THOMAS, THOMAS (1805 - 1881), Baptist minister and college principal

Born at Cowbridge, 12 January 1805, but his parents soon removed to a farm at Leckwith Bridge, Cardiff. Baptised on 22 November 1818, a member of Tabernacle Welsh Baptist church, Cardiff, he became a popular boy-preacher. After training at Abergavenny Academy (1822-4) and at Stepney Baptist College (1824-8), where he did well, he was ordained to the charge of Henrietta Street Baptist church, London, on 18 July, 1828. In 1836 he accepted a dual call to Pontypool - the presidency of a new Baptist College (transferred from Abergavenny) and the pastorate of a projected English Baptist church (now, since 1847, in Crane Street). In both spheres he wrought magnificently, and exercised an enduring influence. Relinquishing his pastorate in December 1873, and his presidency in December 1876, he retired to Cardiff, where he died 7 December 1881. He was buried at Pen-y-garn, Pontypool. Thomas was president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1872-3 - the first Welsh -speaking Welshman to be thus honoured. He married Mary David, Cardiff, in 1830. She died in March, 1881. One son survived him - T. H. Thomas (Arlunydd Penygarn).

Author

• Reverend Edward William Price Evans, (1887 - 1972)

Sources

• T. Morgan, The life and work of the Rev. Thomas Thomas, D.D. first president of the Baptist College, Pontypool (Carmarthen 1925)
• Welsh Religious Leaders in the Victorian Era (London 1905), 127
• The Baptist Quarterly, July 1926, 130

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734534

Published date: 1959

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