THOMAS
,
JOHN LUTHER
(
1881
-
1970
),
minister (Congl.)
;
b.
23 Apr. 1881
in
Bigyn Road
,
Llanelli, Carms.
, son of
Thomas
and
Ann
Thomas
. The family moved to
Pontarddulais
where he attended the local school before beginning to
work in the tin industry
. In
1894
he was received as a member of
Hope church
, where he was encouraged to enter the ministry. He attended the school of
Watcyn Wyn
(
Williams
,
Watkin Hezekiah
,
DWB
, 1076)
at
Ammanford
and
Bala-Bangor College
(
1900-1903
) before becoming
minister
of
Seion
,
Conwy
and
Llandudno Junction
(
1903-21
);
Carmel
,
Tanygrisiau
,
Blaenau Ffestiniog
(
1921-30
);
Seion
,
Cwmafan
(
1930-45
). He resigned because of his wife's illness and returned to
Pontarddulais
to his sisters at
Gwynllys
,
Clayton Road
, but he resumed his ministry, taking charge of the churches of
Libanus
,
Cwmgwili
and
Llwyn-teg
,
Llan-non
(
1945-50
) and
Hendy
,
Capel Newydd
,
Pontarddulais
(
1950-58
). Besides being noted for his clear preaching and his great pastoral labours, he worked diligently for the
missionary society
and
edited the Welsh section
of
The London
Missionary Society Chronicle
(
1927-40
), and was
author
of the pamphlet
Y bwlch lle bu'r Sul
(
1942
) for the
Council of the Lord's Day Observance Society
. He was also the
author
of a number of books, including:
Y byd a ddaw
(
1918
and
1920
);
Yr ynys aur
;
Hanes Iesu Grist
(
1930
);
Dyn rhyfedd y groes
(
1947
); and
Iesu penwyn
(
1962
). He wrote articles for
Y Geiriadur Beiblaidd
,
Y Dysgedydd
,
Y Tyst
, and other denominational periodicals. In
1921
he m.
Anne Grace
Williams
,
Conwy
. Although his health was never robust, he had a long life. He d.
4 Feb. 1970
at his home,
Lansdowne
,
Groves Ave.
,
Langland
,
Swansea
and his body was cremated at
Morriston
.
Bibliography:
-
E. Lewis Evans
,
Eglwys Hope, Pontarddulais
, Swansea,
1969
(1969)
, 69-70;
-
The Biographical Index of W.W. Price,
Aberdâr
(at the National Library of Wales and Aberdare
Public Library)
.
Author:
Dr Mary Auronwy James, Aberystwyth
