Vavasor (or Vavasour) Powell (161727 October 1670) was a Welsh Puritan and Fifth Monarchist, imprisoned for his role in a plot to depose King Charles II.

Early life

Powell was born in Knucklas, Radnorshire, and may have been educated at Jesus College, Oxford. He returned to Wales as a schoolmaster (1638–1639), during which time he was converted to the Puritan understanding of the Gospel under the preaching of the Puritan Walter Cradock, and through the writings of Richard Sibbs (1577–1635) and William Perkins (1558–1602).

Preaching

In about 1639 Powell became an itinerant preacher and was arrested twice for preaching in various parts of Wales in 1640. However, he was not punished and during the Civil War he preached in and around London.

In the same year he was the first minister of Pendref Chapel, Llanfyllin, which is said to be the oldest Welsh independent church in Powys.

On 26 December 1641 he was preaching in Llanyre Parish Church in Rhos when he was forcibly removed by Hugh Lloyd and twelve armed men and imprisoned.

In 1646, when Parliament's victory was certain, Powell returned to Wales having received a "certificate of character" from the Westminster Assembly, although he had refused to be ordained by the Presbyterians. With a salary granted to him by parliament he resumed his itinerant preaching in Wales.

Preaching in London and royal plot

In 1653 Powell returned to London to preach at St Ann Blackfriars after the death of their pastor, William Gouge. Having denounced Cromwell for accepting the office of Lord Protector, he was imprisoned.

According to Price's letters to Secretary of State Edward Nicholas, Vavasour Powell, Saltonstall and Price were concerned in a plot to depose King Charles II. Letters were found in their possession indicating the plot extended all the way to London. By 2 August 1660 Vavasour Powell was taken into custody, while Sir Richard Saltonstall and Captain Richard Price "had left these parts" (Montgomeryshire).

Powell remained in prison for seven years. He was imprisoned at Southsea Castle in September 1667. He was set free in 1667, but in the following year he was again imprisoned and was in custody until his death on 27 October 1670.

Written work in English

  • The Scriptures Concord, London, 1646
  • God the Father glorified, London, 1649
  • Christ and Moses Excellency, London, 1650
  • Saving faith, London, 1651
  • Christ exalted, 1651
  • Three Hymns, London, 1650
  • Common-Prayer Book no divine service, London, 1660
  • The Bird in the cage, London, 1661
  • The Sufferers-catechism, 1664
  • A New and useful concordance, London, 1671
  • Divine Love, London, 1677
  • The golden sayings, sentences and experiences of Mr. Vavasor Powell [...], London, undated ()

Notable hymns in Welsh

  • Crist, fy ngorffwysfa benaf yw
  • Alldudion y'm tra yn y byd
  • Duw yw ein gobaith yn ddiffael
  • Mor weddaidd ar fynyddoedd yw

References

Further reading

  • Allen, E. (and others),Vavasoris Examen et Purgamen (1654)
  • Edward Bagshaw the younger (attributed) The Life and Death of Mr Vavasor Powell (book) (1671);
  • William H. Brackney, A Genetic History of Baptist Thought: With Special Reference to Baptists in Britain and North America(2004); pp. 30–31.
  • Brown, L. F., Political and religious ideas of the Baptist’s and Fifth Monarchy men, London, (1912)
  • Davies, David, Vavasor Powell, London (1896)
  • Griffith, A., Strena Vavasorienses (1654)
  • Griffiths, W. A., Hanes emynwyr Cymru, pp. 187–89
  • Daniel Neal, History of the Puritans (1822)
  • Rees, T., History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales (1861)
  • Richard, W., (trans.) Hanes bywyd a marolwaeth y Parchedig Mr. Fafasor Powel, ynghyd a rhai hymnau melus (1772)
  • The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, The Pastoral Predicament of Vavasor Powell (1617–1670): Eschatological fervor and its relationship to the pastoral ministry (September 2000)
  • Tudur Jones, R., Vavasor Powell (1971) and Vavasor Powell a'r Bedyddwyr (1949)
  • Christ Exalted, 1651, along with a brief biographical sketch