WILLIAMS, RICHARD (died 1724), Baptist minister

He was one of the early ministers of Rhydwilym church, and although his baptism is not recorded, it is believed that he is the member from the parish of Llanglydwen who is mentioned, with Mary his wife, in the list of members for 1689. The register further records that he administered baptism on a number of occasions during the closing years of the century. Towards the end of 1700 he became pastor of the combined churches of Olchon, Llanigon, and Trosgoed (Maes-y-berllan) - the last named only recently founded, and he remained there until his death at an advanced age in 1724. Joshua Thomas could not recollect that he had left issue. He was a prominent member of the new Welsh Baptist Association, and, at Swansea in 1704, he was one of the first to preach at its annual meetings, but it appears that he was best known to his generation as 'a remarkable peacemaker.'

Author

• Benjamin George Owens

Sources

• N.L.W., Rhydwilym Baptist church register
• Joshua Thomas, Hanes y Bedyddwyr ymhlith y Cymry: o amser yr Apostolion, hyd y flwyddyn hon: yn ddwy ran (Caerfyrddin 1778), 327, 334, 426, and A History of the Baptist Association in Wales (1795), 42

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734307

Published date: 1959

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