Edward Williams (minister)
Encyclopedia
Edward Williams was a Welsh nonconformist minister, theological writer, and tutor.
, on 14 November 1750. His father, a farmer of good position, sent him to St. Asaph grammar school, and he was intended for the Church of England
. But while still young he came under the influence of the Methodists of the district; and, while studying with a curate at Derwen
(David Ellis, who translated several books into Welsh), attended their meetings. He joined the Independent church at Denbigh, began to preach, and in 1771 entered the dissenting academy at Abergavenny
.
His first pastoral charge was at Ross-on-Wye
, where he was minister from 1775 to 1777, when he moved on to Oswestry
. When Dr. Benjamin Davies left Abergavenny for Homerton College, the academy was moved in May 1782 to Oswestry, and placed under Williams's care.
At the end of 1791 he gave up both church and academy, and, with the new year, commenced his ministry at Carr's Lane, Birmingham
. In 1792 he was appointed first editor of the Evangelical Magazine and received the degree of D.D. from the University of Edinburgh
. He left Birmingham in 1795, becoming in September theological tutor at the Rotherham academy. He died at Rotherham on 9 March 1813.
, expounded in his book on the ‘Equity of Divine Government’ (London, 1813). He was also the author of a discourse on the ‘Cross of Christ’ (Shrewsbury, 1792), an abridgment of John Owen
's ‘Commentary on Hebrews,’ and a controversial work on baptism
. His collected works were edited by Evan Davies
in four volumes (London, 1862).
Life
He was born at Glan Clwyd, near DenbighDenbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
, on 14 November 1750. His father, a farmer of good position, sent him to St. Asaph grammar school, and he was intended for the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. But while still young he came under the influence of the Methodists of the district; and, while studying with a curate at Derwen
Derwen
Derwen is a rural village in the south of Denbighshire, Wales. It lies approximately half way between Corwen and Ruthin, in the upper part of Dyffryn Clwyd ond the north side of the River Clwyd, opposite the village of Brynsaithmarchog....
(David Ellis, who translated several books into Welsh), attended their meetings. He joined the Independent church at Denbigh, began to preach, and in 1771 entered the dissenting academy at Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
.
His first pastoral charge was at Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
, where he was minister from 1775 to 1777, when he moved on to Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
. When Dr. Benjamin Davies left Abergavenny for Homerton College, the academy was moved in May 1782 to Oswestry, and placed under Williams's care.
At the end of 1791 he gave up both church and academy, and, with the new year, commenced his ministry at Carr's Lane, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. In 1792 he was appointed first editor of the Evangelical Magazine and received the degree of D.D. from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He left Birmingham in 1795, becoming in September theological tutor at the Rotherham academy. He died at Rotherham on 9 March 1813.
Works
He was known as the advocate of a moderate form of CalvinismCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, expounded in his book on the ‘Equity of Divine Government’ (London, 1813). He was also the author of a discourse on the ‘Cross of Christ’ (Shrewsbury, 1792), an abridgment of John Owen
John Owen (theologian)
John Owen was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford.-Early life:...
's ‘Commentary on Hebrews,’ and a controversial work on baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. His collected works were edited by Evan Davies
Evan Davies (missionary)
Evan Davies was a Welsh Protestant Christian missionary in the Congregationalist tradition. He served with the London Missionary Society and worked among the Chinese in Malaysia in Penang....
in four volumes (London, 1862).