THOMAS, DAVID (1813 - 1894), Congregational minister and Biblical commentator

Born near Tenby, Pembrokeshire, the son of William Thomas, Congregational minister. After leaving school he served for a time in a shop and as a school teacher; he also preached in local churches at the week-ends. He had a brilliant career at Newport Pagnell college. He was ordained as minister of the Congregational church, Chesham, in 1841, moved to Stockwell, London, in 1844, and remained there until 1877, when he retired. His ministry at Stockwell was exceedingly successful; his sermons of Biblical exposition attracted large congregations; he also became the most popular Biblical commentator of his age. His main works are: A Biblical Liturgy, 1856; Augustine Hymnbook, 1866, containing some hymns of his own composition; the Crisis of Being, 1849; Homiletic Commentary on St. Mathew, 1864; Homiletic Commentary on the Acts, 1870 (2nd ed. 1889); Problemati Mundi, 1878. His complete works were published in nine volumes, 1882-9. His chief contribution to Biblical literature was the editing of The Homilist, fifty volumes. He died 30 December 1894 at Ramsgate.

His son, REES URIJAH THOMAS (1839 - 1901) was chairman of the Congregational Union in 1895 (Congl. Year Book, 1902).

Author

• Reverend John Dyfnallt Owen, (1873 - 1956)

Sources

• The Congregational Year Book, 1896
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• The Times, 1 January 1895
• H. Blackwell, NLW MS 9274A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: David Thomas

Additional Links

• VIAF: 90638503
• Wikidata: Q5240346

Published date: 1959

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