The Bible College of Wales
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The Bible College of Wales (BCW) is a Christian ministry college located along Derwen Fawr Road in Swansea, Wales. Today, it houses a Bible school (School of Ministry), a heritage centre, a prayer centre and residences for visiting guests.[1]
The college was founded by Rees Howells in 1924, and has been known for its culture of prayer and intercession during significant world events, including World War II and the Cuban missile crisis.[2][3] It stopped running for a few years after 2009, during which the last standing property, Derwen Fawr, was put up for sale. At that time, the previously owned properties had already been sold and converted to private housing.[4]
In 2012, Cornerstone Community Church, an independent Pentecostal congregation based in Singapore purchased and refurbished the property at Derwen Fawr.[1][2][5] The college has since been reopened and runs a three-month School of Ministry programme twice a year.[6] It also welcomes visitors from all around the world to its Heritage Centre and holds regular prayer meetings on-site. The Church bought the property to honour the work of British missionaries in Singapore, and to 'preserve the history of revival associated with the site'.[1] A group fo pastors from the church chanced upon this historic site while they were visiting Wales, and decided to buy and restore the dilapidated property after a time of prayer. [7][3]
Its current Director, Yang Tuck Yoong has a passion for revival history and believes that what happened in the 1904 Welsh revival can once again be a reality in time to come. The Christians are hopeful that Wales will experience a spiritual revival in the future.[2][7][3]
Among its most prominent graduates is the late evangelist Reinhard Bonnke who passed on in 2019.[8]
General History[edit]
Its founder, Mr Rees Howells, was involved in prayer and intercession for many years.[5] His life is well documented in the book, Intercessor, by Norman Grubb, which has become a well-read piece of literature in Christian circles.[2]
Prior to starting the Bible College of Wales, founder Mr Rees Howells was part of a worldwide revival ministry in Africa from 1915 to 1920, witnessing many conversions. He left this life behind him to focus on the founding of a training college that could equip the growing number of Christian converts to become missionaries and ministry workers. Inspired by the 900 student capacity Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, he started a Bible College in Swansea.[9]
Despite having only two shillings when he purchased the first property for the Bible College of Wales,[10] he eventually received gifts sufficient to make up for the shortfall when payment was due, attributing his success to prayer. This journey of faith he took was said to be influenced by the life of Christian evangelist, George Muller, who had also established orphanages in a similar manner through prayer.[11][12] He went on to purchase four estates for the Bible College of Wales - Glynderwen, Derwen Fawr, Sketty Isaf, and Penllergaer.
In its early years, the college relied entirely on prayer for its maintenance. Newspapers continued to report the receipt of gifts for the college in thousands of pounds with no committee or Royal patrons. Donors were said to have been “moved by God and have given their gifts to God.”[13][14][15][16][17]
Purchase of the Estates[edit]
First Estate - Gynderwen
While Mr and Mrs Howells was walking along Mumbles Road in the Swansea Bay area, they came across an estate called Gynderwen and decided that this was where they would start the college at. The owner Mr William Edwards, J.P., the draper sold the estate to them at a sum of £ 6150, and they had to pray for the funds to come in in order to pay the deposit. On the day he was due to go to the solicitor with the money, he was £140 short. Even without the sum when the actual hour arrived, he set off to the office without it, and at the last moment the outstanding money he needed arrived in the post.[9]
It was with this attitude of prayer that he continued to purchase properties for the Bible College for Wales, and he believed that the funds he eventually received for payment were given by God through people.
The opening of the College was on Whit Monday, 1924. Failing to find any committee or religious body behind it, the press called it “God’s College”.
Second Estate - Derwen Fawr
Derwen Fawr was a beautiful estate just up the road from Glynderwen, consisting of a large house, three cottages and seventeen acres of grounds back then. It was owned by a former architect, Sir Charles Ruthen, who took great care in the making of the Italian gardens, with stonework brought from Italy. Among guests who stayed there had been Mr. Lloyd George and his family when he was Prime Minister, Lord Melcheett and other Cabinet Ministers.
Even though Mr Howells still had a liability for Glynderwen, he went on to commit to the purchase of Derwen Fawr at £ 8000, believing in faith that “God would provide”. This expansion was needed to provide accommodation for an increasing number of students.
Within three days, he received sums of money that enabled him to pay the legal deposit and secure the property. On Whit Monday, 1930, the College commemorated her sixth anniversary of the College and the dedication of Derwen Fawr.[9]
Third Estate - Sketty Isaf
While Mr Howells was reading the life of Dr. Whitfield Guinness of the China Inland Mission, he started to recognise the need of many missionaries who had to leave their children behind in their homeland when they left for a foreign land. He felt the pain of these parents and wanted to make a home for children of missionaries.
Sketty Isaf was bought for this purpose at £ 3000, far below its market value, despite the sale being made during times of depression. As he had done for his previous purchases, he prayed for the funds for this purchase. With the procurement of Sketty Isaf, the school for missionaries children was opened in 1933 with eleven boys and girls, including some day pupils from the area who were also enrolled. A home for missionaries’ children was built, and care was taken that this was run without the intrusion of the school. In 1935, the school moved down to Glynderwen. Further extensions were also required on the estate, and smaller buildings were erected.[9]
Fourth Estate - Penllergaer
The next burden that Mr Howells carried was for the Jews, especially when he heard that they would have to clear out of Italy in six months on September 3, 1938.[18] This was following the implementation of anti-semitic laws by the Fascist Regime. There was much anti-semintism in Germany and Mr Howells longed to help the Jews return to their homeland.[19] Weeks later, the press reported that Hitler had “thrown out” several thousand Jewish children on the Polish border.[20] As such, the process of the purchase was accelerated, and Penllergaer, one of the largest in the Swansea area was chosen due to its large size of 270 acres. It had large mansions with many smaller buildings and houses, a home farm and gardens with a large collection of trees and shrubs which the university students would study. The press called this place the “City of Refuge in Wales for Jewish Refugee Children.”[19][21]
However, war broke out in Britain and only twelve Jewish children could arrive. Even though the estate was intended to provide a home for many of the children, it turned out to eventually provide work for the young men at the college who remained to intercede during the war years. Mr Howells was also able to use the war years to plan for the building of houses on the estate, avoiding additional charges which was required by law at a later period.[9]
Every Creature Commission[edit]
On Boxing Day morning, December 26 of 1934, the Bible College received its Every Creature Commission from Mr. Howells, who communicated that God was leading the College to take up the responsibility of seeing that every person would hear the Gospel. This would be done by sending missionaries into the world and by praying to see this fulfilled.[9][22]
On New Year’s Day 1935, the College was given to prayer and fasting to ensure the success of the Every Creature Commission - this was also the start of the College’s journey of being “a house of prayer for all nations”. Subsequent intercessions were undertaken for national and international matters to ensure that anything that affected world evangelism would be stopped.
Subsequent intercessions were undertaken for national and international matters to ensure that anything that affected world evangelism would be stopped.[9]
Prayer and Intercession (Rees Howells' Leadership)[edit]
Restraining Nazi’s Remilitarization of Rhineland (1936)
In March 1936, the College began its first international prayer battle as they prayed against Hitler’s invasion of Rhineland, a demilitarized zone according to the Treaty of Versailles.[23]
Hitler’s success would mean hindrance and opposition to the spread of the Gospel - a direct contest to the College’s Every Creature Mandate.
Over the next three weeks, the College prayed and fasted and the crisis of war was averted and Europe made a proposal for a twenty-five year Peace Pact.
Prayer Against Mussolini’s Invasion of Ethiopia (1936)
At the height of the invasion of Ethiopia by Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini, which started on October 3 1935, the College joined in intense prayer over three weeks from April to May, 1936 to halt the invasion.
Despite previous victories in other intercessions, the College faced it first defeat as the Italian occupied Ethiopia’s Capital and her Emperor became a fugitive.
It would seem that the Italian victory would be the end of the Gospel work in the country, but Mr. Howells explained to the college that “apparent failure may only be a stepping stone to greater victory”.
His comment proved to be true as a turn of events resulted in the Emperor of Ethiopia taking up residence in the College’s newly bought mansion at Penllergaer until he returned to his throne. With the expulsion of the Italians, the kindness shown to the Emperor would result in the expansion of missionary work in the country.
Prayer During the Munich Crisis (1938)
In September 1938, the College faced one of its greatest test as tension rose between Hitler and Allied Europe over Czechoslovakia - an event which would be known as the Munich Crisis.
The College and it's intercessor’s spiritual strength was put to the test as war seem inevitable when Hitler’s advisor pushed for an attack on an unprepared Britain.
At the height of the battle, the one prayer that the College made was “Lord, bend Hitler” - eventually the burden of travail changed to a sense of victory as Mr. Howells declared on Saturday, Sept 17 to be a meeting of praise and thanksgiving. [9]
On September 30, the Munich Pact was signed and war was averted - much to the irritation of Hitler against himself as well as the ire of his followers for missing most favourable moment for invasion.
Intercession for Dunkirk (1940)
On May 12 1940, one of the darkest days in the history of Britain, Hitler’s armoured column broke through Holland and Belgium and was soon to land on Britain - the closest in 400 years that Britain has come to the threat of imminent invasion.
On May 29 1940, the famous Dunkirk Evacuation was called, and despite the many setbacks and failures in the war efforts, the College dairies documented an atmosphere of victory as they believed that God was with them in their intercessions.
Throughout World War Two, the College was in prayer daily for an hour in the morning and midday, with extra times of prayer called for every evening from seven o’clock to midnight (only a brief break was taken for supper). This was in addition to the many special periods where every day was given up wholly to prayer and fasting.[9]
During the period of intercession, Mr. Howells was recorded as saying “The Lord has said, ‘I am going to deal with the Nazis.’ With the sure confidence of God’s Will, the College stood firm in intercession believing for the inevitable victories despite all outward signs that would say otherwise.[9]
On May 30, the invasion of Hitler would seem imminent as Allied Forces seemed to be left for dead on the beach of Dunkirk. The College’s diaries recorded an entry of faith in the power of prayer, “From a world standpoint there is no hope of victory; but God has said it. I could not come tonight and ask Him to intervene because we have already said that He is going to intervene. Instead of bad news about our soldiers, if He is on the field of battle He can change that and make it very good news. Oh, for God to lift us up tonight We are not to run into any panic thinking that the Nazis are going to win: Germany must be delivered as well as England and France. We may have to go through greater sufferings yet, but I am not going to doubt the final issue. We state in plainest terms: The enemy will not invade Christian England.”[9]
As history looks back on that fateful day, the courage and conviction of the College proved to be well founded and steadfast in the face of adversity.
Intercession for Britain Against Nazi Air Raid (1941)
After victory at Dunkirk, the Nazis sought to recompense their failure through heavier, frequent and indiscriminate night bombings which continued into 1941.
In January 1941, the College spent ten days in prayer specifically praying for the protection of Britain and for the Nazi’s attention to be turned away from Britain.[9][24]
Two months after the prayer was made, Hitler shifted his war effort and declared the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece on April 6[25], and followed by the invasion of Crete and North Africa.
The College celebrated their victory as their prayers were being answered specifically.[9]
Intercession for Russia (1941)
Seven weeks prior to Hitler’s invasion of Russia, the College prayed for God to bring Russia into the war so that Communism would be dealt with.
On June 22, the prayer was answered, as Nazi forces made significant advances into Moscow.
On 19 October, as Mr. Rees Howells waited for the news of the fall of Moscow, he felt that God was instead directing them to pray for Moscow to be saved while giving a setback to the Nazis.
As history tells us, Moscow never fell and over three million of the Nazi’s finest soldiers perished in the freezing snow of Russia.
Intercession for North Africa(1941)
After the success of the College’s intercession for Russia, the College felt their attention drawn to the Bible Lands of Palestine, Syria and Iraq. They felt that the war would not just be a European War. Lo and behold, Germany soon turned their war efforts towards the Middle East by entering through North Africa.
As such, the College focused their prayer on the protection of North Africa so that the Bible Lands would be safe for the Jews to return to the land of Palestine.
The news reported a critical and miraculous victory in Alexandria as the Germans, with their superior equipment surrendered to the British Army. Their surrender was due to the fact that they had gone for twenty-four hours without water when they overran British defences, and they drank furiously from a water piper which held sea water instead of fresh waters.
Intercession for Stalingrad (1941)
Shortly after the victory of North Africa, the College’s attention was turned back to Russia, this time the southern city of Stalingrad, which is the gateway to Caucasus. Caucasus would then be able to provide entry into the Bible Lands.
With the new conviction, the College prayed a whole fortnight and secured another mighty victory.
Intercession for the Battle of Italy (1943)
In September 1943, as Allied troops landed in the danger spot of Salerno, the College felt the burden of prayer. It was believed the men were in great difficulty, and there was a need to pray for them so they would not be in danger of losing their hold as they were facing heavy artillery fire.
The next morning, the College yet again received their answer to their prayer when the newspapers reported on ‘The Miracle of Salerno’.
This was a miracle because it was reported that the Nazi artillery had ceased for no reason, and nothing happened for the rest of the night. By the next morning, the beachhead was established.
Intercession for D-Day - The Last Great Battle Prayer for World War Two (1944)
In a meeting before D-Day, the College felt an "assurance from God" that “He was going before our troops, and they would not have a setback”.[9]
And on June 6, that fateful day that the world would come to know as D-Day, Allied troops landed on the shores of Normandy, and the College was in spirit with the troops through intense prayers and intercession.
Yet again, a great miracle happened for the Allied forces. Four thousand ships and 11,000 planes went through to Normandy without a single plane or ship of the enemy.
Throughout the six years of prayer and intercession through World War Two, the College’s efforts proved to be effective.
Prayer and Intercession (Samuel Howells' Leadership)[edit]
Samuel Howells learnt the principles of intercession from his father, Rees Howells and he continued in many intercessory battles when he took over as Director for six more decades. These included: [26][4]
- Korean War
- Kenya Crisis
- A Burden for Revival in China
- Malayan Emergency
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Congo Crisis
- Six Day War
- War in Portuguese East Africa
- Yom Kippur War
- Falklands War
- Liberty in Eastern Europe
- Demise of Communism
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
- Freedom in the former USSR
- End of Apartheid in South Africa
- Gulf War
Leadership[edit]
Rees Howells was director of the college until his death in 1950. [9] He was succeeded by his son Samuel Rees Howells who led the college until a year before his death in 2004. [27] [26] The college continued to run under Alan Scotland and was eventually renamed Trinity School of Ministry when it moved its operations to Rugby, England in September 2019. The current site was put up for sale in 2010.[4]
In December 2012, Cornerstone Community Church of Singapore purchased the Derwen Fawr site[1][2] and announced intentions to re-establish a new Bible school there.
The Bible College of Wales (BCW) was re-inaugurated on 25 May 2015[1][6], exactly 85 years after the College's inaugural dedication on Whit Monday in 1930.
Accolades[edit]
The BCW School of Ministry is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities to offer a diploma in ministry.[28]
References[edit]
1. Maton, Richard. Samuel, Son and Successor of Rees Howells, ByFaith Media, 2012.
2. Maton, Richard. Samuel Rees Howells: A Life of Intercession, The Legacy of Prayer and Spiritual Warfare of an Intercessor, By Faith Media, 2012.
3. Grubb, Norman. Rees Howells, Intercessor, CLC Publications, 1988
External links[edit]
- Bible College of Wales - official site
- Bible College of Wales - Cornerstone Community Church
- Rees Howells The Life of Rees Howells
- Rees Howells, Intercessor DVD Official DVD on the life of Rees Howells
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Williams, Nino (25 April 2015). "Former Bible College of Wales set to re-open after major refurbishment". South Wales Evening Post. Archived from the original on 2015-09-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Pettie, Gordon (15 Aug 2020). "Revelation TV Presents - Rees Howells - The Bible College of Wales". Revelation TV.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sheets, Dutch (30 September 2015). "Re-Digging the Wells of Revival: Dutch Sheets' Visits to Cane Ridge and Wales". Charisma Magazine.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Backholer, Paul (21 August 2020). "Rees Howells Intercessor, Intercession, Revival and the Bible College of Wales". ByFaith Media.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gregor, Gary (14–15 Nov 2015). "Spreading the gospel". South Wales Evening Post. pp. 12–13.CS1 maint: Date format (link)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Peregrine, Chris (26 April 2015). "New Bible college era marked by re-opening, South Wales Evening Post". South Wales Evening Post.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Yang, Tuck Yoong (4 April 2013). "Redigging Wells of the Welsh Revival". Charisma Magazine.
- ↑ Eddy, Melissa (12 Dec 2019). "Reinhard Bonnke, the 'Billy Graham of Africa,' Dies at 79". The New York Times.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 Grubb, Norman (1988). Rees Howells: Intercessor. CLC Publications. Search this book on
- ↑ "Two Shillings Founded the College". Daily Mirror. 29 May 1939. p. 25.
- ↑ Muller, George (Feb 1996). The Autobiography of George Muller. Whitaker House, U.S. ISBN 9780883681596. Search this book on
- ↑ Holland, Billy (4 Oct 2019). "George Müller – a man of faith". Jackson Sun.
- ↑ "Bible College will celebrate 10,000 pounds Gift". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 25 July 1938. p. 4.
- ↑ "1,000 cheques for Bible College Director and Gifts to God". Western Mail. 10 June 1935. p. 11.
- ↑ "Gifts of 110,000". Western Mail. 10 June 1930. p. 9.
- ↑ "All Came Through Prayer". Belfast Telegraph. 29 May 1939. p. 7.
- ↑ "10,000 pounds gift answer to prayer". Dundee Courier. 25 July 1938. p. 7.
- ↑ "Holocaust Encyclopedia: Italy". Holocaust Encyclopedia. 10 Oct 2022.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Bible College Wants Refugees". Dundee Courier. 7 Nov 1938. p. 6.
- ↑ "The Expulsion of Polish Jews from Germany - Fall 1938". Holocaust.cz: Institute of Terezín Initiatives. 10 Oct 2022.
- ↑ "250,000 More Jews Are Now Refugees". Daily News (London). 20 March 1939. p. 9.
- ↑ Lockett, Matt (10 Oct 2022). "Rees Howells: How One Man's Faith Prevailed During Global Crisis". Justice House of Prayer DC.
- ↑ "Hitler reoccupies the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles". History.
- ↑ Lockett, Matt (10 Oct 2022). "Rees Howells: How Prayers Played a Role in Ending Hitler's Reign of Death". Justice House of Prayer DC.
- ↑ "Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece". History.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Maton, Richard (2012). Samuel Rees Howells: A Life of Intercession, The Legacy of Prayer and Spiritual Warfare of an Intercessor. ByFaith Media. Search this book on
- ↑ Maton, Richard (2012). Samuel, Son and Successor of Rees Howells. ByFaith Media. Search this book on
- ↑ "School of Ministry Curriculum". BCW. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
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