The Life And Ministry Of Harold Emanuel Griffiths Part 11

If this is the first post you are reading about Harold Griffiths, or if you want to remind yourself about his life and ministry up to and through World War 2, then please take the time to read these older blogs. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9 and Part 10
An earlier post also provides a music sheet for hymn music he re-wrote and published.

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There's a few years silence about Harold in the Redemption Tidings magazine. Then, suddenly, in 1965 he turns up as full minister at a church in Newcastle under Lyme.(1)

I have a few thoughts on why there is a five-year gap here. I believe Harold stepped down from being a District leader for the Assemblies of God, and it might be likely that he either planted a new church at Newcastle-under-Lyme or was simply requested as pastor. I am positive this is still my great grandfather as further articles confirm it.

In the same year, he prays at a funeral for fellow pastor Harry Weston. I've included the full article about the funeral for a few reasons I will explain next.(2)

So why contribute this full article? 

Firstly, because it mentions Harold's association with the Assemblies in this district since its early days. 

Secondly, because this man was, like Harold, also a pastor who worked full time in the secular world, and noticeably the mining community. 

"For the last 20 years he was the canteen manager at the local colliery. He was also the Vice Chairmen of the North West Midland District Council."

Harold was not unique among the pioneers of the A.O.G. Church and the Pentecostal movement. Church planters and ministers of small community churches did not have the overhead to cover a salary. They worked for the church out of a sense of faith and passion.

I also have a photograph of Harold, Annie and their grandson Glyn Davies which was taken in 1965.

I don't know where this was taken, but it's quite a clear picture and I cherish it for that.

The following year there is a brief summary of a funeral which Harold conducted as minister at Newcastle under Lyme. (3)

It reads simply, "Frank Baker of Newcastle Assemby, Staffs, died on January 27th. He was well known throughout the Potteries for his faithful and unceasing labours for the Lord Jesus Christ. The funeral service on January 31st was conducted by the Pastor, H. E. Griffiths, assisted by K. Robinson (pastor of Hanley) and S. Dyson (Biddulph). Our sympathies are with his wife and family."  

The second and final article of 1966 has a simple, yet sad, absoluteness about it.(4)

"Brother H.E. Griffiths, owing to advancing years, has resigned from the Newcastle-under-Lyme assembly. Correspondence for the Assembly should now be sent Mr. G. Foddy, 35 Astro Grove, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

So 1966 was the year Harold officially resigned from being a full time minister of a church. I do not believe it an accident the he passed away the following year, but as my next blog post shall clearly state, there were still a few more things for him to do before he left this earth for a better place. 

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(1) Redemption Tidings Magazine Vol 41, August 1965
(2) Redemption Tidings Magazine Vol 41, December 1965(3) Redemption Tidings Magazine Vol 42, February 1966
(4) Redemption Tidings Magazine Vol 42, May 1966

There Was A Man In South Wales - The Life and Ministry Of Harold Emanuel Griffiths Part 10

I am taking a brief break from following the chronological order of Harold's life.
If this is the first post you are reading about Harold Griffiths, or if you want to remind yourself about his life and ministry up to and through World War 2, then please take the time to read these older blogs. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 and Part 9
An earlier post also provides a music sheet for hymn music he re-wrote and published.

The reason I'm breaking with chronology is because the other week someone left a comment on a blog post from three or four years ago. It read as follows:

"Dear Michael. I have a friend who attends the Penralt Baptist Church in Bangor. I have just listened to a sermon(preached on Sunday 28th January) by a man called Donald Poirot who attends that church. In his sermon he mentions your relative Harold and that as a baby Harold took Donald in his arms and blessed him. You can listen to the sermon for yourself. Jan Kelson-Martin ( Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent)"

This is a major reason I am a big proponent of family history blogging. It brings in comments by all kinds of people, from all kinds of places. These comments then lead to information that would otherwise be lost.

I responded to the comment, but also did a search for the church and sermon in question. Sure enough, the sermon is online and Harold's story appears from 11 minutes and 32 seconds, continuing to 14 minutes and 30 seconds.

I've transcribed it in case the link is moved in the future.

There was a man in south Wales. He was a miner. Big fellow. He’d come home and he’d be covered in coal dust, and he found the LORD for himself, this big burly man. He found the Lord. And fell in love with Him. This big man when he got over his shifts he wanted to go to the meetings, and if his shifts didn’t coincide just right he’d be seen at the back of the church before he would have taken his shower, because he didn’t want to dirty anywhere up. He wanted, he wanted to serve the LORD and understand about the Lord. He witnessed at work, and the men would scoff at him. They would often actually physically hurt him. On one occasion they pinned him down and they wanted to make him swear. But he just loved the LORD. Years later he went into ministry. He went from village green to village green. And then he had a building he found. He just loved to preach. He loved to sing, and he sang at the piano and I was thinking about him the other day, and there was a chorus that was around at that time. And he penned another tune to it. And it’s absolutely lovely, and he composed this tune, it goes like this.

“I fell in love with the Nazarene, the beautiful Nazarene, who’s face with glory was alight, the fairest I’ve ever seen. Near his side I would abide, when ne’er a vale between. Since I fell so deep in love with Jesus the Nazarene.”

Can you imagine a coal miner, singing that and loving that. You know in 1947 a couple, a christian couple brought their little baby to him to be dedicated. And his name was Harold and he held this baby and he prayed for this baby and he said, “Lord would you bless this baby, we thank you for the life of this baby. We pray that in the years to come he will fall in love with Jesus too. That baby is me. Me. Me. And it’s so lovely to tell you I love Jesus Christ.”

-- Donald Poirot, speaking at Penrallt Baptist Church, Bangor on Sunday 28th January 2018. -- 

The church contact information was present on the website, so I emailed to see if they could put me in contact with Donald. It appeared that he knew something of my great grandfathers ministry and I wanted to know more. The church responded and forwarded my request to Donald. Donald emailed me with the following response:

"As a miner he was persecuted for his faith - verbally and I believe physically. There was one man - a fellow miner who particularly hated him.
One day there was a serious roof collapse down in the mine. This miner was trapped and they could only shout through to him. He shouted back fetch Harold! Harold was called and this man asked Harold to pray for him - amazing. I can’t remember the outcome of that story.

You already know that in 1947 I was born and was dedicated to the Lord by my parents. They took me to Bethel in Milton where Harold Griffiths prayed for me. When my mum had come to Christ through the ministry of one of the Jeffreys brothers (Stoke-On-Trent Town Hall.) she had been introduced to Harold Griffiths. My mum came to Christ as a teenager. Harold Griffiths encouraged my mum in the things of God and asked her to speak. He advertised something along the lines - come and hear this teenage preacher! My mum would tell me stories of Harold’s evangelical work - village green services - a caravan. She told me of his zeal and love for the Lord. It was my mum who often sang the chorus you heard me sing. (In fact my mum went on to be an Assemblies of God minister - which was unusual in those days for a woman.) So we would often visit Harold in Milton and his assembly.

One incident which has stuck in my mind - the date I’m not so sure. I think I would be around 11 - so that would be approx 1958. We had been visiting Harold Griffiths and was staying for the evening service. As I climbed the steps to go into the building I started with a nose bleed. Harold who arrived ready to take the service - immediately stopped and bent down to me and prayed for me. He had the responsibility of the service ahead of him - but all that was put aside in that moment as he prayed for me.

Years later I found the Lord for myself and I wanted to tell him. I was going out with a young lady called Glenys - she found the Lord at the same time as me.(We married and Glenys is by my side right now - we both love the Lord.) I told her about Harold Griffiths and we went to visit him and his wife several times. He was then living at Woodhead Road not far from Milton. It was a retirement bungalow which looked over trees and green grass - a lovely outlook. (It actually was and still is Carmountside Cemetery & Crematorium.) He would laugh and smile with us and said jokingly - they have put us here so that they can cut down on the expense of funeral travel costs when we die. This would be in the mid sixties.

I ask myself if this email can also be a vehicle for greater blessing to you and your family. It would be my prayer that the life, testimony, and voice of Harold Griffiths reached over to you and your family and all who consider this man Harold Griffiths to see that his heart was for the Lord. Harold’s message was simply put. If Harold would speak to you right now I believe this is what he would say to you:

The Bible is the Word of God.
We are all sinners.
There is eternal judgement coming for all who reject Christ.
There is eternal bliss in heaven for those who put their trust in Christ.
That Christ died on the cross and shed his blood for our sins - for my sins.
That Christ rose the 3rd day from the dead & he lives for evermore.

The Bible message has not changed - man cannot save himself.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

God bless you Michael - you have a pedigree second to none!

Donald. 7th. February 2018"

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I have just a couple of observations from this.

1. The story of the roof collapse is something I had never heard before, and fascinating. It's one of those things that would be lost to history if not for the recollection of someone who had heard it told.

2. I've already documented how the Assemblies of God in the U.K gave opportunities for women to preach and lead churches. I am gratified to find that my great-grandfather was one of those who encouraged a woman to preach and advertised it. That she then went on to become an Assemblies of God minister is very encouraging. 

3. The story of the nosebleed and the comments he made while in the retirement bungalow are yet more tidbits that I could not have known without contacting Donald. They are once again those stories which give more insight into his character and condition. 

4. It's reminded me once again to contact the gentlemen in my grandfather's old bowling league who knew him, and see if there's still any chance he might email me the testimonial he had considered writing. 

That's all for now, and I'll continue Harold's story again in the next blog. 

The Healing Of Annie Griffiths Part 2

Part 1 of this series was first jotted down several years ago. I am not sure why I never completed part 2. Originally I was going to share Roy's annotations on the comments made about this event in my great grandfather Price Davies' written testimony, made shortly before he died.

In the previous post I mentioned that Roy had informed me, "The Western Mail', 'South Wales Echo', 'South Wales Daily News', 'Merthyr Express', and the Welsh language newspaper 'Tarian Y Gweithwyr' printed accounts of the event."

I still haven't found these accounts, but I did find one from the Weekly Mail, on Page 1, 23rd September 1905.

Front page of the day the article is mentioned. 

The Weekly Mail circulated in the counties of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Brecknock, Radnor, Carmathen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Herefore, Gloucester and Worcester. The article in question is right there on the front page in the very center at the top.

Transcribed below

MODERN MIRACLE AT MERTHYR. 

REMARKABLE CURE OF A YOUNG WOMAN. An unusual occurrence has taken place at Penydarren, near Merthyr. A young lady, 24 years of age, named Annie Griffiths, living with her Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Griffiths, at 74, Brynhvfryd-stfeet, who had been laid up with an affection of the hip for some weeks, and who it was thought would not recover the use of her limbs without the aid of crutches, got up completely cured as the result, it is claimed of faith-healing. Two ministers, the Revs Mr. Owen, of Elim Baptist Chapel, and Mr Francis, Aberdu, Cardiganshire, prayed earnestly for her recovery on the Saturday evening, and shortly afterwards she got up, dressed her- self without assistance and came downstairs. The following day she took part in all the chapel services, and is evidently completely cured, for she can walk about the neighbour- hood, to the astonishment of the residents, without assistance and looks in better health than ever. She is a young lady of a religious turn of mind, and regards her recovery as having been brought about by the interference of the Divine Will, and says it was due entirely to her undoubted faith, which was strengthened owing to the reading in a pam- phlet of a similar recovery. Miss Griffiths, although deeply interested in the revival, did not take an unusually prominent part, but in the course of the year her interest in religious matters had become more intense, and her pastor had been much distressed at the fact that she was so very ill.

There are still several original articles to discover, but at least I now have this. There are just a couple of other specific things I want to mention about the article.

1. It confirms my great grandmothers address at age 24, as 74 Brynhvfryd Street. I had this already from the previous article in part 1, but it is always good to have a second confirmation. It should make the 1901 census much easier to read and confirm, assuming they are still living at the same place. 

2. It also mentions, 'the revival' which is a reference to the Welsh Revival in which many miracles were documented in both religious and none religious newspapers like the two I have shared. It made the news in Wales frequently for many reasons, not least of which that it led to whole mining communities being transformed rather suddenly, with pubs being empty while churches were filled. It is also claimed as the beginning of many pentecostal denominations. For my own family it is significant because one set of great grandparents were much changed by it, and another were converted and called to ministry by those changed during this time. 

That's all for now, I'll keep searching for those other original articles. 

The Life And Ministry Of Harold Emanuel Griffiths Part 9

If this is the first post you are reading about Harold Griffiths, or if you want to remind yourself about his life and ministry up to and through World War 2, then please take the time to read these older blogs. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.
An earlier post also provides a music sheet for hymn music he re wrote and published.

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There are a few years now with little to say about Harold. I know that he continued with ministering and serving in the A.O.G. but have very few specifics.

An article in the Redemption Tidings Magazine of February 1959 provides a general history of the Pentecostal churches in Staffordshire and a brief outline of Harold's part to play in pioneering pentecostal churches there. I only have a pdf document for this article so I can provide no image here. One paragraph explains the North-West Midlands A.O.G District:

"The boundary points are, Macclesfield, Buxton, Uttoxeter, Longton, and Silverdale. Within this area lie ten more assemblies most of them clustered around Hanley. A number of these assemblies were pioneered or brought into Pentecostal blessing by local brethren. Brothers Charles H. Harthern and Harold Griffiths deserve mention in this respect, but one would love to mention others perhaps not so prominent but equally present in these ventures." 

Much of Harold's role in this early 1930's boom of churches has been mentioned in earlier blogs so I will not go into more detail again here.

March 1931 lists Harold as speaking at an Easter Convention in Prestatyn, Wales. (1)

In April we read a brief summary of how the conference was received. (2)

"The Word of God, anointed by the Holy Ghost, and ministered to us by Brothers E. Davies and H. Griffiths, searched out hearts, imparted zeal, and filled us with Joy. Jesus, the Christ of the Cross, uplifted in praise, drew us still closer to Himself."

Later that year Harold and Annie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This picture was taken. 

Back left to right: Anne, Ruth (Annie's daughter), Valerie, toddler Jean with mother Naomi. Ruth (Harold's daughter) with son Keith, Betty (Real name Rosemary) and David Griffiths.
Front left to right: Norman (Anne's husband), James Lawton (Naomi's husband), Arthur Elkes (Anne's husband), Harold and Annie, Jack (Real name Harold, behind his mother),  Gillian and Angela (David and Rosemary's children), Eric (Jack's son),
Very Front: Joy is the child on the left, Rhys is the child on the right.

It's difficult sometimes to get everyone's names right but I think I managed it with this one thanks to help from Harold's daughter Ruth. Iris is noticeably missing, due to living in Africa at the time.

In 1962 we see Harold commissioning a new minister in Leek

Harold is again listed as having "worked so sacrificially in the early days at Leek,". It was he who was chosen to pray for the minister as the services closed. (3)

I will finish this post with one last extended family photograph. This was taken by Roy, Ruth's husband, shortly before her brother David and his family left for Africa. (They worked fairly close to Iris and Idris.)

Taken in Basford where David Griffiths was the minister.
Back row: James Lawton (Naomi's husband), Naomi holding Julia who is David's daughter, Jack (Harold Jr), David, Ruth, Harold and Annie, Annie (Daughter) with her daughter Joy,
Front: Angela (David's daughter), Jean and Keith (Ruth's children),  Gillian (David's daughter), Betty (Rosemary), David.

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(1) Redemption Tidings March 1961, Volume 37

(2) Redemption Tidings April 1961, Volume 37
(3) Redemption Tidings November 1962, Volume 38