SAMUEL, CHRISTMAS (1674 - 1764), Independent minister

Born in the parish of Llanegwad, Carmarthenshire, in 1674. He came of a fairly well-to-do family; he succeeded to the family property and thereafter resided on it for the remainder of his life. It is thought that he attended school under William Evans at Pencader or Carmarthen. He was received into church membership at Panteg, it was there also that he started to preach. He was 14 years old when Stephen Hughes died. When Thomas Bowen retired as minister of Panteg in 1707, Samuel was recognized as unordained minister of the church. He was eminently successful in that capacity. In his report on his visitation in 1710 archdeacon Tenison called on the parishioners to arm themselves in the fight against the flourishing cause at Panteg. On 23 September 1711 Samuel received a call from members residing in five parishes, to become the minister of Panteg. He was ordained the same day - the most independent Independent ordination ever heard of. His labours and his influence went on apace and he succeeded in building a powerful church in the Independent tradition. For a long period Milbourn Bloom was a co-worker. Samuel was a supporter of many weak churches and of every elevating influence in the social life of the district and in the church. He was a strong advocate of Griffith Jones of Llanddowror's Circulating Schools; he was also one of the main patrons of the men who were associated with the literary renaissance that came about in the district between the rivers Towy and Tivy at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th. His name is associated with Isaac Carter's printing press at Trefhedyn in south Cardiganshire. He was connected, in some form or other, with the publication of such works as Gemau Doethineb, 1714; Llythyr at y Cyfryw o'r Byd, 1716; Catecism o'r Scrythur, 1719; Llun Agrippa, 1723; Golwg ar y Testament Newydd, 1729; Y Cyfrif Cywiraf o'r Pechod Gwreiddiol, 1730; etc. [The only work written by himself was Lloffion y Gwr Tywyll, 1759.] He died 18 June 1764 at the age of 90. He was blind for the last five years of his life.

Author

• Reverend John Dyfnallt Owen, (1873 - 1956)

Sources

• Y Dysgedydd, December 1935, January, February, and March 1936
• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, iii, 457-8
• Panteg church book in N.L.W.

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Christmas Samuel

Works

• James Lewis, Christmas Samuel, Y cyfrif cywiraf o'r pechod-gwreiddiol, i geisio rhagflaenu twyll a hudoliaeth rhyw bapurun cableddus na fyn neb ei arddel, heb na thâd na mam, ond y press; heb nag enw nag amser wrtho; yn dwyn yr enw Cyfrif cywir o'r pechod gwreiddiol, fel swm y peth y mae yn ei gynnwys yntho, yr hwn sydd yn llwyr anheilwng o'r fath enw. Canys y mae'n cyfeiliorni'n ddirfawr yn ei gylch, ag yn crybwyll am bechod gweithredol Adda yn ei le ef (Caerfyrddin 1730)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q5111419

Published date: 1959

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