HUMPHREYS, ROBERT (1779 - 1832), Wesleyan minister

Name: Robert Humphreys
Date of birth: 1779
Date of death: 1832
Gender: Male
Occupation: Wesleyan minister
Area of activity: Religion
Author: Edward Tegla Davies

Born at Llanelidan, Denbighshire. Spiritual conviction broke upon him under the ministry of Edward Jones (1778 - 1837) of Bathafarn (1801). He began to preach in 1804 at Llangynog, Montgomeryshire, whither he had gone to work in order to help the churches there, and at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llanfyllin. He was admitted to the ministry in 1805. He married the niece of squire Vaughan of Penmaen Dyfi, who had saved him from being maltreated when he was on a preaching tour.

He ministered at Dolgelley (1806), Manchester (1807), and Denbigh (1808); Caernarvon (1811-12) and Dolgelley (1812), in both of which places he ran a school; as supervisor of the Dolgelley and Machynlleth circuits when these were amalgamated (1816); Caernarvon (1816); Denbigh and Llanrwst (1819); Llandilo (1820); the amalgamated circuits of Brecon and Llandilo (1821); Carmarthen (1822); Merthyr Tydfil (1825); Cardiff (1827); Llanidloes (1830); and Beaumaris (1832). He walked from Llanidloes to Beaumaris and, when he reached Bangor, was entreated not to go on to Beaumaris as cholera was raging there. He disregarded the warning and went there, sending his family to the country. He preached on Sunday and again on Monday evening, held a prayer meeting at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, and died that night (31 August 1832) of cholera. Here, taken at random, is an example of his industry (diary, October 1823): ' Preached 468 times, travelled 3,224 miles in the year.' Hundreds were converted under his ministry. He published memoirs, theological essays, sermons, hymns, and englynion in Yr Eurgrawn; Casgliad o Emynau i'r Ysgol Sabbothol; and a book of verse - Y Wenynen.

Author

Published date: 1959

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