| Description | The first two batches of letters describe the efforts of the Church to secure a pastor to follow the great William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog): the Rev Herber Evans of Caernarvon was invited, but did not see his way clear to come. High hopes were cherished that a student at Brecon Memorial College, Osian Davies, would obey the church's call, but withdrew an affirmative answer, and became minister of a large church in Llanelly: his letters of the early months of 1876, 9 in number, are interesting enough, but marred by too much empty rhetoric and a too flamboyant manner (bundle LLOYD/202).
Later in the same year the church was successful in prevailing upon the Rev. William Nicholson to move from Groeswen in Glamorgan to Liverpool (bundle LLOYD/203). Things went well till 1878 (see W.N.'s letter of 27 April in that year), when difficulties arose that led to a new Independent cause at Kensington (the Grove Street report for 1878 asterisked the aeceders to the number of 68). The sixth bundle (204) is made up mainly of letters to Mr Edward Lloyd from prominent Congregationalist ministers like Lewis of Brynberian, Herber of Caernarvon, Griffith of Holyhead, Williams of Dinas Mawddwy, and Dr Owen Evans of Llanbrynmair - the last are the most interesting, especially the letter of Oct.6, 1879, with its references to the Kensington split and the faction-fight at Bala over the two Independent colleges.
There are a few letters from prominent Wesleyan ministers notably John Evans (Eglwysbach), Dr Hugh Jones, Hugh Hughes, and Cynfaen, evidences of the maternal bias of the household. Preserved in a small envelope are memorial cards - Gwilym Hiraethog and members of his family.
Note :
Perhaps it will be well to make bundle LLOYD/205 collateral to bundle LLOYD/204, in which the interesting letters of Dr Owen Evans are included, a batch of some refractory problems of pedigree submitted to Sir John by the Dector's daughter-in-law, Adelaide Morgan Evans (a native of Talybont in Cards.,) and in her time a noted contatrice), but with a little apparent results as the queries of Edward Jones about Peter Foulkes in 1845. The only visible note is "Papers returned April 4, 1933", in Sir John's script |