Dear en Readers,
Seeing a letter in the May issue of en regarding Welsh culture, etc. and a news item about Charlotte Chapel, I am prompted to write of how the revival came from Gowerton South via the LNWR York Mail to Edinburgh.
In 1904, Charlotte Chapel’s minister, the Revd Joseph Kemp (Kelso), was sent to Bournemouth to recuperate from a very long illness. One day he heard of revival awakening at Llwychwr/Gorseinon South Wales. Though still not fully back to good health, he decided to go and see what was going on. At Bournemouth West GWR he was advised to book a return ticket to Gowerton North and walk to Gowerton South; and from there to re-book a (short, one-stop) journey on. He took an overnight bag, expecting to go back to Bournemouth.
Arriving on the platform at the ticket window of the Station Master’s house, Gowerton South he asked for a return ‘To where the revival is’. Opening his coat, and beating a fist across his chest, the station master exclaimed: ‘You don’t have to go any further than here!’ With that, the longing in Joseph Kemp’s heart was answered. The Spirit of God fell upon him. There and then the fullness of health was restored. He spent the rest of the evening there on the station.
As he now was, he booked a single to Waverley Edinburgh. He took a connecting ‘local stopper’ and changed at Pantyffynnon Junction. There he caught the 10pm (ex Swansea, York Mail). He arrived at Waverley station about 7am the next day.
When he left for Bournemouth in 1904, Charlotte Chapel had 35 members with 55 attending. By the end of 1905 there were 850 baptised believers. The question arises, how many more were converted and had joined other churches near and far?
I am wondering if Joseph Kemp had named his destination, he might have just been given the ticket. As it was, he was given what he longed for, because he asked for it!
Yours faithfully,
