Rhondda Valleys Methodist Ministers

The below text was taken from a book which was published by the Welsh Methodist Movement and translated into English for me by a friend.  I hope it gives a little insight in the collection of photographs.

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Six years ago we published a book to celebrate the third jubilee of the Methodist ? it was as a result of the enthusiasm towards this, together with the recognition in the country that we hold and the deep respect towards ministers of the word that led us to search and bring out a second book but on slightly different lines.

It is intended as the title suggest to keep in mind and to transfer to the generations to come as far as the portraits can do the faces of all the preachers of our monthly meeting at the end of the century.

Firstly we set before you many faces of fathers of the Glamorgan Methodists. Those who were pillars of the cause in the county for many years during the century and an honour to the Methodist pulpit in Wales.

Looking at their faces raises a deep longing in our hearts and awakens old feelings and thoughts and bring to mind many sayings that were strength to us in earlier days. They are 'having died speaking again'.

For us there is sweet sense in their remembering, magic in their names and inspiration in their faces. It will be good for may to see the faces of those they heard with their ears about through their parents in the homes that they were raised and with God’s saint through expressing their experiences in the church meetings.

"Again, He sent other servants” and it will be good for many to see their faces too. About these we can say “He made some Epistles and some as prophets, and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers; to perfect the saint, to the work of the ministry, to the building of Christ’s body”. The God gave us the Fathers, and sent them and used them until now, each one in his circle, some to sow the seeds and others to irrigate.

Old pictures are also presented of the College and it’s former teachers, as well as it’s present teachers, the ones who had a large part to play in the preparing of these ministers.

Through reading the facts that are listed it is seen that the monthly meeting of East Wales are indebted to nine of the Welsh Counties for it’s ministers. One came from Meirionyddshire, two from Mynwy, 2 from Maldwynshire, 3 from Pembrokeshire, 3 from Caernarvonshire, 7 from Brycheiniog, 17 from Carmarthen, 24 from Glamorgan itself and 33 from Ceredigion. One also came from England and one from the United States.

This is the first time that these faces have been presented in this form, and if the onlookers derive as much pleasure from them as we had from collecting them, then we can promise them much pleasure. We have been able to present the living ones as they appeared at the end of the century as they all sat for their photographs within two months of each other. Each one was placed inside according to the order of their ordainment.

At the end of the book there is a statistical situation of the monthly meeting at it’s time of inception at the end of the century.

I am indebted to W. Morgan, Pant Dowlais for many of the pictures of the fathers, he who kindly placed them in my hand for the service of this book. Also to the relatives of many of the deceased for their favours.