Daniel Rowland

Daniel Rowland(s) (c.1711/3 - 1790) was an Anglican curate who became a Methodist evangelist. He was one of the foremost figures in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist revival. along with Howell Harris and hymnist William Williams Pantycrlyn. For 55 years Daniel was one of the leading evangelists in Wales.

Daniel was born early in the 18th century in Pantybeudy, Wales. He was ordained into the ministry aged 20. He was inducted as curate in the parishes of Natewnile and Llangeitho where his older brother was rector (he left the preaching and the work to Daniel). When his brother died he expected to be named rector but the bishop of St. David’s , to his surprise, named Daniel’s own son as the new rector. He was now curate to his son!
Aged 20 he had no idea of the evangelical gospel. After a service he would enter with gusto into games and sports and end the day in a state of drunkenness.

Daniel, in 1935, came under the influence of Griffith Jones who preached at Llandewibrefi and was converted. He was now 22 and married to Elinor(nee Davies).

In February 1938 he met his counterpart Howell Harris, together they worked as leaders of the Methodist revival but in 1952 they fell out.(Howell had become involved with Moravian errors - they made up 10 years later).

By 1742 a complete change had happened and he became one of the outstanding preachers of the evangelical awakening. Llangeitho memorably became a centre for Calvinistic Methodism in Wales.

On Sundays the locals played sports and games.He went to them - he interrupted a cock-fight. He addressed them powerfully. No one opposed him and the Sabbath desecration stopped. From then on he never hesitated to preach in the open air.

In 1760 the Methodist built a chapel in the village.
The Anglican church in about 1763 deprived him of his Nantewnile curacy.
In 1764 a new chapel was built.

By 1770 he was attracting congregations of up to 10,000. His preaching now emphasised the saving work of Jesus on the cross, originally he had paid attention to God’s judgement,in his sermons.

For nearly 55 years Daniel expound the Word of God in the village of Llangeitho and towns and villages close by. He would start with a verse from a hymn, read out his text and then in a calm and deliberate manner deliver his sermon. He would finish with a short prayer and give the benediction
One morning he prayed 1935 ?
*By Thine agony and bloody sweat, by Thy Cross and passion,by Thy precious death and burial, by Thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, good Lord deliver us.

The minister and congregation were overcome by the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit had visited Llangeitho and soon the whole of the country would know

He continued his weekly ministry for the next 55 years.
On 16th October 1790, aged 77, he died. All agreed his ministry had been blessed

In 1811, not without much heart searching, the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists broke away from the Church of England