DAWKINS, MORGAN GAMAGE (1864 - 1939), Congregational minister, poet, and hymnist

Born 16 December 1864 at Bryncethin, near Bridgend, his father, Thomas, being farmer of the smallholding of Cae-helyg Bach, a collier at Park Slip, and a lay preacher, and his mother, Mary, a member of the David family of Pencoed. On his father's side, he was descended from the illustrious families of Gamage and Dawkins. His mother died in 1877, his father was killed in the colliery, 14 August 1879, and they were both buried in a Gamage sepulchre at S. Bride's Minor. The family worshipped at the Betharan Congregational church, Brynmenyn. He began preaching at the age of 16 at Peniel, Bryncethin. As his brothers and sisters had dispersed, he gave up the smallholding and entered the Pontypridd Academy under E. Dunmor Edwards. In 1887 he was admitted to Brecon Memorial College, and spent the next two years in the University College at Cardiff, and the two following years at Brecon. In February 1891 he accepted a call to Saron Congregational church, Birchgrove, where he was ordained, 5 and 6 July 1891. In the following year the young church at Carmel, Morriston, invited him to be their minister on his free Sunday, once every month. In 1904 he confined his ministry entirely to the church at Carmel, and remained there until his retirement in 1929. In 1938 he married Mrs. Kate Evans, Morriston. He died 10 August 1939 and was buried at Horeb, Morriston. His ministry was devoted to his own church, and he did not seek the limelight of assemblies and conferences. He was an excellent pastor, and during his ministry the membership of Carmel increased sixfold. He was a poet by nature and an easy writer of prose. He won the 'Tir Iarll' eisteddfod chair in 1913, his lyrics were awarded the prize at the Port Talbot national eisteddfod, 1932, and his lyrics and cywydd at Neath, 1934. He contributed much to Y Tyst and Y Darian, and to local newspapers. One of his hymns is included in Y Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol Newydd (no. 1049). In 1914 he issued a second edition of Lloffyn Addfed (John Davies, Mynydd-bach, 1850), and a bilingual autobiography, Hogyn o Lannau Ogwr, in 1934.

Author

• Evan David Jones, (1903 - 1987)

Sources

• Hogyn o Lannau Ogwr / A lad from Ogmore Banks (Morriston 1934)
• Y Dysgedydd, 1939
• The Congregational Year Book, 1940

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733943

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/