JONES, OWEN (1833 - 1899), Calvinistic Methodist minister and man of letters

Name: Owen Jones
Date of birth: 1833
Date of death: 1899
Spouse: Margaret Jane Jones (née Jones)
Parent: Thomas Jones
Gender: Male
Occupation: Calvinistic Methodist minister and man of letters
Area of activity: Literature and Writing; Religion
Author: Robert Thomas Jenkins

Born 12 October 1833 at Weirglodd-ddu, Llanuwchllyn; his father, Thomas Jones, was an ex- Independent who had quitted the 'Old Chapel' during the 'New System' controversy (see Jones, Michael); his mother was sister to Sir Owen M. Edwards's father. The family removed to Fron-gain (Llidiardau, Meironnydd), where Owen Jones began preaching. He had already, as a boy, spent a few months at Bala C.M. College, and now returned to it for a further course of study which led him eventually to University College, London, where he graduated with honours in 1861. Ordained in 1864, he ministered at Blaenau Ffestiniog (1864-72), and Chatham Street, Liverpool (1872-92), retiring afterwards to Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, where he died 13 January 1899. His wife was Margaret Jane Jones, Tŷ Cornel shop, Llanfyllin. She died in January 1909.

Though he became moderator of the North Wales C.M. Association (1887) and of the General Assembly (1894), he was primarily a writer and a bibliophile. His early knowledge of Llidiardau led him to collaborate with Robert Thomas (1796 - 1866) in a biography of David Rowland (1795 - 1861), published in 1863; later (1869), he published a book on Robert Thomas himself. His edition (1889) of Llyfry Tri Aderyn did much to revive Morgan Llwyd's popularity; and his book-collecting led to important articles by him in Y Drysorfa - those on Jeremy Owen, in 1887, may be specified. He was a considerable authority on hymnology. His Welsh library has become part of the N.L.W.

Author

Published date: 1959

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