Editing Howell Harris (section)

==Life==
[[File:Calvanistic Methodist College, Trevecca.jpeg|thumb|Teulu Trefeca (the building is depicted here in 1860 when in use as a Calvinistic Methodist College)]]
[[File:Memorial stone of Howell Harris, Trefeca (1295041).jpg|290px|thumb|Memorial; Trefeca.]]

Harris was born at [[Trefeca]], near [[Talgarth]] in [[Brecknockshire]] on 23 January 1714. He was the youngest of five children of Howel ap Howel, alias Harris (c. 1672–1731), a carpenter, and his wife, Susannah (died 1751), daughter of Thomas Powell.<ref>{{Cite ODNB |id=12392 |title=Harris, Howel |first=Derec Llwyd |last=Morgan |author-link=Derec Llwyd Morgan}}</ref> The family originally hailed from [[Carmarthenshire]], but had settled in Trefeca in 1700, where Howell Sr had purchased a small landholding. Harris's oldest brother [[Joseph Harris (astronomer)|Joseph]] trained as a blacksmith, but went on to secure a post at the [[Royal Mint]] after studying in [[London]]. His other brother Thomas made his name as a tailor to wealthy clients and amassed enough income to purchase estates in Tregunter and Trefeca, and other properties nearby. He served as [[High Sheriff of Brecknockshire]] in 1768.<ref name="Hughes46">{{harvnb|Hughes|1892|pp=4–6}}</ref>

Harris underwent religious conversion in March 1735 after hearing a parish-church sermon by the Rev. Pryce Davies on the Sunday before Easter, on the necessity of partaking of [[Holy Communion]]. This led to several weeks of self-examination, which reached a climax at Communion on Whit Sunday, May 1735. After what is described as answering the devil's accusations, he received Communion and became convinced he had received mercy through the blood of Christ, which gave him a sense of great joy.<ref>Richard Bennett; ''Howell Harris and the Dawn of Revival''; {{ISBN|1 85049 035 X}}, pp. 20–26.</ref> He immediately began to tell others of this and hold meetings in his home to encourage others to seek the same assurance of Christ's forgiveness.

He failed to be accepted for ordination in the [[Church of England]] because of views held to be "[[Methodist]]". Instead he became a travelling preacher, tirelessly determined to spread the word through Wales. His preaching often led him into personal danger, persecution and hardship before he gained a following. From 1738 he was supported by [[Marmaduke Gwynne]], a local squire and early convert.<ref>[http://www.llgc.org.uk/fileadmin/documents/pdf/The_Journal_Marmaduke_Gwynne_Jason_Evans.pdf Maramaduke Gynne] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513075455/http://www.llgc.org.uk/fileadmin/documents/pdf/The_Journal_Marmaduke_Gwynne_Jason_Evans.pdf |date=2013-05-13 }}, llgc.org.uk, retrieved September 2013</ref>

In 1750 Harris retreated to his home at Trefeca, having fallen out with a fellow evangelist, [[Daniel Rowland (preacher)|Daniel Rowland]], and become the subject of public scandal for his close friendship with "Madam" [[Sidney Griffith]]. In 1752 he was inspired by the example of the [[Moravian Church|Moravians]] to found a religious community there known as ''Teulu Trefeca'' (The Trefeca family) with himself as "Father".

Harris had not given up preaching and resumed his former activities in 1763, after a reconciliation with Rowland. He died ten years later and was buried close to his birthplace at Talgarth, where 20,000 people are said to have attended his funeral. There is a memorial to him at [[Rhydyclafdy]], near Pwllheli, where he preached.

He was effectively the founder of the [[Presbyterian Church of Wales]], also known as the [[Presbyterian church of Wales|Calvinistic Methodist Church]].