South Wales Calvinistic Methodists Association / Cynhadledd Methodistiaid (Pentowr) 1903
In July 1903 Fishguard hosted the South Wales Calvinistic Methodist Association Conference. The previous visit by the Association had taken place some 28 years previous.
Yng Ngorffennaf 1903, cynhaliwyd Cymanfa Methodistiaid Calfinaidd De Cymru yn Abergwaun. Yn 1875 bu’r gynhadledd yn y dref gyntaf. Yma gwelir dyfyniad o adroddiad am y gynhadledd o bapur newydd ‘Tarian y Gweithiwr’, Awst 1903.
It was a huge event for Fishguard with the Square being packed with conveyances and every stable about town had its full compliment of horses. 1000 people sat down to eat at the Temperance Hall over the three days of the Conference. Meetings and services were held at Pentwr and Tabernacle Chapels with others held in the open air in order to accommodate the vast numbers attending – it was estimated that the largest gathering was of over 2000 people of “all creeds and persuasions”.
It was said that this great event took place without any incident except for the fact that surprisingly, the meeting did not uphold the “glorious traditions of Wales”. Apparently the singing of the hymns let the event down – there was no conductor and as a result because of the numbers involved, the singing was somewhat inharmonious with those at the back of the congregation finding themselves singing several notes behind those at the front!!!
The Conference was heralded as a great success which was to the credit of the efforts of the Church members of Pentwr who had orchestrated the event.
The photograph is believed to have been taken outside the Market Hall/Town Hall. The configuration of the lower entrances has altered a number of times over the years and this image fits with earlier available photographs of the facade.
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