TO THE
RIGHT HON. LORD R. GROSVENOR, M.P.
My Lord,
The relation in which your Lordship stands to the City of Chester, as one of its Representatives, and the lively interest you always evince in every thing connected with its welfare, induce me to address your Lordship on behalf of the Cambrian Society, established in this City, about six years ago, for the purpose of providing the Welsh residents with the means of religious instruction in their native language; and that in connexion with the Established Church. Though the success with which this Institution has been attended, has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its friends; and though the important benefits resulting from it, have been fully appreciated by those, for whom they were originally intended; yet, my Lord, some are still to be found, who entertain conscientious scruples respecting the propriety of supporting this Society—who are yet to be convinced of the expediency of providing the natives of Wales, who come to settle in the principal towns of England, with the means of vernacular religious instruction;—who are of opinion that the Welsh, thus situated, ought to learn the language of their neighbours, by which means they would have access to all their privileges: this, they contend, would supersede the necessity of all such institutions as are founded on the principle of the Chester Cambrian Society.
It is with a view of examining the practicability of this suggestion, that I beg to submit the following pages for your Lordship’s perusal. But, before I enter upon the subject, I trust it will not be considered an improper digression, to furnish your Lordship with a brief sketch of the circumstances which led to the formation of this Society.
A few years ago, a number of the natives of the Principality, resident in Chester, associated, and formed themselves into a body, under the denomination of the “Cymmrodorion Society.” Their original object did not extend beyond the common purposes of meeting together for social intercourse, and communicating with each other, in their native language, on subjects connected with the literature of the land of their fathers. But, after a lapse of time, and frequent interchanges of kindred sentiments, their attention was forcibly directed to the moral condition of the lower classes of their fellow-countrymen, residing in Chester.—They found, upon inquiry, that a considerable number of these, were so imperfectly acquainted with the English language, as to exclude the possibility of rendering it, to them, a proper medium of religious instruction. Nay, that not a small portion of them, especially of those who had lately emigrated from their native hills, were often, from their imperfect knowledge of it, deprived of advantageous situations, which, in every other respect, they were highly competent to fill. This naturally led to the conclusion, that if their ignorance of that language was such, as to incapacitate them for discharging the duties of their secular employments, how utterly incapable must it render them of performing the infinitely more important duties of religion?—Thus was the Society forcibly impressed with the conviction of their destitute condition.
Such, especially, was the situation of those, who had been accustomed, from their infancy, to worship God according to the rites of the Established Church. The Dissenters were more favourably circumstanced; for two Denominations, the Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, had provided places of worship for the accommodation of their respective adherents: but, for the poor members of the Church of England, no provision was made. To them, the revolving week brought along with it a silent Sabbath: the sound of the “Church-going bell” served only to remind them of the blessings they had left behind; and in vain did our venerable temples throw open their widely extended portals to receive them. Under these circumstances, the members of the Society had only one of three methods to adopt—to allow their countrymen to languish under the privations which they were suffering—to forego their attachment to the national Church—or, to supply their wants, by affording them vernacular instruction, in connexion with the Establishment. The first, their patriotism—the second, their devotedness to the Church—would not allow them to entertain: they were therefore determined to attempt the last. This, very naturally, led to the consideration of the means best calculated for accomplishing their object: and after repeated meetings on the subject, at which various plans were suggested, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—
I.—That this Society will direct its particular attention to the moral and religious interests of the Welsh inhabitants of this City.
II.—That this meeting think it would be productive of great benefit, if a Church could be opened in Chester, on Sunday evenings, for Divine Service in Welsh, for their countrymen in this City; many of whom are acquainted with no other language; at least, not in a degree adequate to the purpose of religious edification.
III.—That application be made to the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, requesting his Lordship’s advice and assistance, towards the attainment of this object.
IV.—That the Right Honourable Earl Grosvenor be requested to accept the office of Patron.