David Richard Thomas
Encyclopedia
David Richard Thomas was a Welsh clergyman and historian. He was a canon
of St Asaph's Cathedral and Archdeacon of Montgomery, as well as being a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
. His major publication was the History of the Diocese of St Asaph, the first such history of a Welsh diocese.
in Powys
and he was baptised on 14 September 1833. He was educated at Ruthin School
under Edward Barnwell
before matriculating
at Jesus College, Oxford
in 1852. His father died during his time at Oxford and Thomas taught during the university vacations to support himself. He graduated in 1856, but failed to obtain a college fellowship in 1859. After his ordination, he became curate
of Rhuddlan
in 1857, then curate from 1859 to 1864 of Selattyn
in Shropshire
(which was at the time part of the Diocese of St Asaph
). He was then appointed vicar
of Cefn Meiriadog in Denbighshire
, a post he held until 1877 when he became vicar of Meifod
, Powys
. He was appointed a canon
of St Asaph in 1881 and archdeacon
of Montgomery in 1886. In 1892, he left Meifod to become rector
of Llandrinio
, Powys, where he remained until his death on 11 October 1916.
, chairing its committee and serving as editor of the association's journal for two periods (1875–1880 and 1884–1888), writing more than 25 articles for the journal. His major work, published between 1870 and 1874, was a History of the Diocese of St Asaph; it was enlarged and printed in three volumes between 1906 and 1913. It was the first such diocesan history in Wales. He also wrote a History of the Parish of Llandrinio (1895), The Life and Work of Bishop Richard Davies and William Salesbury (1902), four religious works, and other publications. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
.
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Asaph's Cathedral and Archdeacon of Montgomery, as well as being a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
. His major publication was the History of the Diocese of St Asaph, the first such history of a Welsh diocese.
Life
Thomas was the son of Owen and Mary Thomas of LlanfechainLlanfechain
Llanfechain is a small village located in northern Powys, mid-Wales, between Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain. It has a population of approximately 600 people....
in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
and he was baptised on 14 September 1833. He was educated at Ruthin School
Ruthin School
Ruthin School is one of the oldest public schools in the United Kingdom. Located on the outskirts of Ruthin, the county town of Denbighshire in North Wales, the school is over seven hundred years old and has been co-educational since 1990.- Beginnings :...
under Edward Barnwell
Edward Barnwell
Edward Lowry Barnwell was a British antiquarian and schoolmaster who was headmaster of Ruthin School, Denbighshire for 26 years.-Life:...
before matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1852. His father died during his time at Oxford and Thomas taught during the university vacations to support himself. He graduated in 1856, but failed to obtain a college fellowship in 1859. After his ordination, he became curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire , in north Wales. It is situated to the south of the coastal town of Rhyl and overlooks the River Clwyd. The town gave its name to the Welsh district of Rhuddlan from 1974 to 1996...
in 1857, then curate from 1859 to 1864 of Selattyn
Selattyn and Gobowen
Selattyn and Gobowen is a civil parish in Shropshire, England....
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
(which was at the time part of the Diocese of St Asaph
Diocese of St Asaph
The Diocese of Saint Asaph is a diocese in north-east Wales, named after Saint Asaph, its second bishop.-Geography:The Anglican Diocese of St Asaph in the north-east corner of Wales stretches from the borders of Chester in the east, to the Conwy valley in the west, to Bala in the south-west, and...
). He was then appointed vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Cefn Meiriadog in Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, a post he held until 1877 when he became vicar of Meifod
Meifod
Meifod is a small village 7 miles north-west of Welshpool in Powys, mid Wales, on the A495 road and located in the valley of the River Vyrnwy. The River Banwy has a confluence with the Vyrnwy approximately two miles to the west of the village....
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. He was appointed a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Asaph in 1881 and archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Montgomery in 1886. In 1892, he left Meifod to become rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Llandrinio
Llandrinio
Llandrinio is a small village in Powys, mid Wales, close to the Wales-England border.Llandrinio is home to about 1,000 people spread over a reasonably large area. The village first had a large population growth by the addition of a council estate many years ago...
, Powys, where he remained until his death on 11 October 1916.
Work
In addition to his clerical duties, Thomas was a historian and antiquarian. He was a stalwart member of the Cambrian Archaeological AssociationCambrian Archaeological Association
The Cambrian Archaeological Association was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the Welsh Marches and to educate the public in such matters.Its activities include holding...
, chairing its committee and serving as editor of the association's journal for two periods (1875–1880 and 1884–1888), writing more than 25 articles for the journal. His major work, published between 1870 and 1874, was a History of the Diocese of St Asaph; it was enlarged and printed in three volumes between 1906 and 1913. It was the first such diocesan history in Wales. He also wrote a History of the Parish of Llandrinio (1895), The Life and Work of Bishop Richard Davies and William Salesbury (1902), four religious works, and other publications. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
.