RICHARD, EBENEZER (1781 - 1837), Calvinistic Methodist minister

Born 5 December 1781 at Tre-fin, Pembrokeshire, son of HENRY RICHARD (1730 - 1813) and Hannah, his second wife. The father had been a circulating schoolmaster and a Methodist preacher for sixty years. The son had also been a schoolmaster at Brynhenllan where, in 1801, he experienced a powerful conviction of sin; he began to preach in 1802, about the same time as his brother, Thomas Richard. In 1806 he went to Cardigan, where he was employed as a private tutor in the family of one of the Bowen's of Llwyn-gwair. In 1809 he married Mary Williams of Tregaron and went to live in his wife's home. He was ordained to the ministry in the first Methodist ordination at the Llandeilo Association, 1811. He died 9 March 1837 and was buried in Tregaron churchyard. He was a very powerful preacher, but is remembered chiefly as one of the principal organizers of his denomination in the beginning of the 19th century. He was for a very long time secretary of the Cardiganshire monthly meeting and of the South Wales Association, and left his mark on the whole organization of the denomination. He was one of those who drew up the Calvinistic Methodist confession of faith, 1823, and was the chief supporter of the Sunday school movement in South Wales. Henry Richard, the politician, was his son.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Methodistiaeth Cymru (1851–6), ii, 332
• E. W. and H. Richard, Bywyd y Parch. Ebenezer Richard (London 1839), 1839
• J. Morgan Jones and W. Morgan, Y Tadau Methodistaidd (1895-1897), ii, 486-504

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20746770

Published date: 1959

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