Cwmtwrch

Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall began construction in 1909 as the work of George Griffiths, and others. It was completed in 1912. On the fiftieth anniversary of its construction, it was rebuilt in 1962.

Date Stone plaque on Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall:-

Mission Hall
Adeiladadwyd
1912
Ail Adeiladwyd
1962

Mission Hall
Built
1912
Rebuilt
1962

1885 - 1970

Many converted during the religious awakening of 1904 but when a man, born on 25th August 1885 at Harddfan Lower Cwmtwrch accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour on the night of 18th November 1904 in the Vestry of Beulah Chapel, his life and works would change forever. He became known as Pastor Griffiths and 64 years later, at the age of 85, he was interred in the grounds of the Mission Hall which he helped found.
His Obituary is testament to his life:

From The Voice Thursday 19th March 1970

OBITUARY: PASTOR GEORGE GRIFFITHS

One of the outstanding Christian gentlemen in the Upper Swansea Valley, Pastor George Griffiths, for so long a period the shepherd at the Cwmtwrch Mission Hall, died on Wednesday.
Born on 25th August 1885 at Harddfan Lower Cwmtwrch George Griffiths commenced work when 12 years of age as a collier's boy at Brynhenllys Colliery. In 1909 with others, following a spiritual revelation, Mr Griffiths directed the Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall; and over the years he has been a beloved shepherd and pastor.
Sympathy is extended to the family in their loss.

From The Voice Thursday 26th March 1970

THE PASSING OF A PRINCE:
By Pastor Ivor Hopkins, Mission Hall

The funeral of Pastor George Griffiths, Delfryn Lower Cwmtwrch took place on Saturday at Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall Cwmtwrch. For 58 years from 1912 to 1970, he had faithfully exercised a pastoral care over the church which meets at the Mission Hall. It is with this place of worship, which he and 12 others founded, that his name will long be remembered.
It is good to give honour where honour is due; Pastor Griffiths was a great man of God because he knew, loved and served the God of great men. To God be the glory for the fragrance and fruitfulness of His well beloved servant, who was a prince in Israel.
More than 300 people gathered to pay their last respects to a true servant of Jesus Christ. More than 30 ministers attended, coming from as far afield as Scotland and from all over the principality.
Christians from many parts and from all denominations joined with local believers, with ministers and missionaries, saint and sinner, men and women, young and old. All united with the family to do homage to one who was a beloved father. A father to his own five children who will surely miss him and a father in God to countless others who have been touched and blessed by his Spirit filled life.
Many ministers took part in the service in the presence of a capacity congregation; addresses being given by Rev Denis Young Cwmtwrch, Pastor Elwyn Davies Ystalyfera, Pastor Ivor Hopkins Cwmtwrch, and Rev D Elwyn Davies general secretary for the Evangelical Movements of Wales. All paid sincere tribute to the memory of a man of God. As an epilogue to the service Mr Idris Davies, the well-known Evangelist, preached a brief gospel message, a fitting farewell to one whom so loved the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
Many will mourn the passing of Pastor Griffiths, the world will be a poorer place without him but we rejoice that heaven will be the richer. And the number who bade him farewell below would be but a fraction of the number of those who welcomed him above.
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing" 2 Timothy IV 7-8
Mourners at the funeral: Sam, Leslie, and Aneurin sons; Minnie, Gwennie daughters; Eurwen, Mary, Betty, Phyllis daughters-in-law; Raymond, Joe sons-in-law; Robert, Margaret, Barrie, Maureen, Ian, Gwenda, Kay, Anne Bethan grandchildren; William Edgar brother; Ernie brother-in-law; Mary cousin: Sarah, Alcwyn, Glyn, Gwennie May, Gwennie, Gwyneth, Edgar, Jenny, Maggie, Millie, Nan, Tom, Joan, David George, Jenny, Eric, Olga, Gwenfa, Alun, Sam, Arthur, John, Jack, Les nephews and nieces.

His wife Sarah Anne nee Jones, whom he married in 1909, died in 1965 and is also buried within the grounds.

Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall

Pastor George Griffiths' brothers Samuel Griffiths and Edgar Griffiths were both important members of Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall.

In addition to Pastor George Griffiths and his wife, the other burial within the grounds is that of Samuel D Griffiths, Pastor Griffith's brother, and his wife:

From The Voice Friday 24th February 1961

SAMUEL D GRIFFITHS

One of the founders of the Mission Hall at Cwmtwrch has died in the person of Mr Samuel Griffiths, Maespica House Lower Cwmtwrch.
The funeral was conducted by Rev Arthur Prichard, Gareth Davies, Maldwyn Munday, Alun John, Cynwyn Davies, Pastor's Elwyn Davies, Griffith W George, Mr Haydn Lewis and Mr John C Hughes.
Mr Griffiths was the 1st to be buried on land adjoining the Mission Hall reserved for the few pioneer members. He was 84 years of age.
Mourners at the funeral were: Katie Griffiths widow; David George and Eric, Jennie, Olga, Millie sons and daughters in law; Alun and David Emrys grandson; David Leyshon, George, William Edgar brothers; William Evans brother-in-law; Sarah and, Annie, Lizzie Jane sisters in law; Mrs Ted Rees, Mrs Maggie Jane Maddock cousins; Gwennie, Sarah, Gwennie May, Maggie, Gwyneth, Minnie, Jennie, Gwennie, Gwenda, Glyn, Will, Jim, Gwyn, Tom, Les, Aneurin, Gethin, Raymond, Joe, Alcwyn, David, Thomas, Lloyd, Barry, Ian, Terry nieces and nephews.

The grave and headstone of Samuel and Katie Griffiths

Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall, Cwmtwrch, Ystradgynlais

Thank you to Catherine Howells for these photographs of life at Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall, which come from her mother's personal collection.

Young people from Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall and Saron Apostolic Church in 1930

Baptism of members of Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall in the River Twrch in 1931

Men from Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall in the 1960s, with Pastor George Griffiths in the centre.

Tro'r Gleien Mission Hall, Cwmtwrch, Ystradgynlais

From the Evening Post, March 1st 1913:-

ANOTHER WELSH OUTBREAK

Remarkable religious revival scenes have been witnessed at Cwmtwrch, an obscure and remote industrial hamlet in South Wales, about 12 miles from Swansea. The scenes correspond with singular fidelity to those which marked the religious movement of eight years ago associated with the name of Evan Roberts.

The movement started during the Christmas holidays, in a series of missional meetings conducted by a collier named Stephen Jeffferies of Maesteg, and John Griffiths, a collier of Aberdare. From the outset the fervour of the villagers was intense, manifesting itself in those strange unorganised silences and weird outbursts which marked the origin of the Evan Roberts movement. Those who have come under the sway of this new crusade affirm that two factors are conspicuous: first, an all pervading mysterious silece; second, wonderful testimonies by those declare themselves saved.

Cwmtwrch is a homely hamlet on the border of three counties, Glamorgan, Brecon and Carmarthen, in the upper reaches of the Swansea valley, and already many hundreds have flocked to the village. The mission hall will not hold a tithe of those who desire to attend the services, and revival meetings are being held on the main roads. These start in the afternoon, and continue without break till 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning.

It is too early to say whether this movement at Cwmtwrch comes within the category of the Welsh revival of 1904, but the origins are curiously similar, and the manifestations very much alike.