BREAD OF HEAVEN
The life and work of William Williams of Pantycelyn
By Eifion Evans. Bryntirion Press. 409 pages. £19.99
ISBN 978 1 850 492 405
This scholarly and thorough work on William Williams of Pantycelyn is to be warmly welcomed.
William Williams is known to most Christians mainly on account of his moving hymns. What is not so well known is that he was an outstanding preacher, much sought after in his time.
He was converted in 1738 under the powerful preaching of Howel Harris. He described the first time he heard Harris preach as ‘a summons straight from glory’ to his soul.
Whitefield was much impressed by the ability of Williams and urged him to engage in itinerant preaching. This he did for most of his life in association with Daniel Rowland.
A contemporary tells us that ‘he was noted for his powerful fiery flights of imagination and his enlightened evangelical doctrine delivered with much spiritual unction’. And Harris testified that ‘with him is amazing power. He burns with love and zeal’.
Williams was a major influence among Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. He did much to foster the early ‘society meetings’ in Wales, in which the professed faith and spiritual experiences of converts was tested and examined (p.258f). Such ‘experience meetings’, examining the reality of our spiritual life and leading to mutual exhortation, could well be introduced with great profit in our churches today. It would please God and help to foster spiritual awakening in our land.
Bread of Heaven is not an easy book to read. Its treasures have to be mined with patience. But riches are to be found here.
Paul E.G. Cook,
retired evangelical minister, Breaston, Derby
