BOWEN
,
THOMAS
(
1756
-
1827
),
Independent minister
;
b.
1756
in the
Capel Isaac
neighbourhood, of humble parents. He was compelled to earn his living from a very early age, but the
farmer
for whom he worked encouraged him to get lessons from
John
Griffiths
(
1731
-
1811
) (q.v.)
of
Glandŵr
, and in
1777
he went to the
Abergavenny Academy
. In
1781
he was called to
Maes-yr-onnen
where he was responsible for a considerable increase in the vitality of the church. His sphere of influence extended, and he was fined by the
magistrates
at
Brecon
for preaching in a house in
Llansantffraid
parish without a licence. He
established new churches
in the neighbourhood. In
1795
he moved to
Maes-yr-haf chapel
,
Neath
. While there he founded the churches at
Melin-cwrt
and
Aberavon
, as well as the first
Sunday school
in the district. In consequence of a doctrinal dispute many members left
Maes-yr-haf
and started a
Unitarian church
in the town. He d.
27 Feb. 1827
.
Bibliography:
-
Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru
, i, 528, ii, 104-6;
-
Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion
Cymru
, i, 31;
-
T. Morgan
,
Enwogion Cymreig
(1700–1900), Vol. 1,
1907
; 30;
-
Album Aberhonddu…o'r flwyddyn 1755 hyd
1880
, 1898
.
Author:
Rev. Richard Griffith Owen, M.A., (1890-1973), Bangor
