FRANCIS, JONATHAN (1722/3 - 1801), Baptist minister

second son of Enoch Francis. Shortly after the death of his father (February 1740) he went to live at Pontypool. Later, when he had begun to preach he was urged to go to Trosnant Baptist Academy. In 1743 he came to the Pen-y-fai (Bridgend, Glamorganshire) neighbourhood, with the intention of going on to Bristol Academy. He gave up this idea, however, and in 1744 married and settled in his wife's home, Y Fagwyr, in Llangyfelach parish. Pen-y-fai and Y Fagwyr wanted to ordain him as their minister but he elected to be ordained at Pontypool where he was a member. Nevertheless, in 1747 he agreed to take charge of Pen-y-fai and Y Fagwyr, moving his home in due course from the latter place to the former. About 1788 fifteen members left his chapel because of Arminianism, set up their own chapel at Nottage, and later became Unitarians. His son Enoch was ordained at Exeter, and two other sons, Jonathan and Daniel, were appointed to assist their father. He died 13 June 1801.

Author

• Reverend William Joseph Rhys, (1880 - 1967)

Sources

• David Jones, Hanes y Bedyddwyr yn Neheubarth Cymru (1839), 548-57
• J. T. Griffith, Hanes Eglwys Fedyddiedig Penyfai (1650-1889) (1916)
• J. Rufus Williams, Hanes Athrofeydd y Bedyddwyr yn Sir Fynwy yn nghyd â byr grybwylliad am athrofeydd Hwlffordd a Llangollen (Aberdâr 1863), 12

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733689

Published date: 1959

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