WALTERS, THOMAS (1729-1794),), an Independent minister

who lived at his ancestral home, Pant-yr-hesg, Mynydd-islwyn, Monmouth. It is not known when he started to preach; he was obviously too young to have been recruited by Howel Harris during his mission to that neighbourhood, but it is equally clear that it was a revival of Methodistical nature which influenced him, for Philip David censures him time and again in his diary for ' ranting and roaring ' while preaching. In 1765, he built a meeting-house almost on the threshold of Philip David's old church at Pen-main; the chapel was generally known by the very Methodistical name, Tynewydd (the New House) - its official name being Bethel - and Williams of Pantycelyn, David Williams of Llyswyrny (1717 - 1792), and other Methodist preachers came there to preach. About 1765, Thomas Walters was ordained minister (by the congregation itself, following the example of New Inn - see under Morgan John Lewis), as an Independent, of course. He died 25 May 1794, at the age of 65. Bethel continued to flourish for some time after the death of Thomas Walters, but about 1811 a minority seceded and founded the Methodist chapel at Gelli-groes.

The direct successor of Thomas Walters as minister of Bethel (until 1811) was his nephew, also

THOMAS WALTERS (1761 - 1821),

who was already (1793) minister of New Inn. He, too, was more of a Methodist than an Independent until 1793, and about 1817 he returned to the Methodist connexion. He died 2 November 1821 at Cwm-dows, Mynydd-islwyn.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Sources

• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, i, 90-2, 84-5
• Y Cofiadur, 1935, note 73

Published date: 1959

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