BASSETT
,
CHRISTOPHER
(
1753
-
1784
),
Methodist cleric
.
Born at
Aberthaw
,
Penmark, (Glam.)
, son of
Christopher
and
Alice
Bassett
, both of whom were disciples of
Howel
Harris
. He was educated at
Cowbridge grammar school
and
Jesus College
,
Oxford
, where he graduated
B.A.
in
1772
(
M.A.
1775
). He was ordained by the
bishop of London
and was a
curate
under the famous
William
Romaine
at
S. Anne's
,
Blackfriars
; he was also appointed ‘
lecturer
’ at
S. Ethelburga's
.
When his health broke down he returned to
Wales
where, in
1778
, he became
curate
at
S. Fagans
, after which he was
curate
at
Porthkerry
; in both of these places he established Methodist societies. He travelled throughout
South Wales
, preaching to the
Methodists
.
In
1783
his health again deteriorated, and he went to his sister's house in
Bristol
to recuperate; he d. there of
tuberculosis
,
8 Feb. 1784
, and his body was brought to
S. Athan
for burial. Elegies to his memory were written by
John
Williams
,
S. Athan
,
1728
-
1806
, and
William
Williams
,
Pantycelyn
. At the same time
David
Jones
,
Llan-gan
, published a booklet giving an account of his life:
Llythyr oddiwrth Dafydd ab Ioan y Pererin at Ioan ab Gwilim y Prydydd …
(
Trevecka
,
1784
).
Bibliography:
-
D. Jones
,
Llythyr oddi wrth Dafydd ab Ioan y pererin
[i.e. David Jones] at Ioan ab Gwilim y prydydd [i.e. John
Williams], yn rhoddi byrr hanes o fywyd a marwolaeth y
Parchedig Christopher Basset, Athraw yn y Celfyddydau, o
Aber-ddawen, yn Sir Forganwg … ynghyd â marwnad ar ei
farwolaeth, a gyfansoddwyd gan Ioan ab Gwilim mewn ffordd o
lythyr at … Dafydd ab Ioan
, 1784
;
-
Methodistiaeth Cymru
, 1851–6
, iii, 94;
-
Y Tadau Methodistaidd
, 1895
ii, 129-33;
-
Cymru
, xv, 24.
Author:
Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts, M.A., (1904-93), Pont-rhyd-y-fen / St
Dogmael's / Llandybïe
