The Nonconformist Movement in Industrial Swansea, 1780-1914
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_________________________________________________________________________Swansea University E-Theses The Nonconformist movement in industrial Swansea, 1780-1914. Williams, Edwin Colin How to cite: _________________________________________________________________________ Williams, Edwin Colin (1993) The Nonconformist movement in industrial Swansea, 1780-1914.. thesis, Swansea University. http://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42655 Use policy: _________________________________________________________________________ This item is brought to you by Swansea University. Any person downloading material is agreeing to abide by the terms of the repository licence: copies of full text items may be used or reproduced in any format or medium, without prior permission for personal research or study, educational or non-commercial purposes only. The copyright for any work remains with the original author unless otherwise specified. The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holder. Permission for multiple reproductions should be obtained from the original author. Authors are personally responsible for adhering to copyright and publisher restrictions when uploading content to the repository. Please link to the metadata record in the Swansea University repository, Cronfa (link given in the citation reference above.) http://www.swansea.ac.uk/library/researchsupport/ris-support/ THE NONCONFORMIST MOVEMENT INDUSTRIAL SWANSEA, 1780 — 1 1 0H by EDWIN COLIN WILLIAMS, B.A. A dissertation submitted in candidature for the degree of Master of Philosophy of the University of Wales September 1993 ProQuest Number: 10805431 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10805431 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 D E D I C A T I 0 N To the memory of my mother , Annie Ruth Williams , who passed away soon after this dissertation was submitted . DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed.. (candidate) Date __ < y. ......... ......... STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed............................................ (candidate) Date...... V'e&rt.'Ui** ............. Signed.... (supervisor) Date.... STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed (candidate) Date SUMMARY This is a study of Nonconformity in industrial society of Swansea from about 1780 to 1914. Chapter I sets the scene by describing the economic and social background. From the late eighteenth century, industrial growth taking place nearby in the districts surrounding the ancient borough of Swansea transformed the character of the entire area, and resulted in the creation of a series of industrial communities during the course of the following century. The spotlight then turns upon Nonconformity. Earlier forms of the movement had existed in the district since the middle of the seventeenth century. Then, from the late eighteenth century, there was massive and sustained growth, which enabled it to become the dominant factor in the religious life of the locality by the middle of the following century. Subsequently, this position was consolidated and strengthened over the remainder of the century. The next chapters focus on certain aspects of the movement within the locality. Chapter III examines Nonconformity as a religion, its characteristics, preoccupations and the reasons for its popularity. Chapter IV then outlines those cultural and educational activities which were an integral part of Nonconformity and which contributed so much to its appeal and to its importance. Chapter V then considers Nonconformity and its relationship with the industrial society of the locality. Unlike the Established Church, the movement benefited from the emergence of the industrial society. This was because it was capable of providing the religious and other fundamental needs of a society experiencing traumatic change. However as the industrial society matured, these needs were diminished or were satisfied in other ways. The study concludes by stating that the industrial society in Swansea was associated with a vigorous and diverse Nonconformist movement. However, this society, which had initially contributed considerably to the growth of Nonconformity also added to the problems and challenges facing the movement as the nineteenth century drew to its close. CONTENTS PAGE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (i) ABBREVIATIONS (ii) PREFACE (iv) CHAPTER 1 THE MAKING OF INDUSTRIAL SWANSEA CHAPTER 2 THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF 42 NONCONFORMITY IN SWANSEA CHAPTER 3 NONCONFORMITY AS A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT 108 CHAPTER 4 NONCONFORMITY AS A CULTURAL MOVEMENT 159 CHAPTER 5 NONCONFORMITY AND THE INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY 218 CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 273 APPENDIX A Map of the area with Nonconformist places 284 of worship as listed in 1851 Religions Census. APPENDIX B Nonconformist places of worship listed 285 in the 1851 Religious Census APPENDIX C Nonconformist Sunday School attendance 288 BIBLIOGRAPHY 290 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my gratitude to all those who, unconsciously as well as consciously, assisted me in carrying out this study. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr Prys Morgan, who showed me a kindness and helpfulness which went far beyond what was expected of him as my supervisor. Mrs B Arnold who typed my manuscript with an expertise equalled only by her patience. Finally, I would like to thank my wife for reading and checking the typescript and for her forbearance during its preparation. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS IQ Baptist Quarterly Blue Books 1847 Reports, Minutes of Evidence and Appendices of the Roval Commission appointed to inquire into the state of Education in Wales 1847 CCHMC Cvlchgrawn Cvmdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfiniaidd. C C L Cardiff Central Library D W B Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 Education Commission 1861 Reports of the Assistant Commissioners appointed to enquire into the state of popular education in England 1861 Employment Commission 1842 Reports, Minutes of Evidence and Appendices of the Roval Commission appointed to inquire into the employment of children and vounq persons 1842. G C H Glamorgan County History H E A C Hanes Eglwysi Annibvnol Cymru, T Rees and J Thomas 5 cyfrol (1-4 Liverpool, 1871-5) and 5 (Dolgellau 1891). H P N W History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales, T Rees, 2nd edition (London 1883) J H S C W Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales J W E H Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History N L W National Library of Wales N L W J National Library of Wales Journal Religious Census 1851 The Religious Census of 1851. A calendar of the Returns relating to South Wales Vol I, South Wales. I G Jones and D Williams (Cardiff 1976) S W W I A S South West Wales Industrial Archaeology Society Newsletter (ii) T C H B C Trafodion Cymdeithas Hanesvddol Bedyddwyr Cymru T H S C Transactions of the Honourable Society of cymmrodorion. U.C.S. University College Swansea. Welsh Church Commission 1910 Reports, Minutes of Evidence and Appendices of the Roval Commission appointed to inquire into the Church of England and other religious bodies in Wales and Monmouthshire 1910. WGRO West Glamorgan Record Office WHR Welsh History Review (iii) PREFACE Welsh Nonconformist history has hardly enjoyed the best of fortunes at the hands of historians. It is true that the output of writing on the movement during the halcyon days in the late nineteenth century was prodigious, with numerous chapel and denominational histories, along with the ubiquitous cofiannau [biographies]. However, much of what was produced was the work of reverend gentlemen whose passion for their cause was inevitably reflected in the style and content of their writings. These attitudes, together with the sometimes bitter interdenominational rivalries of the time prevented the adoption of a cool historical objectivity. The picture of Welsh Nonconformity which emerged was partisan, whilst many underlying questions were left unanswered. However, if Nonconformist history has previously been the victim of much misplaced zeal, its fate during more recent times has been to suffer considerable neglect. Part of the explanation for this unhappy situation lies in the fact that much of the relevant material is in a language which is a barrier for many would be students. More important, however, is the secular minded attitude of many contemporary Welsh historians who view Nonconformist history with indifference, or even distaste. The interests and attitudes of such writers are reflected by the existence of Llafur, the journal of the Society for the Study of Welsh Labour History, or in