JONES, JENKIN (1700? - 1742), Arminian minister

Born at Trafle, Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, in 1700 (?). The family later moved to Bryngranod which was sufficiently near Crug-y-maen to be influenced by its radical tendencies. There is an entry in the Cilgwyn church register which reads: 'Jenkin Jones of Llwynrhydowen; ordained April 1726, obiit 1742.' We know nothing of his early life except that he was at Carmarthen Academy from 1720 to 1722. He is said to have been a member of the Independent church at Pantycreuddyn and he may have felt that in this place the liberal views of Crug-y-maen and Carmarthen were being smothered. At any rate, there was a split in the congregation and he began to preach the new doctrines, or Arminianism, at Wern-hir or Pen-y-banc, about 1726. In 1733 he built a chapel at Llwynrhydowen - the first Arminian chapel in Wales.

He published at least two original books: Cyfrif Cywir o'r Pechod Gwreiddiol, 1729, and Catechismau i'w dysgu gan blant, 1732, and two translations from the English: Llun Agrippa, 1723, and Dydd y Farn Fawr, 1727. His Hymnau cymmwys i addoliad Duw was published in 1768, after his death. He was the apostle of Arminianism, and before his death six or seven ministers and churches had accepted the new point of view.

He died in 1742 when he was only 42 years of age and was buried 20 June 1742 in Llandysul churchyard.

Author

• Reverend Thomas Oswald Williams, (1888 - 1965)

Sources

• Lloyd Letters (1754–96) (1908), li-liii
• Hanes Plwyf Llandyssul (1896), 158-61
• Yr Ymofynnydd, February 1932, 21-9
• Enwogion Sir Aberteifi (1868)
• Enwogion Ceredigion (1869)
• Y Drysorfa Gynnulleidfaol (Swansea 1843-1851), 1850, 231
• Josiah Thomas Jones, Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion Cymru (Aberdâr 1867-70), ii, 95
• D. Peter, Hanes Crefydd yng Nghymru, o'r amser y daeth y Cymry i Ynys Brydain hyd yr amser presennol (Carmarthen 1816), 619
• J. Gwili Jenkins, Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist: athrawiaeth y Drindod a Duwdod Crist, yn bennaf yn ei pherthynas â Chymru (Liverpool 1931), 36

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q18593184

Published date: 1959

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