Issue No 153
Magazine for the Irfon and Wye Valley Churches June 2013
Consumer Report: Jesus beats Sat Navs by Reverend Philip Morris
Reverend David Williams was a Congregational minister; born on 27th January 1779 at Nantydderwen in the parish of Llanwrtyd, Brecknock. On his mother's side he was related to John Penry, one of the leading figures of the reformation in Wales who called for the translation of the Bible into Welsh and was martyred for his beliefs. He was ordained minister of Llanwrtyd and Troedrhiwdalar on 8 August 1803 and continued as Minister of Troedrhiwdalar, Olewydd (Garth) and Llanwrtyd until his retirement in 1870. Throughout his 67 years as Minister of Troedrhiwdalar he did not miss one Sunday through illness. He continued after his retirement to preach and indeed six months before he died he preached to over 1,000 at the London Welsh Chapel. On the Sunday before he died in 1874, he preached in Builth, Abergwesyn and Troedrhiwdalar, a circular trip of over 20 miles on horseback – he was 95 years old. I have a photograph of him at home, taken a few years before he died. He was a man of strong physique; it is said he had a clear and bell-like voice, and his mode of delivery was easy and popular. You’re probably asking yourselves why I’m telling you about a Congregational Minister who died nearly 140 years ago this August; well he was my Great, Great Grandfather. So here I am an ordained Anglican Priest, the Great, Great Grandson of a Welsh Congregational Minister, whom it would be fair to say had little time for Anglican Priests and one of whose forbears was hung for sedition – who’s death warrant was signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Whitgift. I was born in Britain in 1950 – a Christian society then so I was baptised a Christian. I am an Anglican through my Maternal Grandmother (Congregationalist) marrying an Anglican – my mother went to Church, so I went to Church. So by accident, through God’s wish, however
you want to describe it I am an Anglican. But my antecedents have played their part in making me totally tolerant of other denominations. Which has made me think about others in our world who are not born in a Christian Country. In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Jesus makes it pretty clear, doesn’t he? The one and only way to God is through me. I am the way. There may be many paths, but I am the only one that leads to God. But what about other Religions? Is the "mountain analogy" of God true where God is pictured at the top of the mountain, and man at the base? And religion is man’s way of carving his way up the mountain, some take the direct route, others take wind their way up, but all eventually reach the top in their own way. Is that analogy true of God? One mountain top, many paths? After all, aren’t there many good religions out there, and aren’t there good intentioned people who are a part of those religions or who were brought up in those religions. What about them? Is Christianity the only religion that is true or are all other religions describing the same God in different ways? Is there really any difference between us and, say, Islam, Buddhism, or Judaism? (continued on pg 5)
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