JAMES, OWEN WALDO (1845 - 1910), Baptist minister

Born at Llanfachraeth, Anglesey, son of John and Margaret James, and brother of Edward James, Nevin. His family were Congregationalists, but he himself joined the Baptists at Pontyrarw during the ministry of John Jones (Mathetes, 1821 - 1878), and he was one of the first six students to enter Llangollen Baptist College. He was ordained at church, Dowlais, 1865, and moved to the Tabernacle, Merthyr, 1872, Ebenezer, Aberavon, 1878, Edwardsdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 1887, Rhosllannerchrugog, 1890, and Blaenclydach, 1893. He was appointed secretary and superintendent of the Welsh Baptist Home Missionary Society in 1900, but the Society did not prosper and he resigned. He ministered for a short while to the churches at Barry and Godre-aman and in 1905 accepted the pastorate of Bethania, Porth, but his health broke down and he moved to Pen-coed, near Bridgend, where he died 18 July 1910. He was a frequent competitor at eisteddfodau, and his name ' Waldo ' is said to have originated as a pseudonym. He was responsible for a South Wales edition of Yr Herald Gymraeg, and published Adnodau Dyrys y Testament Newydd, 1887; Blinder Diweddaraf yr Eglwysi … Anerchiad …, 1883; and Esboniad y Bobl: Yr Efengylyn ol Marc, 1895.

Author

• Benjamin George Owens

Sources

• The Baptist Union of Wales Handbook and Diary, 1911
• Seren Cymru, 18 July 1910
• Baptist Handbook, 1911
• Y Geninen, 1912
• Roberts, Cofiant y Parch. Edward James, Nefyn (Merthyr Tydfil 1906), 1906

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734115

Published date: 1959

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