GRIFFITHS
,
DAVID
(
1756
-
1834
),
Methodist cleric
;
b. at
Felinwlân
,
Lampeter Velfrey, Pembs.
, son of
John
Griffiths
. He was educated at
Pembroke grammar-school
and,
c.
1774
, was appointed
private tutor
to the
Bowen
family (q.v.)
of
Llwyn-gwair
,
Nevern
, where he came into contact with some of the principal
Methodist leaders
. He m. the eldest daughter of his
patron
. He was ordained
deacon
by the
bishop of S. Davids
,
16 Oct. 1779
, and
priest
,
2 Sept. 1780
; and was appointed
vicar
of
Nevern
, a
Crown
presentation,
2 Dec. 1783
. A fluent
preacher
, he constantly ministered to the
Methodist
communities and frequented their societies. He opposed their claim to ordain
ministers
, however, and in
1811
left them and took possession of their chapels at
Nevern
,
Eglwyswrw
, and
S. Dogmaels
. After that he confined his activities to his own parish. He was one of the
executors
of the will of
Bridget
Bevan
(q.v.)
, and
did a great deal for education
after the money left by the will had been made available. He d.
18 Sept. 1834
at
Berry Hill
,
Newport, Pembs.
, and was buried in
Nevern
church.
His brother,
JOHN
GRIFFITH
, was a student at the
countess of Huntingdon's college
at
Trevecka
. In
1795
, in
Spa Fields chapel
, he was ordained a
minister
in the countess's connexion but later became an
Independent
. He was a
minister
in several places in
England
but, in his old age, returned to die in his brother's house at
Lampeter Velfrey
. There he was buried.
Josiah Thomas
Jones
(q.v.)
,
printer
and
publisher
of the
Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol
, was a nephew of the two brothers.
Bibliography:
-
Y Drysorfa
,
1834
, 344;
-
Y Tadau Methodistaidd
, 1895
, ii, 329-36;
-
Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion
Cymru
, i, 417, 431;
-
D. E. Jenkins
,
Life of Thomas Charles
, 1908
, ii, 46, 299.
Author:
Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts, M.A., (1904-93), Pont-rhyd-y-fen / St
Dogmael's / Llandybïe
