Wales had a long history of Catholic, Anglican, and Calvinistic faith expressions with periodic revivals. In the mid-1700s, William Williams (known as the “Sweet Singer of Wales”), brought not just revival but some thousand hymns to the people, including “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” That movement was followed by translation to Welsh of the Catechism, Psalms and the Book of Common Prayer. Literacy was promoted; an estimated half of the 450,000 Welsh learned to read. Into this increased literacy came the Wesley brothers and their Methodist revival. Between the middle of the 18th century and the middle of the 19th, Wales experienced some fifteen major revivals.
In 1878, a coal miner and his wife welcomed their second son, Evan Roberts. A devout child, he attended church regularly and memorized scripture at night. From age 11 to 23, he worked in the coal mines with his father, then became a blacksmith's apprentice. His faith-walk deepened as he spent long hours of prayer. He began studying for the ministry and had a vision of “all Wales being lifted up to God.” In late 1904 he preached at his home chapel, then taking his message to other parts of Wales. Soon thousands attended the meetings. He believed God would give him 100,000 souls.
Wales began to change. Sporting events (particularly the nation's passion, rugby) drew fewer crowds, church more. Hundreds would come to church if it was even rumored that he would preach. Unlike the typical fiery evangelists or structured delivery of Welsh preachers, Roberts' preaching style was prayerful and reflective. At the end, he'd invite the audience to participate in sharing their experience with the Holy Spirit. Services went late into the night.
A HEART-MOVING HYMN
One revival meeting drew 18-year-old Annie Davies, also daughter of a coal miner and a trained singer, who experienced a deepening of her faith. At a subsequent service, invited to come to the platform to sing, she chose a song that had recently been on her heart: “Here is love vast as the ocean.” Overcome with emotion, tear-faced, she couldn't finish it that night. But she would continue to sing it at future meetings, joined by other young women, including her sister. The women also sang at local pubs, inviting men drinking there to come to the revival meetings.
Wales changed in that brief year of Roberts' preaching. Churches reported 80,000 more attending. Drunkenness and beer sales faded. People strove to be more honest, repaying their debts. At the mines, the pit ponies which dragged coal-laden wagons to the surface, were confused when their usually foul-mouthed handlers stopped using obscenities to order them around.
Roberts became front-page news. The revival was intense and exhausting, and after about a year in the public eye, Roberts experienced a physical and emotional collapse and had to quit. He went to England to recuperate, later returning to Cardiff to live quietly, appearing at a few meetings. He never married, dying at 72 in 1951.
Two decades ago, the 100th anniversary of the Welsh Revival brought his story to light again, and also reintroduced his meetings' theme song about God's love, sung simply by young women who loved Jesus.
The hymn was composed by William Reese (1802-1883) and translated to English by William Edwards (1848-1929). It was sung with two tunes. One was “Ebenezer” with its rolling, wave-like rhythms (now used for the hymn “Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus”). Most hymnals now use a tune by prolific American composer Robert Lowry (1826-1899).
The full English lyrics are here: Here Is Love > Lyrics | William Rees (timelesstruths.org)
A moving performance of the hymn by Welsh tenor Huw Priday is here:
Here is Love vast as the Ocean - Bing video
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