THOMAS, HENRY (1712 - 1802), Methodist exhorter and Independent minister

a native of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire. He first comes to our notice as a teacher in the circulating schools in Glamorgan who occasionally exhorted in the Methodist societies. He married, c. 1747, Gwen, daughter of Jenkin David of Gellidochlaeth, near Crynant, and was given a house on the Gelli property in which to hold meetings - it was there, in all probability, that the early society of the district used to meet. Howel Harris frequently visited Gelli, where some Associations were held. Henry Thomas sided with Harris in the split between him and the other revivalists, but later on abandoned him. He was ordained c. 1752 according to the rites of the Independents, and converted the society into an Independent church. He continued to minister to the congregation at Godre'r Rhos - the name by which the church is known today - for about eighteen years but, for reasons which are no longer clear, was not its minister during the last thirty years of his life; he is accused by Edmund Jones of intemperance. He died 1 August 1802 at the age of 90, and was buried in the Godre'r Rhos burial ground.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, ii, 164-7
• Y Cofiadur, 1935, 16; 1947, 72-8
• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, xxix, 25, 71

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20804711

Published date: 1959

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