JONES, REES JENKIN (1835 - 1924), Unitarian minister, schoolmaster, historian, and hymn-writer

Born 17 September 1835, eldest son of John Jones (1802 - 1863) of Aberdare. On his mother's side he was descended from the family of Jones of Llwyn-rhys, pioneers of Nonconformity in Cardiganshire. He was educated at his father's school, Carmarthen Presbyterian College (1855-9), and the University of Glasgow (1859-62), where he graduated M.A., 1863. His father having died 19 December 1863, he took his place in the school and in the pulpit, and in January 1864 received a unanimous call from the church. He was its minister from 1864 until 1872, when he resigned on the ground of ill-health. He did not, however, remain idle. He edited Yr Ymofynydd from 1873 to 1879, and became a lecturer (officiating as principal) at the Carmarthen Presbyterian College (1876); Watcyn Wyn and Ebenezer Griffith Jones were members of his classes. In 1879 he resumed his old duties in the pulpit of the Old Meeting House and at Trecynon seminary, popularly known as ' Jones's School '. There he had among his students Sir T. Marchant Williams, G. Pennar Griffiths, and T. Botting. He retired from the ministry in 1909. He married Anne Griffiths (died 7 March 1899), Aberdare, and they had five children. He edited Yr Ymofynydd (for the second time) from 1881 to 1887. His publications include Emynau Mawl a Gweddi, 1878; Emynau ac Odlau, 1895 (most of them being his own translations); Unitarian Students [at Carmarthen], 1796-1901, 1901; an article in the Encyclopaedia of Education on ' Davis Castell Hywel and his school'; articles in the D.N.B.; and more than twenty essays on theological subjects. He was a regular contributor to the press, mostly on historical matters; e.g. to Yr Ymofynydd, Y Geninen, Cymru (O.M.E.), Cyfaill yr Aelwyd , Unitarian Transactions, and the local press of Aberdare and its surrounding district. His contributions are usually signed R.J.J., S.N.S., or T.C.U. He left his manuscripts to the Cardiff Library and the N.L.W. He died 15 October 1924.

Author

• Reverend John David Jones, (1898 - 1959)

Sources

• Yr Ymofynnydd, 1894, 73
• The Christian Life, 25 October and 8 November 1924
• Yr Ymofynnydd, 1924, 178
• The Unitarian Students at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen … 1796–1901 (1901), 66
• E. Pan Jones, Oriel Coleg Presbyteraidd, Caerfyrddin: yn cynwys hanes yr holl fyfyrwyr fu yn y coleg o 1796 hyd 1899 (Merthyr Tydfil 1909), 85

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734202

Published date: 1959

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