THOMAS, WILLIAM (1832 - 1911), Congregational minister

Born 26 March 1832 at Troedrhiwfelen, Llangiwc, Glamorganshire. He had few educational facilities in his early youth. His parents were members at Cwmllynfell and he was received into church membership at the early age of 8. He availed himself of every opportunity for self-culture; when still young he kept a singing-school on the Gwrhyd. He commenced to preach in 1848 at Cwmllynfell under the ministry of Rhys Pryse. He was at Brecon College, 1852-55, and was ordained minister of Soar and Bethel, Whitland, 25 and 26 December 1855. The cause at Whitland prospered under his ministry; Soar became too small and so the Tabernacle was built. He won a name for himself as a leader in temperance, educational, political, and religious movements; he was a staunch Liberal. Besides contributions to periodicals and newspapers he wrote Hanes Diwygiadau yr Iwerddon, Hynafiaethau yr Hen Dŷ Gwyn ar Dâf, and a biography (1872) of Rhys Pryse of Cwmllynfell. He was chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents in 1890. Retiring in 1908, he died 26 March 1911.

Author

• Reverend John Dyfnallt Owen, (1873 - 1956)

Sources

• Album Aberhonddu … o'r flwyddyn 1755 hyd 1880 (1898), 174-5

Works

• William Thomas, Cofiant y diweddar Barch. Rhys Pryse, Cwmllynfell (Llanelli 1872)

Additional Links

• VIAF: 103556958
• Wikidata: Q20734708

Published date: 1959

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