Origins in Clydach
Bethel Evangelical Church was founded in 1971, but its roots in Clydach go back far longer than that. In the midst of the First World War, Trinity Forward Movement Chapel met for the very first time in Clydach’s Public Hall.
Its aim was simple: to bring the gospel to the English-speaking industrial workers who were flocking to Clydach to find work at The Mond nickelworks.
Trinity Forward Movement Chapel became Trinity Presbyterian Church of Wales, and is now Bethel Evangelical Church. Our story is one deeply rooted in Wales’ industrial and social history. It’s a story of extraordinary faith, of setbacks and breakthroughs, of bold decisions, of pain and joy, of confident trust in God.
1811
The Beginnings of Calvinistic Methodism
Bethel Evangelical Church — Independent since April 1, 1971. Historical roots reaching back to June 1811, Bala.
A Movement Shaped by Revival
The Calvinistic Methodists were at the heart of the great revivals in Wales during the 1700s. This movement held two strong beliefs:
- Calvinistic – a deep love for biblical truth.
- Methodist – a conviction that faith must be lived and felt in the heart.
For them, true Christianity meant the Word of God and the Spirit of God working together. They wanted to avoid a cold, intellectual religion on one side and mere rule-keeping on the other.
Inside & Outside the Anglican Church
Their main leaders were Howell Harris from Trefecca (1714–1773) and Daniel Rowland from Llangeitho (1713–1790).
Both Harris and Rowland were Anglican ministers, and early Calvinistic Methodism grew inside the Anglican Church. But their bold preaching about the gospel and true conversion caused tension.
Howell Harris
Harris was converted in 1735 and immediately began preaching all over Wales — sometimes in Baptist or Congregational chapels. Many Anglican ministers opposed him. When new believers needed help, Harris started “societies” where they could grow in their faith together. Although Harris applied for Anglican ordination several times, he was rejected each time. He stayed loyal to the Church of England until his death at age 59, but the Church did not support him in return.
Daniel Rowland
Rowland was also converted in 1735 and ordained that same year. He travelled widely, preaching the gospel and forming societies just like Harris. A powerful revival broke out in Llangeitho in 1762 under his preaching. Instead of celebrating this, the Anglican Church removed him from his position. Rowland then preached in a Dissenting chapel until he died at age 77.
Our testimony is that in every circumstance and in every situation, our God was with us. He never let us down, He never disappointed, He always remained faithful.
A Church Without a Home
By this time, the Calvinistic Methodists were in a difficult position. They wished to stay within the Anglican Church, but many Anglican leaders resisted them.
- Their meetings were sometimes broken up by priests or even angry crowds.
- They were not recognised by the State or by the Church of England.
- They often had to preach in farmhouses, barns, or open fields.
- Preachers and listeners risked heavy fines or even jail.
By the early 1800s, open hostility was less common, and some Anglican clergy were friendly to them. But those clergy would have broken Church rules if they tried to officially support the movement.
The Turning Point
In 1795, the Calvinistic Methodists applied to be recognised under the Toleration Act. This allowed them to meet legally as Dissenters — but they still did not see themselves as a separate denomination.
They had:
- no statement of faith,
- no theological colleges,
- no ordained ministers of their own.
They still hoped to remain within the Church of England. But there was a major problem: the Church would not ordain their untrained but gifted gospel preachers.
Without ordained men:
- they could not baptise,
- they could not lead the Lord’s Supper,
- they could not preach in church buildings.
Meanwhile, new believers were uneasy receiving sacraments from ministers who did not believe the gospel.
“Was it right that, after leaving ungodly neighbours, they should meet them again at the Lord’s Table?”
A Difficult but Clear Decision
By the late 1700s, thousands had joined the movement, but fewer than twenty ordained ministers stood with them. The Church of England continued to resist ordaining Methodist preachers.
After many years of discussion, it became clear that the Calvinistic Methodists had only one choice left: they must become a fully separate church.
In North Wales, the vote was unanimous. In the South, only a few disagreed.
So on June 20, 1811, at the Annual Meeting in Bala, the Calvinistic Methodists formally separated from the Anglican Church — not out of anger, but out of a desire to protect and spread the gospel.
The Fruit of the Decision
History shows that the choice was the right one. The gospel continued to grow through Calvinistic Methodism, while the established church declined.
“The position of the Church has been made, not by any steps taken outside of it, but by the character of its own ministers.”