Howell Harris
| Howell Harris | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
23 January 1714 Talgarth, Brecknockshire, Wales |
| Died | 21 July 1773 (aged 59) |
| Resting place | Talgarth |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Occupation | Preacher |
| Known for | Founder of the Calvinistic Methodist Church |
Howell Harris (Welsh: Hywel Harris; 23 January 1714 – 21 July 1773) was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century, along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantycelyn.
Harris was born at Talgarth in Brecknockshire on 23 January 1714. He underwent a religious conversion in May 1735 after listening to a sermon by the Rev. Pryce Davies, the Sunday before Easter, in the parish church on the necessity of partaking of Holy Communion. This led to several weeks of self-examination. This reached a climax at Communion on Whit Sunday, May 1735, following the sermon. After what is described as answering the devil's accusations, he received Communion, and came to the conviction that he had received mercy through the blood of Christ. This resulted in a sense of great joy. He immediately began to tell others about this and to hold meetings in his own home encouraging others to seek the same assurance that he had of Christ's forgiveness.
Having failed to be accepted for ordination in the Church of England because of his "Methodist" views, he became a travelling preacher and was tireless in his determination to spread the word throughout Wales. His preaching often led him into personal danger, and he endured considerable persecution and hardship before gaining a following. From 1738 he was supported by Marmaduke Gwynne who was a local squire and early convert.
In 1750, having fallen out with Daniel Rowland, and having been the subject of a public scandal as a result of his close friendship with "Madam" Sidney Griffith, he retreated to his home at Trefeca, near Brecon. In 1752, inspired by the example of the Moravians, he founded a religious community there, known as Teulu Trefeca (=The Trefeca family) with himself as "father".
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