JENKYN, THOMAS WILLIAM (1794 - 1858), Independent minister and professor of theology

Born at Merthyr Tydfil, 1794, his father hailing from Llandovery and his mother from the parish of Llandeilo. Four of his mother's brothers were Baptist ministers. He began to preach in 1808 at Soar chapel, Merthyr, where he was known as 'the boy preacher.' He was educated at Abergavenny and, for a time, himself kept a school at Vaynor near Merthyr but, owing to the poverty of his parents, was compelled to work in the Penydarren colliery. He attended night school and learned English in the English Wesleyan Sunday school at Pontmorlais. He became a missioner at Ludworth where also he had some schooling.

The generosity of his friends enabled him to go to Homerton College, London, where he stayed for four years. He received a call to the Independent church at Wem, Salop, and after five years moved to Oswestry. There he delivered a series of lectures on the Atonement which attracted considerable attention. Published in book form, the lectures ran through several editions, including one in Welsh. In 1834 he moved to Stafford where he published a book on the Holy Spirit. Ill health having compelled him to leave Stafford, he went to Germany and became a student at Halle University where Tholuck and Gesenius were professors. He was then offered the chair of theology at Coward College, London. In 1850 when this college was amalgamated with others he moved to Rochester where he died 26 May 1858. He wrote several articles for Cassell's Popular Educator and the Quarterly Review.

Author

• Reverend Richard Griffith Owen, (1890 - 1973)

Sources

• Josiah Thomas Jones, Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion Cymru (Aberdâr 1867-70), i, 607-11

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734540

Published date: 1959

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