William Wroth
Encyclopedia
William Wroth a minister of the Church of England
, is generally credited with the establishment of the first Independent Church in Wales
in 1639. From 1617 until 1639 Wroth was Rector
of the parish church at Llanvaches
in Monmouthshire
where his Congregationalist chapel was founded.
Originally from Abergavenny
, Wroth was educated at Jesus College, Oxford
where he graduated in 1605. At some point between 1611 and 1617 he was appointed by Sir Edward Lewis of Caerphilly
as Rector of Llanvaches. He became, after John Parry, the earliest Puritan
church leader in Wales and was a direct influence on fellow churchman, Walter Craddock. Craddock, the son of a neighbouring farmer, was also educated at Oxford and was to become curate of St.Mary's Church in Cardiff
, where the vicar at the time was William Erbury.
Until about 1620 Wroth was apparently "much addicted to mirth, levity, and music". However, he became a changed man after one of his parishioners, who had won a legal case in London and had instructed his family to arrange a feast on his return with music provided by Wroth, died on the road home. "Amidst the general consternation, Mr. Wroth cast away his violin, and falling on his knees in the midst of the company, most fervently prayed for the blessing of God upon this alarming providence."
In 1633, King Charles I
, advised by the Archbishop of Canterbury
, William Laud
, reissued the "Declaration of Sports
". This listed the sports that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days, and was published to counteract the growing Puritan calls for strict abstinence on the Sabbath day. Wroth, Craddock and Erbury all defied the instruction to read the Declaration to their congregations, and in 1634 the Bishop of Llandaff
reported Wroth to the Court of High Commission
, seeking to remove him from his position. The following year the Bishop admonished Erbury and suspended Craddock who may have been regarded as the ring-leader. Wroth's response was to have inscribed on the churchyard stile
the words:
In 1638 Wroth and Erbury both resigned, but Wroth continued to preach and to gather followers. Meanwhile Craddock, who had become curate at Wrexham
, was also now drawing great crowds with his preaching. The infuriated townsfolk of Wrexham, however, forced Craddock to leave and he moved on to Brampton Bryan
in Herefordshire
.
At Llanvaches, Wroth's preaching became so popular that people travelled from the counties of Somerset
, Gloucester
, Hereford
, Radnor
and Glamorgan
to hear him. In fact Wroth had to preach in the churchyard because the church was too small to accommodate all those who attended. By 1639, although he had not formally left the Church of England, Wroth is likely to have been ejected from his living at Llanvaches and in response he felt compelled to set up an independent chapel. Wroth is known to have preached at Broad Mead chapel in Bristol
, with those of similar views. His new chapel in Llanvaches was organised "according to the New England pattern" - that is, Congregational - and was completed that same year with the help of the fellow leading Dissenter
, Henry Jessey
. The historic meeting at Llanvaches in November 1639 marked the real beginning of Non-conformism in Wales.
Wroth died in early 1642, shortly before the outbreak of the first English Civil War
, and was buried, in accordance with his wishes, beneath the porch at Llanvaches parish church, although no memorial survives. His will, at one time on display in the vestry of the church, read:
The current Tabernacle URC
chapel was built in the 1920s on the site of the original chapel.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, is generally credited with the establishment of the first Independent Church in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1639. From 1617 until 1639 Wroth was Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the parish church at Llanvaches
Llanvaches
Llanvaches is a village and community parish located within the boundaries of the city of Newport, Wales. It lies to the east of the urban area, in the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.- Location :...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
where his Congregationalist chapel was founded.
Life
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, Wroth was educated at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
where he graduated in 1605. At some point between 1611 and 1617 he was appointed by Sir Edward Lewis of Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
as Rector of Llanvaches. He became, after John Parry, the earliest Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
church leader in Wales and was a direct influence on fellow churchman, Walter Craddock. Craddock, the son of a neighbouring farmer, was also educated at Oxford and was to become curate of St.Mary's Church in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, where the vicar at the time was William Erbury.
Until about 1620 Wroth was apparently "much addicted to mirth, levity, and music". However, he became a changed man after one of his parishioners, who had won a legal case in London and had instructed his family to arrange a feast on his return with music provided by Wroth, died on the road home. "Amidst the general consternation, Mr. Wroth cast away his violin, and falling on his knees in the midst of the company, most fervently prayed for the blessing of God upon this alarming providence."
In 1633, King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, advised by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
, reissued the "Declaration of Sports
Declaration of Sports
The Declaration of Sports was a declaration of James I of England issued in 1617 listing the sports that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days. It was originally issued in consultation with Thomas Morton, bishop of Chester, to resolve a dispute in Lancashire between the Puritans and the...
". This listed the sports that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days, and was published to counteract the growing Puritan calls for strict abstinence on the Sabbath day. Wroth, Craddock and Erbury all defied the instruction to read the Declaration to their congregations, and in 1634 the Bishop of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
reported Wroth to the Court of High Commission
Court of High Commission
The Court of High Commission was the supreme ecclesiastic court in England. It was instituted by the crown during the Reformation and finally dissolved by parliament in 1641...
, seeking to remove him from his position. The following year the Bishop admonished Erbury and suspended Craddock who may have been regarded as the ring-leader. Wroth's response was to have inscribed on the churchyard stile
Stile
A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps. Stiles are often built in rural areas or along footpaths to allow access to an adjacent field or area separated by a fence, wall or hedge...
the words:
Who Ever hear on Sonday
Will Practis Playing At Ball
It May be before Monday
The Devil Will Have you All
In 1638 Wroth and Erbury both resigned, but Wroth continued to preach and to gather followers. Meanwhile Craddock, who had become curate at Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, was also now drawing great crowds with his preaching. The infuriated townsfolk of Wrexham, however, forced Craddock to leave and he moved on to Brampton Bryan
Brampton Bryan
Brampton Bryan is a small village and civil parish situated in north Herefordshire, England close to the Shropshire and Welsh borders.Brampton Bryan lies mid-way between Leintwardine and Knighton on the A4113 road. The village has had a complex history and its buildings reflect this...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
At Llanvaches, Wroth's preaching became so popular that people travelled from the counties of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, Gloucester
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, Hereford
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, Radnor
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
and Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
to hear him. In fact Wroth had to preach in the churchyard because the church was too small to accommodate all those who attended. By 1639, although he had not formally left the Church of England, Wroth is likely to have been ejected from his living at Llanvaches and in response he felt compelled to set up an independent chapel. Wroth is known to have preached at Broad Mead chapel in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, with those of similar views. His new chapel in Llanvaches was organised "according to the New England pattern" - that is, Congregational - and was completed that same year with the help of the fellow leading Dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
, Henry Jessey
Henry Jessey
Henry Jessey or Jacie was one of many English Dissenters. He was a founding member of the Puritan religious sect, the Jacobites. Jessey was considered a Hebrew and a rabbinical scholar.-Life:...
. The historic meeting at Llanvaches in November 1639 marked the real beginning of Non-conformism in Wales.
Wroth died in early 1642, shortly before the outbreak of the first English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, and was buried, in accordance with his wishes, beneath the porch at Llanvaches parish church, although no memorial survives. His will, at one time on display in the vestry of the church, read:
- I leave my body to be buried where ye Lord shall please to call for mee praying him to bring my hoarie-head into the grave in his peace which passeth all understanding
The current Tabernacle URC
URC
URC may stand for:* Uniform Resource Characteristics, a computing term* Uniform Rules for Collections, ICC rule that governs the collection of payment, the current version is URC 522...
chapel was built in the 1920s on the site of the original chapel.
External links
- United Tabernacle Reform Chapel
- St. Dyfrig's Church
- Free Church History at The Tin Type Shop: "Chapter XIII - The Awakening of Wales"
- "The oldest Nonconformist Chapel in Wales" at Data-Wales.co.uk
- History Of Tabor Congregational Church by Rev. E. B. Powell at Tabor Congregational Church (Maesycwmmer, Monmouthshire) Centenary, 1829-1929