HUGHES, JOHN (1827 - 1893), Calvinistic Methodist minister

Born 27 September 1827 in the Calvinistic Methodist chapel-house at Llannerch-y-medd, Anglesey, son of John and Ellen Hughes. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a boot-maker and, in due course, became a master boot-maker. He was taught Greek by William Roberts (1784 - 1864) of Amlwch. His application to enter the ministry was considered at the Cemaes monthly meeting, 20 December 1847, and he was accepted at the monthly meeting held at Garreg-lefn, 17 January 1848. In August 1848 he went to Bala C.M. College, where he was an industrious student and a good preacher who quickly made his mark. After leaving Bala he opened a school at Llannerch-y-medd, and, 5 November 1852, married Ellen Dew.

Before the end of 1852 he moved to Menai Bridge, without, however, receiving a regular call as pastor. He remained there for five years at a salary of £20 a year. In addition he had his Sunday emoluments which, on an average, amounted to nine shillings and sixpence a week. In November 1857 he received a call from the Liverpool churches but, after three years, confined his activities to Rose Place, afterwards Fitzclarence Street. In 1874 he visited the U.S.A., sailing on the 18th April and returning the 25th July.

His denomination showered honours upon him; he was moderator of the North Wales Association, 1871, and of the General Assembly, 1880. He was a temporary tutor at Bala College, 1886-7. In 1888 he received a call to Engedi, Caernarvon, where he remained nearly five years. On 22 October 1893 he preached three sermons at Amlwch; and on the following day he died at his home at Caernarvon.

He was an indefatigable writer and contributed more than almost any one else to the periodicals published by his denomination. He wrote the greater part of Testament yr Ysgol Sabothol. He translated Butler's Analogy into Welsh, 1859, prefacing it with a lengthy introduction of his own. Apart from editing a number of books, he himself wrote three: Unoliaeth y Beibl, 1866; Y Weinidogaeth, 1879; Hanes yr Athrawiaeth Gristionogol, 1883. His outstanding characteristic was the unruffled serenity of a thinker.

Author

• Reverend Dr John Owen, (1864 - 1953)

Sources

• T. R. Roberts, Eminent Welshmen: a short biographical dictionary of Welshmen... from the earliest times to the present (1908)
• personal recollections

Images

• John Thomas, John Hughes
• NLW: John Hughes
• NLW: Parch. John Hughes, D.D., Caernarfon ganwyd Medi 27, 1827; Bu farw Hydref 23, 1893

Works

• John Hughes, Duwioldeb boreuol: cofiant Miss Mary Ann Elias, Tre'rgof, Cemmaes, Môn (Dinbych 1861)
• Owen Thomas, John Hughes, Byr-gofiant y Parch. Owen Thomas, D.D., Lerpwl: ynghyda phregeth angladdol (Caernarfon 1891?)

Additional Links

• VIAF: 101555072
• Wikidata: Q20733455

Published date: 1959

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