Before 1650 it is generally accepted that there were no Baptist Churches in Wales. The background of the emergence of the Baptist cause in Wales rested in the changes that were taking place in England. During the 1640s and 50s when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector many new religious beliefs were formulated and what we loosely call “Baptist Churches” began to form, but the restoration of Charles the Second in 1660 marked the beginning of a period of oppression and political, social and religious discrimination which continued until the beginning of the nineteenth century.
The first Conventicle Act of July 1664, which remained in operation until 1667, prohibited all religious services, except Anglican ones, in which there were more present than the family and four others. It was just possible to hold family worship with a few servants only. Those who would not conform to the discipline of the Anglican Church, the “Non Conformists”, could not attend Universities, hold public office or hold services within 5 miles of an incorporated town. There was a system of fines, increasing on further offences. It was under these circumstances that our forefathers held meetings under great difficulties with much depending on the local Squire who might or might not be sympathetic.
After the reign of James the Second, who endeavoured to restore the Roman Catholic Church, and the so called “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 they (the RC’s) were seen as the greater threat and things eased a little. The Act of Union with Scotland of 1707 recognised Presbyterianism as the established faith of that country. Yet the churches described were groups of believers who met in meeting houses, houses and generally not in buildings we would recognise. This began to change in the eighteenth century when buildings were put up. With the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts in 1828, Baptists and other Non Conformists had greater freedom and the nineteenth century was a time of great expansion and growth, especially in the new Industrial Areas. This caused places of worship to be found in outlandish places away from areas of social activity.
Members of the Abergavenny church came from as far afield as Llangwm and Tredynog (Tredunnock). At a meeting at Brecon in 1656 a list of churches contained such names as Ilston, Carmarthen, Abergavenny, Bredwardine (Hereford), Cludoc, Llangors, and Tredunnock. Tredunnock’s pastor was Walter Prosser. These were possibly groups, not having a building of their own.
William Thomas, in the sixteen fifties, emerges as pastor of a church which was Particular but had an open communion commitment in the parishes of Llangwm and Llantrissent. William Thomas had returned home in 1646-47 and started to gather together the nucleus of a church. From time to time he preached at conventicles at Llandegfedd and Llangybi to as many as 30-40, including “responsible” farmers and freeholders. In 1675 Thomas Quarrel was chosen to succeed William Thomas as pastor. He was living in Ty Gwyne, Llangwm, confining himself to Llangwm and Llantrissent.
Six Welsh churches joined the London Association in 1689, among them was Llanwenarth which was the old Abergavenny church of John Miles, now extinct, and was referred to as the church of Llanwenarth. The others were Blaenau Gwent, (Aberystruth), Llangwm and Trydynog, the last two being branches, their minister was William Pritchard.
After 1742, Llangwm broke up when its minister became a Quaker, and the members scattered. That was the demise of Llangwm, its members are unknown. We have the John Miles churches (6), and their influence from the west, Ilston (Swansea), Llantrissent (Glam), Carmarthen, Llanwenarth (Abergavenny), Hay on Wye and Rhydwlwym formed 1660-70. These in turn set up further churches, such as Blaenau Gwent (Abertillery) and Hengoed.
Blaenau Gwent broke from Llanwenarth in 1696 and the two churches, with Hengoed, founded Penygarn in 1727. The same three, together with Penygarn, helped to found Bethesda, Rogerstone (1742).
In “Hanes Athrofeydd y Bedyddwr” of 1832, in an appreciation on Miles Harrhy of Penygarn (its first minister), it is stated that, as an itinerant preacher, he visited Glascoed, Goetre, Blaenavon and Risca. There were six people at Glascoed who, either on horseback or foot, crossed the mountains once a month to take communion at their main church which was Blaenau Gwent. It would seem that the influence of Miles Harrhy (Penygarn) and a family connection of the Wroths, together with Blaenau Gwent, gave impetus to the small cause. The west met the east at this point. Miles Harrhy died in 1776, long before the church at Glascoed was built.
