A Story that Helped Change the World
The latter part of the eighteenth century was a period of remarkable spiritual awakening in Wales. The preaching of men such as Howell Harris, Daniel Rowland, and William Williams Pantycelyn had stirred the nation. Chapels were being established throughout the country, and increasing numbers of people desired to read the Holy Scriptures for themselves.
Yet there remained a serious problem. Bibles were scarce and expensive. Printing was limited, and many poor families simply could not afford to own a copy. In rural districts, it was not uncommon for an entire neighbourhood to possess only one Bible, which would be shared among several households. It was into these circumstances that the story of Mary Jones unfolded.
Thomas Charles of Bala
Thomas Charles was born on 14 October 1755 in Carmarthenshire. He was educated at Carmarthen Grammar School before proceeding to Jesus College, Oxford, where he prepared for ministry in the Church of England.
Following his conversion, Charles increasingly aligned himself with the evangelical movement associated with the Calvinistic Methodists. After serving as a curate for a time, opposition to his evangelical convictions led him to leave the Established Church.
In 1783 he settled in the market town of Bala, where he would labour for the remainder of his life.
His ministry extended far beyond preaching. Charles recognised that genuine revival required more than emotional enthusiasm. Christians needed sound biblical instruction. He therefore established circulating schools, promoted catechising, encouraged Sabbath Schools, and devoted enormous effort to increasing biblical literacy throughout North Wales.
His burden was simple yet profound: every Welsh family should possess a copy of the Scriptures in their own language.
Mary Jones
Mary Jones was born on 16 December 1784 in the small village of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, near the foot of Cadair Idris in Merionethshire.
Her parents were poor weavers and farmers, yet they sought to raise their daughter in the fear of God.
As a young girl, Mary learned to read at one of the circulating schools encouraged by Thomas Charles. Her growing ability to read awakened an intense desire to possess a Bible of her own.
Since her family could not afford one, she determined to save every spare penny she could earn.
For several years she carefully accumulated the necessary money. This required remarkable patience and self-denial for a child living in rural Wales.
The Journey to Bala
Around the year 1800, when Mary was approximately fifteen or sixteen years old, she heard that Thomas Charles in Bala might have Welsh Bibles available.
The distance from her home to Bala was about twenty-six miles (over forty kilometres). The roads were rough, and the journey had to be made almost entirely on foot.
Early one morning Mary set out carrying her carefully saved money.
After walking many hours through the mountains of North Wales, she finally reached the home of Thomas Charles.
An Unexpected Difficulty
When Mary arrived, Charles informed her that the Welsh Bibles he had expected had already been promised to others.
The disappointment must have been overwhelming after such a demanding journey.
According to the traditional account, Mary burst into tears.
Deeply moved by her determination and obvious love for God’s Word, Thomas Charles resolved to give her one of the Bibles reserved for another purchaser.
Whether every detail of this familiar narrative occurred exactly as later generations recounted it has been discussed by historians, but there is no serious doubt that Mary’s persistence greatly impressed Charles and became widely known among evangelical leaders.
Mary returned home with her treasured Bible, which remained one of her most valued possessions throughout her life.
The Birth of a Great Bible Society
The influence of Mary’s story extended far beyond Wales.
A few years later Thomas Charles shared the incident with evangelical leaders in London. Among those deeply affected was Joseph Hughes.
During discussions concerning the shortage of Bibles, Hughes reportedly declared, “If for Wales, why not for the world?” Those words captured the vision of those assembled. In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in London.
Its purpose was to print, translate, and distribute the Scriptures throughout the world without note or comment. From that modest beginning, millions upon millions of Bibles have since been distributed across every continent. Although the Society arose from many influences, the experience of Mary Jones became one of its best-known inspirations.
Later Life
Mary Jones married a local weaver named Thomas Humphreys in 1813. She spent the remainder of her life in North Wales and died in 1864.
Thomas Charles continued his extensive ministry in Bala until his death in 1814. Besides his preaching, he published catechisms, educational materials, and biblical helps that strengthened evangelical Christianity throughout Wales. His influence upon Welsh religious education can scarcely be overstated.
Historical Importance
The story of Mary Jones and Thomas Charles illustrates several enduring truths about the history of Christianity.
First, it demonstrates the spiritual hunger that existed among ordinary people during the Evangelical Revival. Many believers were willing to make extraordinary sacrifices simply to obtain the Scriptures.
Secondly, it highlights the importance of faithful pastoral leadership. Thomas Charles did not merely preach; he organised schools, promoted literacy, and sought practical means of placing God’s Word into the hands of the people.
Thirdly, it reminds us that seemingly insignificant events may have far-reaching consequences. A poor Welsh girl’s determination to own a Bible became associated with a movement that has carried the Scriptures into hundreds of languages and nations.
Legacy
Visitors to Bala today may still learn of Thomas Charles’s ministry, while memorials to Mary Jones preserve the memory of her remarkable journey. Their names remain inseparably linked in Welsh history.
More importantly, their story continues to remind Christians of the priceless value of the Holy Scriptures. Mary Jones regarded the Bible as a treasure worth years of saving and a journey of many miles. Thomas Charles devoted his life to ensuring that others might possess the same treasure.
Together they left a legacy that extends far beyond the hills of Wales, influencing the worldwide distribution of the Word of God and encouraging countless believers to value, preserve, and proclaim the Scriptures.
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