The Free Church of The Welsh: Nine

The episode of the Free Church of the Welsh left deep scars in the Merseyside Welsh Community. However, the new denomination did not last long. Formed as a protest against a perceived injustice, the new church had no specific doctrinal basis on which to base a coninued witness. If it stood for anything, it was for the rights of individual congregations over and against the machinery of a connexion. Attempts to expand into Wales met with no lasting success. A fellowship was established in Carmarthen in March of 1902, but did not last.

By early 1920, as the long drift away from religion began, the Free Church of the Welsh was in talks about unity with the local Quarterly Meeting of the Union of Welsh Independents. By 1921, the Free Church of the Welsh had merged with the Independents and the denominational magazine had ceased publication. Both W. O. Jones and his right hand man, became Independent ministers, Jones dying in May of 1937 in the post of minister of Canning Street Independent Church. He was describes as a man of 'gentlemanly spirit and [...] culture.' His turbulent past was very much behind him.

The Free Church of the Welsh: Eight

The movement of the Spirit in 1904-5 affected Liverpool, as it did other places where there was a large Welsh Community. While it is truly said that there is in Christ 'neither Jew nor Greek, Scythian nor barbarian,' it is a strange fact that, when the Spirit begins to move in a country, often people from that country become strangely receptive to the Gospel of God. In late March 1905, Evan Roberts arrived in Liverpool to conduct a mission there. Feelings were still strained by the events of 1901, and at a meeting led byEvan Roberts in Great Mersey Street Congregational Church, the ministers came together for the meeting. W. O. Jones prayed for their hearts to be joined in love: "Thou knowest the whole affair that has occured in this city [...] strengthen me and forgive all they and I have done, and all I thought they had done against me. Thou knowest I have tried to do so, God, and O, help them to forgive me all that was out of place, and all that they thought was out of place [....] Melt our hearts; help us to unite in heart, to work together for the sake of our Saviour. Kindle our desires to save the world and to give all the glory to thee. O Lord, visit this city more mightily than thou ever hast already done."


Evan Roberts continued to state that there was something preventing the Spirit from moving. The serive ended in some disappointment. Subsequent events, taking place at a meeting in the Princes Avenue Wesleyan church. In the midst of the meeting, Roberts experienced convulsions, again speaking of 'obstruction.' From here, I shall allow the Western Mail to take up the story:

'The obstacle,' he said later on, 'is the same as last night. I must give the message. You may believe it or not. You may do as you like, friends.' He broke down again [....] At length, as though bracing himself to a great effort, he said: 'God has committed this message to me many days ago, but only tonight is it to be disclosed. The message relates to the Free Church of the Welsh. This is the message. Do as you like with it. It comes directly from God:- "The foundations of the Church are not on the Rock. (Sensation.) The foundations of the Church are not on the Rock." (A Voice: 'O God, remove the obstacle!')

W. O. Jones led objections to these words, stating: 'that he attached no importance to the statement or to Evan Roberts' alleged Divine message, and that it would have no adverse effect on the young denomination.' G. C. Rees, a prominent layman in the Free Church of the Welsh stated that he felt Evan Roberts' denunciations to be hysterical, and denied that they would have any negative effect on the Free Church of the Welsh.

But was the church 'built on the rock'?

The Free Church of the Welsh: Seven

The new denomination formed in the aftermath of W. O. Jones from the Calvinistic Methodist ministry now had a name, 'the Free Church of the Welsh.' Now it needed a creed. What was that creed to be? On Sunday 22 September, 1901, Jones read out a declaration which the papers called the 'manifesto' of the church. It contained the words:

'We have noticed for years the increase of the spirit of officialdom in the denom ination. In very many cases we could not close our eyes to the fact that ministers and elders dominate the churches. They have succeeded, gradually and silently, in taking possession of all authority to make laws, to govern, and to judge all important cases, without consulting the members, and very often against their wishes."

The declaration condemned the practice of electing elders for life and advocated making buildings the property of individual congregartions, rather than the denomination. This was to be 'a new religious organisation, with wider freedom and with more democratic characteristics..' The church would elect ministers and elders for fixed terms, although they could be re-elected if chosen. The councils of the church would be representative of the pews, as well as the pulpit and 'big seat.' Interestingly, nothing was said about doctrine, apart from an affirmation that the new denomination would be 'orthodox.'

In the aftermath of this, the new denomination began to expand, chapels opening in Garmoyle Road (April, 1903); Merton Road, Bootle (May 1903); Donaldson Street, Liverpool (June, 1903) and Claughton Road, Birkenhead (August, 1903). More minsters were called. By July 1904, the Free Church of the Welsh had seven churches, four chapels, nine Sunday Schools and four ministers. And the firs of Revival were to burn through Merseyside, bringing Evan Roberts in their wake.

The Free Church of the Welsh: Six

Expelled from the Calvinistic Methodist Church, W. O. Jones found that, at the age of 40, his life was in ruins. However, while the great and the good of the denomination had rejected him, Jones still had his enthusiastic supporters. Expelled formally from the denomination at Oswestry in a meeting on 26 June, 1901, Jones met with the defence committee at the Common Hall, Hackins Hey, to consider their next move. That next move was a meeting on Tuesday 2 July, attended by 160 people, where it was decided to sever all links with the Calvinistic Methodist Church and look to set up as an independent congregation, with W. O. Jones as their minister. The first service was held on Sunday 14 July, 1901.

The morning prayer meeting was attended by 600 people, while the evening service drew a congregation of over 2,000. W. O. Jones preached on the text: 'The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.' At the end of the day Jones was able to record: 'At last a happy Sunday.' The following Sunday saw a larger congregation, and by 28 July, 650 people had applied to join the new church, which was formed at the evening service, William Jones, Rock Ferry proposing that W. O. Jones be called as their pastor.

Over July and August the new church organised, setting up Sunday Schools in Liverpool, Birkenhead and Bootle, with three others added by the end of August. At the same time the new church's organisation committe was forced to look for an assistant to the pastor, who was faced with more work than he could cope with.

The new movement was growing, but it needed a name. At a Seiat held in Hope Hall on 4 September, 1901, it was decided that the new denomination (for its growth was such that it would surely be so) would be called Eglwys Rydd y Cymry, 'The Free Church of the Welsh.'

The Free Church of the Welsh. Five

The crisis at Chatham Street came to a head on 11 July, 1900, when the Mothly Meeting of the Liverpool Presbytery found W. O. Jones, the minister, guilty of behaviour unbecoming a minister of the Gospel and expelled him from the Connexion. Jones was horrified that a dispute with his elders about the discipline of a church member had become a trial of his own moral fitness.

W. O. Jones appealed to the Association, which in its meeting at Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire, on 22 August. Had declared that it 'completely rejected Mr. William Owen Jonesas a preacher and minister in the denomination, and ... trusted[ed] that he should not despite this be considered an enemy but should be prayed for.'

Appealing against the ruling, Jones set out his position in the pages of the Y Cymro (The Welshman), a weekly Welsh-language newspaper. At the same time, 255 members of Chatham Street church protested to the Liverpool Monthly meeting, unhappy at their treatment of W. O. Jones. On 12 January, 1901, a Defence Committee was set up, while November 1900 saw William Jones' first church, Waunfawr, Caernarfon pass a resolution favourable to their former minister, a course followed also by three churches in Birkenhead. Public petitions were also circulated.

The appeal was duly held, amid attacks on the legality of the actions of the original investigating committee. This time evidence was given under oath. Jones and other passengers contradicted the evidence of drunkenness aboard the Vito. However, the accusations of the first mate of the Vito became more lurid, accusing the minister of visits to brothels. The evidence may have been shaky, but the appeal was dismissed in the summer of 1901.

Having appealed, Jones found that the full weight of the denomination was to be brought against him, with serious suggestions that he be expelled from the membership of Chatham Street, as well as the ministry. Jones was alost crushed, although his diary indicated that he remained confident in his final vindication, even if that were to be at the judgement:

'How wronged I have been. God knows. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and thathe will stand in the end etc.'

As for justification before men, Jones did not have too long to wait. In April 1902, Mr. Justice Mills heard two slander cases which Jones had brought against some of his ministerial opponents. Both of these cases ended with the allegations (one of which was particularly unsavoury), being withdrawn and formal apologies being given.

In the meantime, Jones had taken further actions, which had led to a complete and formal separation from the Calvinistic Methodist Church and the creation of a new denomination.

The Free Church of The Welsh: Four

The Meeting on 15 March, 1900, was presided over by J. W. Jones, one of the elders atChatham Street church. He told the members that he, together with fellow elders William Williams, William Jones and John Jones could no longer work with W. O. Jones, their minister. It was proposed that the monthy meeting of the Presbytery looking into the affair, an idea that was enthusiastically secponded by W. O. Jones and which passed unanimously.

The committee of inquiry met for the first time on 30 March, at Chatham Street. There its members heard allegations that W. O. Jones had been drunk at some of the church meetings. W. O. Jones was horrified. He had sincereky believed that William Williams' retraction on 7 September, 1899, had been the end of the matter. However, other members of the committe stated that the minister had been warned about rumours circulating regarding his sobriety. Whatever the case, Jones was shocke dto learn that the inquiry was to focus on him, and not on the denominations disciplinary rules.

Angry confrontations between minister an elders continued throughout 1900, with W. O. Jones being supported by the majority of the church members. In this time, the one ray of sunshine was Jones' marriage, on 5 April, 1900, to Ceridwen Jones. But the clouds were gathering, as the committees enquiries dragged up rumours concerning Jones' conduct on the cruise-ship Vito. The committe heard conflicting evidence from church members, and were told that Jones was in the habit of taking claret for the sake of his health (this from his landlady). These stories were no more than rumour, but were enough to create suspicion.

The most solid witness was Captain Jervis of the Vito, who told two members of the committee that Jones had used foul language and was, in his opinion, 'an immoral man.' However, he died before this evidence could be pressed further. Jones admitted again that he had taken alcoholi, but enied being drunk, something his fellow passengers corroborated. Still, suspicions had been raised, and on 9 July 1900, the verdict was returned:

That we are forced to believe that the Revd. W. O. Jones, BA, has been guilty on several occasions of behaviour that makes him unfit to be a minister of the gospel, and thus we come to the decision that he should not in any way hold such an important position among us.

On 11 July, the monthy meeting votedto accept the verdict. W. O. Jones was expelled from the ministry of the denimonation.

The Free Church of the Welsh: Three

On Sunday 29 October, 1899, the elders of Chatham Street Church went above W. O. Jones' head, writing a letter to the Monthly Meeting of the presbytery asking whether temporary expulsion of a member for immorality was the proper course. Four elders signed the letter, one of them protesting that the issue was now past. The presbytery ruled in favour of excommunication. Feeling that his authority was under attack, Jones submitted his resignation. On 20 November 1899, the church met to consider their minister's resignation.

The meeting was more than a little odd. W. O. Jones later commented:

"The officials one after another offered the highest commendation of my character and among the tributes of praise none was more fulsome than those of Mr. William Williams and Mr. William Jones ... At the end of the meeting I received a strong vote of confidence, and it was made clear that I should continue in my position."

The vote in favour of Jones' continuation was almost unanimous. However, the breach was deep and lasting. The church members wetre virtually estranged from the elders, although the latter had the support of the presbytery. Three other ministers met with the elders on 30 November, and once more a promise of peace was extracted.

But the troubles continued, and by March 1900 Jones' health had collapsed again. He left for Wales on 6 March, giving permission to the officials of the presbytery to meet with the elders of Chatham Street to reconcile the opposing parties.

The elders refused to meet the committee, announcing on Saunday 11 March that the Minister had resigned and that a church meeting would be called on 15 March to discuss the matter. Jones cut short his holiday to return to Wales.

The Free Church of the Welsh: Two

Less than a month after W. O. Jones' return from the Mediterranean, a member at Chatham Street was accused of immorality, and the elders called on to discipline the offender. W. O. Jones was of the opinion that the offender's memberhip should be suspended for a fixed term, during which he would be excommunicated, something supported by two of the elders. A majority of the elders, however, were in favour of permanent excommunication. The result of the deadlock was that three of the four elders who opposed Jones submitted their resignations. W. O. Jones refused to accept their resignations, treatening to resign himself. On 18 July, agreement was reached and tranquility restored. W. O. Jones left on his summer holiday, returning at the end of August for a new year.

However soon after Jones' return problems it became clear that all was not well. On 7 September, at the first seiat (fellowship meeting), Jones' appearance was such that one of the members asked whether he was ill. Jones was later described as mumbling and dishevelled, supporting himself on the lectern. A baptism took place afterwards, where Jones mistook the nurse holding the baby for the mother and one member smelt alcohol on Jones' breath. After a second such incident, one member, William Williams, shared his concerns with the minister.

Jones reassured Williams that he was a teetotaller.

"I know," Williams replied, "your name is on the temperance book of the church, written with your own hand; but what was that smell?"

Jones informed the concerned member that he never touched a drop: 'only a glass of whisky sometimes on a Sunday night.'

Williams was later to state that he had shared his concerns with Humphrey Lloyd, the member who wad asked whether Jones was ill. Jones was later to state that Williams told him that the matter would not go further, but this was not to be.

The Free Church of the Welsh: One

Liverpool, the great Lancashire Port, is most definitely in England, yet in the late nineteenth century it was indupitably a centre of Welsh culture, with 60,819 Welsh people living in Lancashire as a whole. The Calvinistic Methodists, the most distinctively Welsh of the denominations, had a dozen churches there, and such luminaries as William Rees, Henry Rees and Owen Thomas ministered there, as did lesser men. It is with the story of one such man that our history is concerned, but more with the lessons this teaches us about church discipline.

The setting is Chatham Street Chapel, the year 1899. The chapel itself was nothing extraordinary, with 467 members and six elders. The minister, William Owen Jones, was a product of the push for an educated ministry. He had attended Bala Theological College, and the University College of North Wales, Bangor; from which he had gone on to St. John's College, Cambridge. He was a young man of talent and of promise.

However, the frequent calls on his time as a minister began to undermine his health, and in January 1899, he decided to return to Wales for a rest. While on the train, he met John Jones, Sefton, Prestatyn. Jones mentioned that he was an official with a shipping company, and was able to get the minister cheap tickets on the Steamer Vito, for a cruise in the Mediterranean, departing 19 January.

Despite a storm in the Irish Sea, the cruise was a success, and when W. O. Jones returned to Liverpool in 17 March he was fully recovered. But his troubles were only just beginning.