Methodism in Wales

The Methodist revival began the same way as in England within the Church of England in Wales and at the start also remained as a group within it. However its success meant that Methodists gradually built up their own networks, structures, and even meeting houses (or chapels), which led eventually to the secession of 1811 and the formal establishment of the Calvinistic Methodist Presbyterian Church of Wales  in 1823. 

John Wesley had heard from George Whitefield in March 1739 about a great awakening that was already going on in Wales under the ministry of Howell Harris and others. Whitefield had just returned from his own first visit to Wales across the River Severn from Bristol, where he had met and developed an immediate strong friendship with Harris. John Wesley and George Whitefield were drawn into association with Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland, Welshmen inspired by similar values. Wesley first went to Wales in 1739 at Harris’ invitation and preached to a crowd of around 400 at Devauden, Monmouthshire, on 15 October, 1739.

In 2013 a Bust of Wesley was unveiled on the village Green at  Devauden marking  the anniversary of his first Welsh sermon he preached on the spot after being refused entry to the Parish church. The bust has been funded by donations from people in Devauden and local Methodist churches.

However, the Welsh Methodists at that time embraced the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, believing that Christ died only for the chosen elect. This doctrine was held by the Welsh Methodist leaders and by Whitefield but was energetically rejected by Wesley who preached the Arminian view that the offer of salvation was open to all. Although Harris and Wesley found it possible to work together at first, this basic difference in the interpretation of Scripture increasingly drove a wedge between the two sides of the early Methodist movement. Despite John Wesley’s 35 visits and other occasions when he passed through Wales on journeys to and from Ireland, Wesleyan Methodism had made only a small impact in Wales. Since Wesley did not speak Welsh this impact was almost exclusively on English speakers. His agreement with Harris leaving most of the responsibility for Wales to him meant that by the end of the 18th century Wesley’s followers in Wales numbered only around 600.

We journey to Brecon where Rev Thomas Coke, faher of Methodist World Mission was born.

in 1747 in a house in the High Street, just a stone's throw from the Parish Church of St Mary's Church where Thomas was baptized just a week later.

Little is known about his childhood, except that he was a pupil at Christ College during the headmastership of the Revd David Griffith. In 1764 he went up to Jesus College, Oxford. Thanks to the family prosperity, he went up as a Gentleman Commoner, and seems to have enjoyed the social life of the university. He graduated in 1768, became a Fellow Commoner the next day and his degree (MA) two years later. In 1775 he obtained his doctorate in Civil Law, with support from no less a person than Lord North, who was both Prime Minister and Chancellor of the University at that time.
Meanwhile, in line with his religious upbringing, he embarked on a clerical career. 

In 1770 he was ordained as deacon and in 1772 as priest and was sent as a curate to the parish of South Petherton, in Somerset. In 1770 the vicar of Kingston St Mary, near Taunton.brought together two of his friends, the young Coke and the veteran Methodist leader John Wesley. The meeting would change the direction of both men. Wesley advised Coke to return to his parish, 'doing all the good he could, visiting from house to house, omitting no part of his clerical duty' — in a nutshell, turning it into a Methodist stronghold. Coke did just this. The result a few months later was the ringing out of the church bells to celebrate his being driven from the parish.

Memorial to Thomas Coke

Brecon Cathedral

We continue to Brecon Catherdral to have lunch and view a memorial plaque to Thomas Coke. He had wished to be buried here but died aboard ship on one of his overseas travels and was burried at sea.

The Cathedral has a great cafe "Pilgrims" where we had our Sunday Roast.

Brecon Cathedral was originally founded as a Benedictine Priory in 1093 and become a parish church during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537. The Priory Church of St John the Evangelist became Brecon Cathedral in 1923 (at the creation of the Diocese of Swansea & Brecon, when the Church in Wales became a separate Province of the Anglican Communion from the Church of England). Most of the Cathedral and the other buildings in the Close date from the 14th century. The Thomas Coke memorial is on the north wall

TEXT OF THE THOMAS COKE MEMORIAL, BRECON CATHEDRAL

Sacred to the memory of The Revd. Thomas Coke, LL.D.,

Of Jesus College, Oxford, who was born in this Borough the 9th day of September, A.D. 1747. Was one of the Common Council and in 1770 filled the office of Chief Magistrate with honour to himself and equal benefit to the public. After a zealous ministry of several years in the Established Church, in 1776 he united himself to the Revd. John Wesley, M.A, and preached the Gospel with success in various parts of Great Britain and Ireland. To him were confided the Foreign Missions of the Methodists, in support of which he expended a large part of his fortune, and with unremitting vigour encountered toils and self-denial, which the Christian world beheld with admiration.

By the Blessing of God on the Missions to the Negroes in the West Indies, commenced by him 1786, a foundation was laid for the civilization and salvation of the degraded class of human beings. To the Negro race upon their native continent, as well as in the islands of their bondage, his compassions were extended, and he set the first example in modern days of efforts for the spiritual emancipation of Western Africa.

After crossing the Atlantic eighteen times on his visits to the American Continent and the West Indian Colonies in the service of the souls of men, his unwearied spirit was stirred within him to take part in the noble enterprise of evangelizing British India. He sailed in 1813 as the leader of the first Wesleyan Missionaries to Ceylon. But this "burning and shining light" which in the Western World had guided thousands into the paths of peace, had now fulfilled its course, and suddenly, yet rich in evening splendour, sunk into the shadows of mortality.

He died on the voyage the 3rd of May, 1814, and his remains were committed to the great deep, until the sea shall give up her dead. His days were past, but his purposes were not broken off, for the Mission which he had planned was made abundantly to prosper. The same love of Christ which made him long advocate and the pattern of exertions in behalf of foreign lands, constrained him also to works of pious charity at home. Into many neglected districts of England, Wales and Ireland, the means of grace were carried by his private bounty or through his public influence, and his praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.

This monument was erected A.D. 1829, at the expense of the ministers and missionaries with whom he was united, as a record of their respectful gratitude for the disinterested services, the eminent usefulness, and the long, tried, and faithful attachment of their now glorified friend, by the appointment and under direction of

the Revd. T. Roberts, M.A. and the Revd. J. Buckley.

The first Wesleyan preaching housebuilt in North Wales in 1798  was originally built by the Revd James Buckley, itinerant preacher and founder of Buckley's Brewery of Llanelly, South Wales. Buckley's helper at Pentre Llifior was James Gill, an early missionary to Gibraltar. Buckley preached the sermon at a rally prior to the inception of the first Methodist missionary society in 1813.