Memories of Sandfields

One of my favorite preachers—and often regarded as the greatest preacher of the 20th century—is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Before serving as pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, the Doctor ministered in the small Welsh town of Aberavon. In Memories of Sandfields, Bethan Lloyd-Jones offers a front-row seat to those early years of her husband’s ministry.

What makes this book so compelling isn’t just the historical detail—it’s the living testimony of the Spirit’s power at work in a local church through faithful, Christ-centered preaching. Additionally, several images of the Doctor and the Lloyd-Jones family are included in the middle of the book, giving readers a more personal glimpse into their lives.

Lloyd-Jones didn’t rely on programs, gimmicks, or emotional appeals. He preached the Word—week after week—with clarity, boldness, and deep conviction. And lives were changed.

I especially enjoyed the stories of several unforgettable men, each featured in three successive chapters. First, there’s William Nobes—a quiet and unremarkable man in the world’s eyes, yet transformed by God into a spiritually vibrant and faithful follower of Christ. Then we meet Mark McCann, a tough and troubled man with a well-known reputation, brought low by the Word and raised to new life through the power of the gospel. And finally, there’s “Staffordshire Bill”, a feared and hardened figure in the community—yet even he was no match for the grace of God when the Gospel took hold of his heart.

This is a deeply encouraging, easy read for anyone longing to see God move through ordinary means in an extraordinary way.