LEWIS, JAMES (1674 - 1747), Independent minister

Born at Dinas Cerdin, in the parish of Llandysul, Cardiganshire, a descendant of the old Lewis family of that place. His tombstone in Llanllawddog churchyard says that he was born of godly and charitable parents. In 1706 he was ordained minister of Pencadair church of which he was probably already a member, and Pantycreuddin (afterwards Horeb) chapel was also entrusted to his care. He succeeded William Evans (died 1718) and became a prominent Independent leader in that area. He was very Calvinistic in his views and strenuously opposed Arminianism. He and Christmas Samuel were the joint authors of Y Cyfrif Cywiraf o'r Pechod Gwreiddiol, 1730, in answer to a book entitled Y Cyfrif Cywir o'r Pechod Gwreiddiol, 1729, which is attributed to Jenkin Jones of Llwynrhydowen (1700? - 1742), whom he had raised to the pulpit at Pantycreuddin, but who had left and built his own chapel because his former church and its minister did not accept his tenets. In 1740 James Lewis invited Howel Harris, the revivalist, to preach in his district. He died 31 May 1747, at the age of 73.

Author

• Reverend Thomas Eirug Davies, (1892 - 1951)

Sources

• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, iii, 427, iv, 196
• Cambrian Bibliography (Llanidloes 1869)
• W. J. Davies, Hanes Plwyf Llandyssul (1896)
• Y Cofiadur, xii, 40

Works

• James Lewis, Christmas Samuel, Y cyfrif cywiraf o'r pechod-gwreiddiol, i geisio rhagflaenu twyll a hudoliaeth rhyw bapurun cableddus na fyn neb ei arddel, heb na thâd na mam, ond y press; heb nag enw nag amser wrtho; yn dwyn yr enw Cyfrif cywir o'r pechod gwreiddiol, fel swm y peth y mae yn ei gynnwys yntho, yr hwn sydd yn llwyr anheilwng o'r fath enw. Canys y mae'n cyfeiliorni'n ddirfawr yn ei gylch, ag yn crybwyll am bechod gweithredol Adda yn ei le ef (Caerfyrddin 1730)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733325

Published date: 1959

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