The History of Soar Chapel
The first Wesleyan Service took place in the Talsarnau area on 4 November 1804, two hundred years ago.
The preachers were the Rev. Edward Jones, Bathafarn and Mr William Parry, Llandegái who co-preached with him on the Caernarfon Circuit. It was at Mr Robert lsaac's house, Ty'n y Groes, Llandecwyn (Bryn y Bwa Bach as it was called at that time) that they preached. Within the month a church was formed there when various churches merged.
The Cause remained there until Soar Chapel was built and the chapel was opened on Thursday evening and Friday, 2 July 1824. At a committee meeting of the trust at Soar on 25 November 1903. Following a meeting of the Church a motion was passed by Mr Edmond M Roberts and seconded by Mr Rowland Edmunds, to have a grand 'bazaar' which the Reverends J R Ellis and Hugh Curry had planned, and to proceed at once to make arrangements. The churches of Soar and Brontecwyn felt that it was appropriate to celebrate the centenary Cause in Soar in 1904 with a thanksgiving service. The intention was to open a special account for the purpose under God's blessing, try to execute a number of plans which will be of lasting advantage to God's work in the neighbourhood. There was a real need to build a Minister's house in the area and ensure that would be the main objective of the Centennial celebrations.
Another advantage to the Cause at the beginning of its second century would be to clear the sixty pound debt on Seion Schoolhouse (near Eisingrug) and serious efforts will be made to do that. Arrangements would have to be made soon to extend Soar Cemetery but there were no resources availale in hand at the time to do so. They felt that this special year would be very desirable, to lighten if not completely clear the debt at Soar.
It was decided to hold an event around October 1904. The two churches, Soar and Brontecwyn, would unite in the undertaking. They said there would be facilities for all of their friends throughout the country, as well as for children of both churches. to display and extend their support to this momentous occasion. The objective was to obtain a fund of £400. This amount was a very large some of money at that time.
They had an incredible faith that they would be able to meet the goal put upon them and it was in that heavenly spirit that the work began. The date of the 'bazaar' was 15, 16 and 17 December 1904. Imagine thinking of holding the event three days before the Christmas Festival. None of them had the slightest idea that the 1904 Reform would be gaining in strength by then but it is clear that 'the wind of change was already blowing' ! That mighty spirit helped them to carry out all of the plans which would be of lasting advantage to God's work in the neighbourhood. A beautiful Minister's house was erected - Bryn Awel, the cemetery was enlarged and the debt on Zion was cleared.
The Reformation brought strength to Soar and in this way was depicted by my mother (Maggie Gwyneth Jones) in a chapter in her life story - in her own words - "I remember the Reformation very well, although I was only six and my sister Lisi was eight and Robin my brother was four. Father and mother would go to the prayer meeting every night and we were both babysitting, but one night Robin was crying terribly for an hour without stopping and I went to cry with him. He wanted mam, and there was nothing to do but pick him up and wrap a grey shawl about him and carry him between us to Soar to meet mam and dad. They were still in the chapel and we went to a relative's house, next to the chapel. Robin stopped crying and went to sleep. Then we both went to the chapel to look for mam and dad to see when they were coming home. The chapel was full of people and children all praying, a large crowd of people praying in the set fawr, one after the other people in their seats shouting: "Haleliwia, On his Head be the Crown" others kneeeling in the corners of the seats praying.
It was ten o'clock by now but they still carried on. Some started for home around eleven and we were with them, but there was an old lady, Mari Williams, who lived nearby, who came along shouting: 'Go back, Go back to the chapel', there has been an arch of light over the chapel'. Everyone went back and then resumed rejoicing until midnight and by then we were almost asleep and frightened as we walked home, held tight in the hands of mam and dad with dad carrying Robin, who had been asleep an hour ago in Aunty Laura's house. I will never forget that night. After that mam and dad went on alternate nights. The meetings were in Soar and Bryn Street , every other night, for weeks. The young, middle-aged and old praying and rejoicing and having wonderful fun - some crying and others fainting in confessing their sins before God - every room and chapel packed to the door, a wonderful and fun time and dozens giving their new self to the Creator and His influence continues to this day. So it's no wonder we love the best things because that is how we started off in life with the songs and sounds of the 1904-05 Reformation.