Howel Davies (c.1716 – 13 January 1770) was a Welsh

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

minister. Little is known about his early life, but by 1737 he is known to have been a schoolmaster at

Talgarth Talgarth is a market town, community and electoral ward in southern Powys, Mid Wales, about north of Crickhowell, north-east of Brecon and south-east of Builth Wells. Notable buildings in the town include the 14th-century parish church and a ...

. There he was converted by Howel Harris, and on his advice went to

Llanddowror Llanddowror is a village and a community in Carmarthenshire, Wales situated from St. Clears. Previously on the trunk road to Pembroke Dock, the village is small, historic and relatively unspoilt. Llanddowror is famous for being the home of it ...

to study under Griffith Jones. In 1739 he was ordained deacon, and then a priest in 1740. serving initially at the church in Llandilo Abercowin, before moving in 1741 to

Llys y Fran Llys y Fran is a small village and parish in the community of New Moat on the southern slopes of the Preseli Mountains in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The parish includes the small settlement of Gwastad. A notable feature is Llys y Fran Reservoir and Cou ...

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; cy, Sir Benfro ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and the rest by sea. The count ...

. Along with Harris and Jones, he made a major contribution to the spread of

Calvinistic Methodism The Presbyterian Church of Wales ( cy, Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru), also known as Calvinistic Methodist Church (), is a denomination of Protestant Christianity in Wales. History The church was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the ...

in Pembrokeshire, so much so that he became known as "the Apostle of

". While Davies was preaching at Llechryd and Mounton, there were complaints about his conduct, especially his willingness to offer communion to visitors. In 1744 he married his first wife, Catherine Poyer, a wealthy heiress, and they lived at Parke near

Whitland Whitland (Welsh: , lit. "Old White House", or ''Hendy-gwyn ar Daf'', "Old White House on the River Tâf", from the medieval ''Ty Gwyn ar Daf'') is both a town and a community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Description The Whitland community is ...

. When she died he married Elizabeth White, and moved to live at her home at Prendergast. Having accompanied

Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (24 August 1707 – 17 June 1791) was an English religious leader who played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales. She founded an ...

, on a tour of Wales, he was invited to preach at her chapels in England, where he made the acquaintance of

George Whitefield George Whitefield (; 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College at th ...

, who was impressed by his preaching. His published works include sermons published by Rhys Thomas of

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...

, one under the title 'Llais y Durtur', and another in 1768 under the title 'Llais y Priodfab'.

References

1716 births 1770 deaths 18th-century Welsh clergy Welsh Methodist ministers {{UK-Christian-clergy-stub