Penuel Chapel - Rhos (1904)
Signs of revival had already been felt earlier in the year in different parts of the town. Particularly at the time of a preaching festival in June when some old people compared the atmosphere with that of the 1859 revival. In November R B Jones came for a ten-day mission. One commentator said that the town was 'ablaze and the converts number 100 already'. By March 1905 the converts in the area were numbered at 2,267. By the end of 1905, the town had changed. Prayer meetings were being held in the coal mines, family feuds were settled and drinking declined.
On Sunday morning, 13th November, RB Jones preached in Penuel to a full chapel of listeners from John 15:16. A service with the due of heaven upon it. Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm a meeting was held for the young people. This was announced for that time, so as not to interfere with the Sunday school and also to give an opportunity for the young people of the district to meet together in a religious meeting. Some of the adults remained to see and hear what kind of meeting it would be, thinking there would be sufficient room for them, but the chapel was quickly filled to overflowing by the young people of the neighbourhood so that the older ones had to give up their places for them. This was the meeting that set the young people of the locality on fire. The missioner did not preach but spoke for about 20 minutes. He set before them the importance of total consecration to the Lord in the flower of their days. He recounted his own experience of consecration and made an earnest appeal on behalf of the Master for all present to consecrate themselves anew to the Lord. Everyone was urged to pray quietly and those who were ready to do so were asked to show it by raising their right hand; many were raised and the place became red hot. Prayer was offered for strength for those who had decided to carry out their decision and for those who were halting between two opinions to resolve the argument … Many were in tears and others were astounded...
Friday, at 10 o’clock a Prayer meeting began at Penuel that will long be remembered. It continued without a break through the day until the evening service… The Infallible Spirit had taken possession of the meeting. This was the most remarkable meeting I have ever been present in – praise and prayer ultimately without a break, and no one weary. Some had to go out to prepare meals et cetera, but others came to take their place, and those who had left rushed back, in case they missed anything. This was my personal experience exactly: I ran to the house, and I never ate more even when the pressure of business called me.
"The Afterglow: Gleanings from the Welsh Revival. by M Holyoak