BEYNON, TOM (1886 - 1961), minister (Presb.), historian and author

Born 3 June 1886 in Cenfu, Mynydd y Garreg, near Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, son of William and Elizabeth Beynon. At the end of his time in the local council school he went to work in Pontyberem in 1903, and was received as a member of Soar church where he began preaching at the height of the 1904-05 Revival. He was educated for the ministry in the Old College School, Carmarthen, in Newcastle Emlyn grammar school, and Bala Theological College. He was ordained in 1916 and was pastor of Tabernacl, Blaengwynfi, Glamorganshire (1916-33), and Horeb and Gosen near Aberystwyth (1933-51). He married, 1922, Eleanor Annie Whittaker of Caerau, Maesteg.

He took an interest in the history of Wales, particularly the history of Calvinistic Methodism in Wales, and wrote regularly for Y Goleuad, Y Drysorfa, Y Traethodydd, and local papers such as The Llanelly Mercury and The Welsh Gazette (see his Bibliogaphy in Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 47). He was co-editor of Y Pair, the college magazine, when he was in Bala, and he edited the journal of the Calvinistic Methodist history society from 1933 to 1947, and contributed much to it. He was a member of the history committee of his Connexion from 1926 till his death, and was both secretary of the committee for a long period (1930-60), and keeper of the Calvinistic Methodist Archives in the N.L.W. He was also a member of the court of the National Library for many years.

He took a great interest in the Methodist 'fathers', particularly Howel Harris. He researched assiduously in Harris ' diaries, publishing extensive excerpts from them in the journal mentioned above, and in his books. He wrote the history of Gyfylchi and Pontrhyd-y-fen chapels (1926), and of Morfa church, Kidwelly (1930); and many of his interesting essays were collected in five volumes: Golud a mawl dyffryn Tywi (1936); Gwrid ar orwel ym Morgannwg (1938); Treftadaeth y Cenfu a Maes Gwenllian (1941); Cwmsêl a Chefn Sidan (1946); and Allt Cunedda, Llechdwnni a Mwdlwscwm (1955). The excerpts which he transcribed from the Trefeca diaries appeared in Howell Harris, reformer and soldier (1958); Howell Harris's visits to London (1960); and Howell Harris's visits to Pembrokeshire (which was published by his widow in 1966). These volumes are of particular value to those seeking information on the life and career of the reformer from Trefeca. He died 10 February 1961 at his home in Penparcau, Aberystwyth, and was buried in the cemetery at Mynydd y Garreg.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Trysorfa y Plant, 1931, 57-8
• Treftadaeth y Cenfu a Maes Gwenllian (1941)
• Allt Cunedda, Llechdwnni a Mwdlwscwm (Aberystwyth 1955), 87, 92, 94, 100-5, 131
• Blwyddiadur y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1962, 256
• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 45, 54-6; 47, 29-33
• personal knowledge

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q18536031

Published date: 2001

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