POWELL, LEWIS (1788 - 1869), Independent minister

Born at Defynnog, Brecknock, 27 December 1788. He was educated first of all at a dame's school kept in the village by a widow and her daughter, and then at the Church school, where he was subjected to the ignominy of the 'Welsh Not' for speaking Welsh. As he did not want to become a weaver like his father he went to his uncle to learn to be a boot-maker. In 1807, at Brychgoed, he was admitted to membership of the church by Peter Jenkins, a personal friend of Williams of Pantycelyn, who was also responsible for inducing him to begin preaching in 1808. In 1812 he obtained a post as tutor to the children of Evan Price of Cerrigbwbach, near Pentre-tŷ-gwyn, and other local children, the conditions of his employment being that this gentleman should give him board and lodging and teach him Latin and Greek. This occupation lasted a year, and on 16 November 1812 he was licensed to preach. In May 1813 he was ordained minister of Capel Isaac, Carmarthenshire. In 1827 he agreed to take charge of the Independent church at Cardiff, which had been started the previous year and which later came to be known as Ebenezer. There was no chapel there at that time, but within a year a new one was opened. He remained there until 1850 when he retired owing to ill health; he died 16 September 1869, and was buried near Ebenezer chapel.

He was an original and unusual character, full of ready wit and humour. He gained a reputation as a collector of money for wiping off the debt on his own and other chapels, and toured the whole country for this purpose; he also visited London and parts of England, and many are the stories told about his experiences on these journeys. Although he was not a great preacher, people flocked to hear him because of his pulpit mannerisms and his unconventional sayings. He published a book of verse, Llwyddiant i'r Ceinciau, and many elegies; his diction and style were commonplace. He also published his autobiography in two volumes, Hanes Bywyd... Lewis Powell, Caerdydd, ganddo ef ei hun, Cardiff, 1860.

Author

• Reverend Richard Griffith Owen, (1890 - 1973)

Sources

• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, ii, 424-6
• H. M. Hughes, Hanes Ebenezer, Caerdydd, 1826 - 1926 cyhoeddwyd ar ddathliad y canmlwyddiant (Cardiff 1926), 29-41
• Y Tadau Anibynnol (Caernarfon 1898–1900), iii
• Bowen-Jones, Y Parch. Lewis Powell, Caerdydd (Bangor 1897)
• Catalogue of Printed Literature in the Welsh Department, Cardiff Free Libraries (1898)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20746824

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/