Howell Harris

Howell Harris ( Welsh Hywel Harris ; born January 23, 1714 , Talgarth , Brecknockshire , Wales ; † July 21, 1773 , Talgarth) was one of the most important representatives of the Methodist revival in Wales in the 18th century , along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantycelyn .

Life

Trevecca College, drawing from 1824

Memorial; Trefeca.

Harris was born on January 23, 1714 in Talgarth, Brecknockshire. In May 1735 he experienced a conversion process , triggered by the sermon on the Sunday before Easter by Pastor Pryce Davies about the need to take part in the Lord's Supper . He then spent several weeks carefully examining himself. This phase reached its climax after the sermon on Pentecost Sunday. After responding to the devil's accusations as he described it, he received the sacrament and came to believe that he had received forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, which made him feel deeply joyful. He immediately began telling others about this experience. He held meetings in his home where he encouraged others to seek the same experience.

Because of his Methodist views, he was not admitted to ordination in the Church of England . He then went into business for himself as an itinerant preacher and spread his message across Wales. He often faced dangerous situations as a result of his sermons and he was repeatedly persecuted before he gradually gathered a following. From 1738 he was supported by Marmaduke Gwynne , a "squire" (land nobility) and early convert.

In 1750 he retired to his home at Trefeca near Brecon after falling out with Daniel Rowland and causing a public scandal through his close friendship with "Madam" Sidney Griffith . In 1752 he founded a religious community, the Teulu Trefeca ('the Trefeca family'), based on the model of the Moravian Brethren . In this “family” he took on the role of “father”.

In 1763 he was reconciled with Daniel Rowland and resumed his preaching work. When he passed away ten years later, 20,000 guests reportedly came to his memorial service in Talgarth. A memorial for him was erected in Rhydyclafdy (Pwllheli).

Through his work he became the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Wales (Calvinist Methodist Church).

Harris's manuscripts

Harris kept a detailed diary and kept a detailed record of his correspondence. His records provide access to first hand accounts of the Welsh Revival. After his death, the papers went unnoticed for over a century, until OM Edwards pointed out their importance in the 1880s and arranged for a review. The former home was a college at the time and the deputy head of the college Edwin Williams took on the task of sorting the papers. They were kept in Trefeca until 1910 when the Presbyterian Church of Wales set up a commission to sift through the papers and issue them.

It was not until 1913 that it became clear to what extent this work would be. Because many of the scriptures were written in Latin and the translation would have been far too time-consuming, the plan for a complete publication was abandoned. In contrast, a Historical Society of the Presbyterian Church of Wales was set up, which should not only publish the writings of Harris, but should also conduct other historical studies.

Around 1932 the papers were transferred to the Church College in Aberystwyth . Together with the writings of Coleg y Bala , they were given to the National Library of Wales in 1934 , where they are to this day.

swell

• A brief account of the life of Howell Harris, esq.
• A letter from Mr. Howel Harris in Wales to a congregation in London, concerning brotherly love and mutual forbearance amongst true Christians. With an explanatory introduction by a welwisher to peace and truth.
• Copy of a letter from Mr. Howell Harris an eminently pious and successful preacher in Wales, 1748.
• Hanes ferr o fywyd Howell Harris yscwier.
• The last message, and dying testimony, of Howell Harris, Esqr; late of Trevecka in Wales.

literature

• Gwyn Davies: A light in the land: Christianity in Wales, 200-2000. Bridgend: Bryntirion Press. 2002. ISBN 1-85049-181-X
• Geraint Tudur: Papurau Howell Harris. In: Cof Cenedl XVI . Gwasg Gomer. 2001.
• Geraint Tudur: Howell Harris: From conversion to separation, 1735-1750. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2000.

Web links

Commons : Howel Harris  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Harris, Howel (l) 1714–1773 at Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales
• Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Howell Harris and revival . Reproduction of article first published in 1973.
• Howell Harris 1714–1773 in the Powys Digital History Project
• Howell Harris at 100 Welsh Heroes

Individual evidence

1. ^ Richard Bennett: Howell Harris and the Dawn of Revival ; ISBN 1-85049-035-X . Pp. 20-26.
2. ↑ Jason Evans: Marmaduke Gwynne (1691-1769). A Methodist Squire. ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. The National Library of Wales, llgc.org.uk, September 2013