DAVID LLOYD GEORGE EXHIBITION 1863-1945 March 1995

Department of Pictures and Maps

Exhibition

DISESTABLISHMENT

As Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George's time was taken up with British concerns,. but some "Welsh" ones did merit his attention. Perhaps the most important was that of disestablishment which had been part of his political agenda from the very beginning. In 1912, after the failure of many other such bills, a new measure was put before the House. In tone it was much more conciliatory than would have been expected from a government with Lloyd George as one of its important members.

But he had changed, as many nonconformists in Wales had noticed: by now weren't most of his close associates Anglicans and didn't he play golf on Sunday. To show that he still was loyal to his old principles he campaigned vigorously for the Measure and on the eve of war it became law. Following a few amendments after the war, the Church in Wales was disestablished on 31 March 1920. The same Act that brought this about also brought Nonconformity to an end since there was no longer an established church in Wales.

© National Library of Wales
Chapman (Swansea), "Crowd of the second procession outside
the Victoria Park gates on the National Disestablishment Demonstration,
Swansea, Whit-Tuesday, May 28th, 1912."
(PD6536 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 28 p.6)

© National Library of Wales
Unidentified photographer, "Speaking at Victoria Park, Swansea."
(PG2353 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 1013 p.18)

© National Library of Wales
Unidentified photographer, David Lloyd George addresses a meeting
at the Pavilion, Caernarfon in favour of disestablishment.
(PG2349 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 1009, p.9v)

© National Library of Wales
A J Lewis (Aberystwyth), Welsh Church Bill demonstration, Aberystwyth.
(P3244 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 1374)

© National Library of Wales
A J Lewis (Aberystwyth), Welsh Church Bill demonstration, Aberystwyth.
(P3249 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 1374)

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