DAVIES, HOWEL (c. 1716 - 1770), Methodist cleric

It is thought that he was born in Monmouthshire, but he is known to have had an uncle living at Llanspyddid, near Brecon. In 1737 he was a schoolmaster at Talgarth, where he was converted by Howel Harris. Acting on the latter's advice he went to Llanddowror to study under Griffith Jones. He was ordained deacon in 1739 and priest in 1740. He served as curate under Griffith Jones at Llandilo Abercowin, but in 1741 moved to Llys-y-frân, Pembrokeshire, where, for a short time, he worked in a similar capacity. In 1744 he married Catherine Poyer, a wealthy heiress, and went to live at Parke near Whitland. When she died he married Elizabeth White and went to live at her home at Prendergast. His only daughter, Margaret, married Nathaniel Rowland, the revivalist's son. Howel Davies died 13 January 1770 at the age of 53 and was buried at Prendergast. He was connected with the Methodists from 1737 until his death and was a regular attendant at their association meetings. At one time he had preached all over Wales, but in his latter years he had confined his activities to Pembrokeshire. He made use of the ruinous chapels of ease in that county but was also responsible for the building of Woodstock chapel (near Ambleston) in 1755 and Capel Newydd (near Boncath) in 1763. He was a persuasive evangelist. Rhys Thomas of Carmarthen published one of his sermons in 1762 under the title Llais y Durtur, etc., and another in 1768 under the title Llais y Priodfab, etc. Among the Methodists he was called, not without reason, the 'Apostle of Pembrokeshire.'

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• W. Williams, Marwnad ar y Parchedig Mr. H. Davies chaplain i'r Wir Anrhydeddus Countess Walsingham yr hwn a fu farw y 13, o Ionawr, 1770, yn 53 flwyddyn o'i oed = An English elegy on the Rev. Mr. H. Davies chaplain to the Right Hon. Countess of Walsingham who departed this life January 13th, 1770 in the 53rd year of his age who was likewise a pastor of four large Congregations in Pembrokeshire (Llandovery 1770)
• 'Cofiant y Parch. Howel Davies,' Y Drysorfa, Ionawr a Chwefror 1834, 1-4, 33-36
• R. Bennett, Blynyddoedd cyntaf Methodistiaeth (1909), 154, 188
• J. Morgan Jones and W. Morgan, Y Tadau Methodistaidd (1895-1897), i, 128-40
• M. H. Jones, The Trevecka Letters, or the unpublished MSS. correspondence of Howell Harris and his contemporaries (1932), 75
• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, iii, 96-106, iv, 7, xiii, 40, xx, 74-80. xxiii, 128, xxxii, 19, 109

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Howel Davies

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733179

Published date: 1959

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