CHARLES, DAVID III (1812-1878), Calvinistic Methodist minister

Son of Thomas Rice Charles and Maria his wife, and grandson of Thomas Charles; born at Bala 23 July 1812. He was educated at Bala and Chirk, and after reading with the rector of Llanycil matriculated at Jesus College, Oxford, in May 1831, proceeding to the degree of B.A. in 1835. He was associated with his brother-in-law, Lewis Edwards, in the inception in 1837 of the preparatory school which developed into the Theological College at Bala. Ordained to the ministry of the C.M. connexion in 1841, he was appointed principal of Trevecka College in 1842 and remained there for twenty years. In January 1863 he became pastor of the C.M. church at Aber-carn, Monmouth. After five years there he undertook organizing work in connection with the projected University College of Wales, which was opened at Aberystwyth in October 1872. Upon the appointment of his nephew T. C. Edwards as principal he resigned his post and later migrated to Aberdovey, where he died on 13 December 1878. In 1869 he was moderator of the general assembly of his connexion.

He married (1), 1839, Kate Roberts, Holyhead, who died c. 1844; (2), 1846, Mary, daughter of Hugh Jones of Llanidloes and widow of Benjamin Watkins, by whom he had three daughters, one of whom, with his widow, survived him. He was buried at Llanidloes.

THOMAS CHARLES, F.R.C.S. (1811 - 1873), doctor

David Charles's brother. He was christened 10 January 1811, practised at Menai Bridge (1841-6) and afterwards in London, emigrated to Sydney c. 1855, returned to Wales c. 1870, and practised at Pembroke and at Aberystwyth, where he died 11 April 1873. Two facts about him may be mentioned. In the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, 11 December 1841, he entered a strong protest (unusual for a Methodist of his day) against the attempt of the Anglesey presbytery to 'interfere with my right of judgement in political matters' by forbidding its members to attend a Free Trade meeting at Caernarvon. And in April 1854 a meeting to promote a university college in Wales was held at his London house - (Davies and Jones, The University of Wales, 69-70).

Author

• Thomas Iorwerth Ellis, (1899 - 1970)

Sources

• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, xx, 28
• Y Traethodydd, 1893
• D. E. Jenkins, Life of Thomas Charles (Denbigh 1908), iii, 645
• Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford

Images

• NLW: Y parch D. Charles D.D., F.R.G.S.&c

Works

• David Charles, Owen Thomas, John Roberts, William Howells, Welsh Calvinistic Methodist record; a monthly magazine of religious literature and intelligence

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q5232308

Published date: 1959

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