Memories of Capel Yr Ynys
Memories of Capel Yr Ynys (a branch of Bethel M.C. Talsarnau)
My late father John James Williams,Cefn Gwyn was a deacon since 1936 and therefore his influence on us ac children was so important that we had to attend chapel services regularily.This position was important to him and he took his role responsibly and he kept his Faith to the very end of his long ill health. His former Minister Parch Ben Williams wrote this englyn: :
Gwr duwiol a gwr diwyd . - rhin a graen
Y Groes ar ei fywyd,
O fro'r boen,o ferw'r byd
I'w elfen aeth i eilfyd.
His burial service at Capel Yr Ynys was held on 18/5/1968 under the kind and respectful guidance of Glyn Hughes,Barcdy. My Mother wished the Service to be held there but unforunately the porch was too small and awkward to bring a coffin through it. Glyn Hughes considered the difficulty for a few days and his solution was to remove a window for the safe passage of the coffin into and out of the chapel. As the congregation sang his favourite hymn "Ar for tymhestlog teithio ''rwyf,i fyd sydd well i fyw" his coffin was moved safely and respectfully on its last journey. The Service was led by his minister Rev. Gareth Maelor Jones who was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and my father, who hailed from Llan Ffestiniog, were great friends.
My mother's parents, Nain a Taid Bronynys lived next door to the chapel therefore she cleaned and heated the building before services. As Nain got older my Anti Gladys took over the responsibilities. Anti Gladys was the last organist before the chapel closed. Taid was a Baptist and was very proud of his chapel - Capel y Graig Talsarnau. Nain could persuade him at times to attend Capel Bach Yr Ynys - he attended, just to placate Nain but very much against the grain!.
At 10 o'clock on Sunday morning there would be Sunday School, sermon at 2 and then again at 6 at Bethel Talsarnau. at which we would be expected to attend. Capel Bach was well attended every Sunday. and soprano, alto,tenor and bass voices were well represented in the singing. Father wouid be sure to repeat the 2 last lines of the last verse if he was fond of that hymn..
Before Y Gymanfa Ganu (The Singing Festival) at Bermo we wouid have had around 3 practices with Gwilym Hedd Morris as conductor and we wouid be well rehearsed by the day, remembering the great singing at Caersalem Y Bermo. We would have had new clothes for Y Gymanfa and enjoyed buying sweets for the evening session of singing, bearing in mind that we had to behave because some of our teachers were in the congregation.
Sunday School was very important with 4 classes. - the Infants then 2nd class with teacher William Emrys Evans Cartrefle, then 3rd class with Mrs Evans Ty Gwyn and the Elder Class with Evan Evans. Sadly, Evan Evans died in Sunday School, a very sad occassion as he was a valued and zealous member of the Sunday School.
An annual trip was organised when we went to Rhyl, enjoying the bus ride driven by Griff Williams, St David's Garage Harlech. I vividly now remember seeing the bus arriving and we were all so excited! We may not have had a lot of money but experiencing the joys of Marine Lake and its excitment was catching. So many happy memories.
William Emrys encouraged us children to play the organ at 12 years old and I continue to play at Capel y Ddol and Capel Cwm Nantcol. The organ was a harmonium therefore the paddling was hard with the chair that we sat on leaning backwards which led us to panic but soon we had a proper stool. Every Christmas we performed a nativity play with plenty of giggles, forgetting lines which was an experience for us. Thursday evening was our Chidren's Meeting in the care of Parch.and Mrs R.H. Jarvis which included games and quizzes and preparing us as well for the County Examination. Both were so kind to us and in return we respected them. Wednesday night was Seiat night which we children had to attend and recite a verse which we had learned from the Bible. and then listen to Mr Jervis reporting from the monthly meetings. There were discussions which were very boring for us children with some people giving us angry looks because we were not able to be quiet and sit still. It was a very long hour!!!!!!
We also had an Eisteddfod with competitors coming from afar. As children we had to compete. I was pretty nervous and attempted to sing 'Deryn y Bwn o'r Bannau' somehow which led me not to compete ever again! Ieu Cefn Gwyn would always win and he went to Eisteddfod Berw Goch and won there as well. Capel Bach Yr Ynys gave us experiences and successes over the years and we do have fond memories. It is now a holiday home.
When Gareth Maelor Jones succeeded Ben Williams as minister we were lucky because he was a young and enthusiastic preacher with a great singing voice.He always used to ask my father's opinion on his sermons and of course my father would always talk highly of his efforts. Once my father encouraged him to remove his winter coat to emphasise his sincerity but fair play Capel Bach ws only heated by a small paraffin stove!!!!!! Mother gave my father a good telling off for this but Gareth Maelor only laughed and agreed with my father.
He was the Minister who married Evie and I at Capel Bethel in 1963. Sweet memories of an intelligent, and dear gentleman.
Heulwen Jones,Penybryniau,Dyffryn Ardudwy...
