George Jeffreys (1889–1962) healing evangelist, revivalist and founder of the Elim Pentecostal Church was born to a coal mining family in Maesteg, South Wales, in 1889. George and Stephen, his older brother (1876–1943), attended Siloh Independent Chapel. More dramatic and more formative than ordinary church-going was the Welsh Revival of 1904–05 during which Stephen and George were converted.

After leaving school at the age of 12 George worked, like Stephen, in the coal mines. At first the brothers were opposed to Pentecostalism but, when Edward, Stephen’s son, spoke in tongues, th…