dinner attended by
Unitarian Ministers.
To: David Llewellyn Y Bryn Hyfryd October 25th
1833
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To Dinner |
11 Ministers |
at 2/- per |
£1.. 2s..0d. |
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4 Quarts ale |
at 5d per quart |
£1..0s..8d. |
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1833 |
A week after the death of Tomos Glyn Cothi, Hen Dŷ Cwrdd
extended a call to the Rev John Jones of Rhandirmwyn. He was inducted at the end
of February 1833. See DNB.
He was active in local politics and eisteddfodau and noted
for his celebrated lantern lectures etc. |
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1846 Membership had dropped to 39
1853 Membership had risen to 60 (about) Gardd Aberdâr |
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This was a small congregation, however : |
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Thomas Dalton’s Returns for 1830 |
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Calvinistic Methodists |
314 |
Independents |
275 |
Baptists |
178 |
Wesleyans |
102 |
Unitarians |
50 |
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