The Welsh Revival Apparitions and Lights

During the great Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, mysterious lights and apparitions were reported across Wales, particularly associated with evangelist Mary Jones. Hundreds of witnesses observed luminous phenomena over chapels, along roads, and following Jones—creating one of the most documented instances of lights associated with religious revival.

The Welsh Revival

The 1904-1905 Welsh Revival was one of the most significant religious awakenings in British history. Centered on young evangelist Evan Roberts, the revival swept through Wales, converting approximately 100,000 people and transforming communities.

Within this charged spiritual atmosphere, unusual phenomena began to occur.

Mary Jones

Mary Jones was a farmwife turned evangelist from Egryn, near Barmouth in Merionethshire. As she traveled to conduct prayer meetings, witnesses reported mysterious lights accompanying her—appearing over chapels where she preached and along the roads she traveled.

The Lights

The phenomena were described variously as:

• Brilliant starlike lights
• Colored orbs (blue, white, red)
• Lights that moved purposefully
• Luminous shapes that appeared and vanished
• Light formations over chapel roofs
• Lights that followed Mary Jones’s carriage

Witnesses included chapel members, townspeople, journalists, and skeptics who came specifically to investigate.

Documentation

The phenomena attracted significant attention:

Newspaper Coverage: Welsh and English papers sent reporters who documented numerous sightings. The Barmouth Advertiser, Cambrian News, and national papers published accounts.

Beriah Evans: Journalist Beriah Evans conducted extensive investigation, interviewing witnesses and attempting to document the lights. He personally witnessed phenomena and published detailed accounts.

Scientific Interest: Some researchers attempted natural explanations involving methane gas or electrical phenomena, but couldn’t account for the lights’ apparent purposeful behavior.

Specific Incidents

Chapel Lights: Multiple witnesses reported lights appearing over Egryn Chapel during services, sometimes hovering, sometimes moving across the roof.

The Road Lights: Travelers reported encountering lights along roads in the Barmouth area. Some described the lights as accompanying them or appearing to block their path.

Farm Sightings: Lights were seen hovering over farms and fields, sometimes appearing to enter buildings.

Mary Jones’s Visions

Mary Jones herself reported visions beyond the lights—seeing crosses, angels, and spiritual symbols. She described the lights as spiritual beings or manifestations of divine presence.

Her sincerity was generally acknowledged even by skeptics; she was a simple woman with no apparent desire for fame or profit.

Skeptical Investigation

Several investigators attempted to debunk the lights:

• Some suggested will-o’-the-wisp or marsh gas
• Others proposed psychological suggestion or mass hysteria
• Railway signals and other mundane sources were considered

None of these explanations satisfied all the reports, particularly those involving moving lights that appeared responsive to human activity.

The Decline

As the revival’s intensity faded through 1905, reports of the lights diminished. Whether this represented a causal connection or coincidence remains debated.

Interpretation

Religious: Many Welsh believers considered the lights divine confirmation of the revival’s authenticity.

Psychological: Skeptics suggested collective suggestion during intense religious experiences.

Geological: Some proposed tectonic or atmospheric explanations for luminous phenomena.

Unknown: The case remains unexplained—neither fully natural nor provably supernatural.

Legacy

The Welsh Revival lights remain one of the best-documented cases of luminous phenomena associated with religious activity. The combination of mass witnesses, journalistic documentation, and failed debunking attempts creates a compelling historical mystery.

Whether divine signs, unknown natural phenomena, or something else entirely, the lights of 1904-1905 were witnessed by hundreds and remain unexplained.