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asking if he would come to me and grant me a few minutes
conversation with him. He came a part of the way and
then, feeling guilty , he turned back angrily saying “What
does he want with me? O miserable man, the blind leading
the blind”. I heard afterwards that he died as he had lived
in his folly. He fell from his horse, when drunk, and
broke his neck so that he died” (Seren Gomer 1829 p. 35).
It is said that the eccentric Shencyn Tenhydd visited
the valley and preached here more than once. As the
distance from the top of the valley to Penhydd is not more
than 10 miles, it is quite natural to think that he would,
during his itineraries, occasionally visit the parish, es-
pecially as there were places in the valley where services
were regularily held. His manner and style of preaching
were original and he would sometimes indulge in plain
personalities. On one occasion he is said to have made
use of the following expression in reference to two
stubborn and unconverted hearers “Ye man of Ystrad -
ungodly and hardhearted people – thou Evan of the Fforch
and thou Mari Beili called I will convert you to God
unless the evil one be in you.”
In reference to the visits of itinerant preachers to the
parish a story is told which is illustrative of the habits
prevalent in the district in those days. A funeral from
the parish went to Sennybridge, Brecon, - a long journey
in those times. While the people were having refreshment
before starting back a stranger came in, and learning
whence they came, asked them to publish him to preach
at Tyle Coch on a certain Sunday. Two sons of the
Blaenrhondda farm, who were among the company
readily promised to do so and asked the gentleman
to call at their home, near which he would be passing,
on his way down. But the publication was entirely forgotten
by them but not by the preacher. On the appointed