The failure of the established Church in 19th-century Wales to retain the allegiance of its parishioners is examined in this study. The appointed English-speaking Anglo-Welsh bishops misunderstood the character and spirituality of the Welsh people, which fomented a popular demand for Welsh-speaking clergy. This demand is considered within the historical context of the political climate of the day and the pressure of such a vociferous Welsh lobby, and expands beyond the scope of ecclesiastical history of Wales, by encompassing the growing movement for national unity in Wales.