THOMAS
,
WILLIAM
(
Gwilym Marles
;
1834
-
1879
),
Unitarian minister, social reformer, writer, and schoolmaster
;
b. at
Glan Rhyd y Gwiail
, near
Brechfa, Carms.
, son of
William
and
Ann
Thomas
(née
Jones
)
, but adopted by his father's sister. He was educated at
Ffrwd-y-fâl school
,
1851
,
Carmarthen College
,
1852-6
, and
Glasgow University
,
1856-60
, where he graduated
M.A.
He was an
Independent
when he went to
Carmarthen College
, but a
Unitarian
when he left it, and when he had completed his course at
Glasgow
he settled down as
Unitarian minister
of
Bwlch-y-fadfa
and
Llwynrhydowen
, where he remained from
1860
until his death. From
Nov. 1857 to Feb. 1858
he was
private tutor
to
Islwyn
(q.v.)
; in
1855
he had
written a novel
for
Seren Gomer
. In
1859
he published his little book,
Prydyddiaeth
, and he edited and wrote a great deal for his periodical,
Yr Athraw
, during the short period of its existence from
Sept. 1865 to Aug. 1867
. His chief contributions to the
Ymofynydd
were ‘
Cofion a Chyffesiadau
,’
1861
, ‘
Hanner awr gyda'r Bardd o Bantycelyn
,’
1863
, and ‘
Theodore Parker
,’
1863-4
. He was completely converted to
Parker
's theological and social views and, for that reason, may be regarded as the
founder of modern Unitarianism in Wales
. He joined wholeheartedly in the
Liberal movement
in
Cardiganshire
, and his contributions to the Press, his speeches, and his sermons aroused the antagonism of the landlords with the result that he and his congregation were turned out of the
old Llwynrhydowen chapel
,
29 Oct. 1876
. He took a leading part in the
1868
election and was a
strong advocate of the secret ballot
. He
kept a school
at
Llandysul
,
1860-79
, and was the means of
starting a new Unitarian church
in the town. He d.
11 Dec. 1879
, and was buried in the burial ground of the new chapel at
Llwynrhydowen
.
Bibliography:
-
Gwilym Marles
(‘Cyfres y Fil’),
Llanuwchllyn, 1905
(‘Cyfres y Fil’),
1905
;
- diaries and manuscripts in Llwynrhydowen library;
-
Eminent Welshmen
, 1908
;
-
Yr Ymofynnydd
(memorial issue),
Oct. 1934
;
-
R. J. Jones
,
The Unitarian Students at the Presbyterian
College, Carmarthen…1796–1901
, 1901
.
Author:
Rev. David Jacob Davies, (1916-74), Aberdare / Alltyblaca,
Llanybydder
