13 Facts About Howell Harris

Howell Harris was a Calvinistic Methodist evangelist.

Howell Harris was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century, along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantycelyn.

The family originally hailed from Carmarthenshire, but had settled in Trefeca in 1700, where Howell Harris Sr had purchased a small landholding.

Howell Harris served as High Sheriff of Brecknockshire in 1768.

Howell Harris immediately began to tell others of this and hold meetings in his home to encourage others to seek the same assurance of Christ's forgiveness.

Howell Harris failed to be accepted for ordination in the Church of England because of views held to be "Methodist".

Howell Harris's preaching often led him into personal danger, persecution and hardship before he gained a following.

In 1750 Howell Harris retreated to his home at Trefeca, having fallen out with a fellow evangelist, Daniel Rowland, and become the subject of public scandal for his close friendship with "Madam" Sidney Griffith.

Howell Harris had not given up preaching and resumed his former activities in 1763, after a reconciliation with Rowland.

Howell Harris died ten years later and was buried close to his birthplace at Talgarth, where 20,000 people are said to have attended his funeral.

Howell Harris was effectively the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, known as the Calvinistic Methodist Church.

Howell Harris kept a detailed diary and carefully filed the letters he sent and received during his ministry.

Howell Harris's papers offer a first-hand account of the Welsh Methodist revival.