JONES, HUGH (Cromwell o Went; 1800 - 1872), Congregational minister

Born in the parish of Cemaes, Montgomeryshire, of a family of Calvinistic Methodists. When he was fairly young he went to Newtown to follow his craft as a weaver. He was received into church membership at Bwlch-y-ffridd, a little outside Newtown; it was there also that he began to preach. He was active in the preparations made to found a Welsh Congregational church at Newtown. He spent the years 1823-7 in the Newtown Academy, among his fellow-students being Samuel Roberts ('S.R.'). He ministered at Saron, Tredegar, Monmouth, 1827-45, and at Lammas Street, Carmarthen, 1845-72. He went to Monmouthshire at a time when industrial development of that county and Glamorgan can almost be said to have been beginning. The existing Congregational churches in the district were somewhat unconnected and un-co-ordinated, and Hugh Jones took upon himself to introduce some kind of order and co-ordination, with the result that he was suspected by some of being disloyal to the old regime amongst Congregationalists. He came to be regarded as the oracle of the Congregationalists in Monmouthshire; he was a skilful debater, platform speaker, and writer; he also contributed much to denominational magazines. After moving to Carmarthen in 1845, where again he was accused of 'presbyterianizing,' and found several pulpits closed to him, as he was on bad terms with David Rees of Llanelly (1801 - 1869), he became a staunch supporter of the movement to make the education of children a charge upon the rates. He died 5 March 1872.

Author

• Reverend John Dyfnallt Owen, (1873 - 1956)

Sources

• Hanes Eglwys Heol Awst, Caerfyrddin (1926), 61-83
• Y Dysgedydd, 1872, 129-30
• Y Diwygiwr, 1872, 123
• Solva Manuscripts at the National Library of Wales in N.L.W.
• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, ii, 438-9
• The Congregational Year Book, 1873, 337-8
• Y Tyst a'r Dydd, 15 March 1872
• Life and Work of William Williams M.P. for Coventry 1835-1847, M.P. for Lambeth 1850-1865 (Llandysul 1939), 212-8
• A History of Carmarthenshire, ii, 257

Images

• M. Felton Cooper, Hugh Jones

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733197

Published date: 1959

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