The Faith Once Delivered: Nantlais Williams. Six. The End of the Issue

Nantlais was far from happy with the draft Declaratory Articles, which would replace the 1823 Confession as the ultimate standard of Welsh Presbyterian belief. While they were vaguely Trnitarian, he was adamant that the substance of the 1823 Confession had to be preserved. References to the Virgin Birth of Christ, the substitutionary nature of the atonement, His resurrection (which had not been mentioned at all), and His Second Coming in glory had to be strengthened/included if Nantlais were to accept the Bill.

At the 1931 meetings of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Dr. E. O. Davies tried to persuade Nantlais that not all the missing doctrines were essential for the faith, although he, personally believed them. Nantlais was not persuaded, but E. O. Davies believed that so long as Nantlais was a lone voice in the widerness he could be brought roun, given time. But there were big names already lining up. Ellis W. Davies, elder and MP for Caernarfonshire, along with former Moderators Peter Hughes Griffiths and R. R. Roberts, took up Nantlais' case against the Declaratory Articles as they stood.

Davies was forced to climb down. At a private meeting, he agreed to insert references to the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement, the resurrection and the second coming of Christ. Nantlais, his concerns addressed, agreed to the new measure, and in 1932, both North and South Wales Associations agreed to the Bill. In the words of D. Densil Morgan, 'Although this development was not devoid of ambiguities, it was nevertheless a clear victory for the conservatives.'