Early Modern Period In Wales

The Early Modern Period in Wales (1500-1800)

Religion and the Welsh Language

During the early modern period, Wales largely followed England in accepting Anglicanism after Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church. However, a number of Catholics remained active in Wales, producing some of the earliest books printed in the Welsh language.

The translation of religious texts into Welsh was a crucial development for the survival and status of the Welsh language. In 1567, Richard Davies, William Salesbury, and Thomas Huet completed the first modern translation of the New Testament and the Book of Common Prayer into Welsh. This was followed in 1588 by William Morgan’s complete translation of the Bible into Welsh. These translations conferred liturgical and literary status on the Welsh language, helping to maintain it as a means of everyday communication and as a vehicle for Welsh literature, despite the growing influence of English.

Calvinism and the Methodist Revival

Calvinist theology was introduced to Wales by Bishop Richard Davies and the dissenting Protestant cleric John Penry. Calvinism gained further influence during the Puritan period and through the Welsh Methodist revival of the 18th century, led by figures such as Daniel Rowland, Howell Harris, and William Williams Pantycelyn.

The Welsh Methodist revival differed from the Methodist movement in England in its Calvinist rather than Arminian theology. In the early 19th century, the Welsh Methodists broke away from the Anglican church to form their own denomination, the Presbyterian Church of Wales. This strengthened other nonconformist denominations, and by the mid-19th century, Wales had become predominantly nonconformist in religion. The growth of nonconformity was significant for the Welsh language, as it became the main language of the nonconformist churches and Sunday schools, which played a key role in maintaining Welsh literacy.

Wars of the Three Kingdoms

During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the early 17th century, Wales was overwhelmingly Royalist, though there were some notable Parliamentarian and Puritan exceptions such as John Jones Maesygarnedd and Morgan Llwyd. Wales provided an important source of troops for the armies of King Charles I, though no major battles took place within Wales itself. The Second English Civil War began in 1648 when unpaid Parliamentarian troops in Pembrokeshire changed sides, leading to the Battle of St. Fagans and the Siege of Pembroke .

Education and the Industrial Revolution

Education in Wales was very limited during this period, with instruction only available in English while the majority of the population spoke Welsh. In 1731, Griffith Jones of Llanddowror started establishing “circulating schools” throughout Carmarthenshire, where the medium of instruction was Welsh. By Jones’s death in 1761, it is estimated that up to 250,000 people had learned to read in these schools, making a significant contribution to Welsh literacy.

The late 18th century saw the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Wales, particularly in the southeast where iron ore, limestone, and coal deposits led to the establishment of ironworks and coal mines, such as the Cyfarthfa Ironworks and Dowlais Ironworks at Merthyr Tydfil. This industrialization had a major impact on the economy and society of Wales.

In summary, the early modern period in Wales was marked by the translation of religious texts into Welsh, the spread of Calvinism and Methodism, the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, limited educational opportunities, and the onset of industrialization. These developments had far-reaching consequences for the Welsh language, religion, culture, and economy.