The origins of the Apostolic Church lay in Christians who had come into the faith during the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, but considered existing church congregations unwelcoming, and sought other church communities instead. Daniel Powell Williams, a lay preacher among the Welsh-speaking Independents (Congregationalists), joined with one of these groups in his home village of Pen-y-groes, Carmarthenshire, upon being convinced of the need for believer's baptism by immersion. Eventually, Williams became recognised as the leader of the group, and was called to the pastorate through prophecy. This led to a division between those who accepted the ordination of a pastor and those who did not.