LEWIS, MORGAN JOHN (c. 1711 - 1771), or JONES, MORGAN, Methodist exhorter and hymn-writer

Name: Morgan John Lewis
Date of birth: c. 1711
Date of death: 1771
Gender: Male
Occupation: Methodist exhorter and hymn-writer
Area of activity: Poetry; Religion
Author: Gomer Morgan Roberts

Born c. 1711, a native of Cwm Ebwy-fawr, Aberystruth, Monmouthshire. He was converted under the ministry of Howel Harris, c. 1738, and is said to have seceded from the communion of the Church of England when Daniel Rowland was forbidden to preach in Aberystruth church. He began to write hymns, and comes to our notice as one of the early hymn-writers of the Methodist revival. A hymn written by 'Morgan Jones o Flauneu gwent' will be found in Llwybur Hyffordd ir Cymru (Shrewsbury, 1740). He and Edmund Williams, of Cwm Tyleri, were the joint publishers of Hymnau Duwiol o Gasgliad Gwyr Eglwysig M.J. ac E.W. (Pontypool, 1741). Another hymn written by him will be found in Sail, Dibenion, a Rheolau'r Societies (Bristol), a booklet published by the Methodist Association in 1742. He began to preach to the Methodists and was appointed a public exhorter at the Watford Association, 1743; later, he was appointed supervisor of a number of societies. He was a lively and popular preacher who exercised considerable influence over his brethren, and he was one of the leaders of the party which advocated secession from the Church of England. He favoured Howel Harris in the dispute between him and Daniel Rowland but, after the Llanidloes session of 1751, he joined Rowland 's party. He was ordained pastor, after the manner of the Independents, of the society assembling at New Inn, in the parish of Pant-teg, Monmouthshire, on the advice, it is said, of Rowland. The ordination took place on Whit Monday, 1756, and caused a sensation at the time. He died tragically at the beginning of 1771.

Author

Published date: 1959

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