Thomas Charles Edwards
Encyclopedia
Thomas Charles-Edwards (22 September 1837 – 22 March 1900) was a Welsh
minister, writer and academic who was the first Principal of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
.
Edwards was the son of Lewis Edwards
, founder of the Bala
Theological College. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford
, and began preaching with the Presbyterian Church of Wales
in 1856. He became minister of the Windsor Street chapel in Liverpool
, and later of the Catherine Street chapel in the same city. He was accounted one of the leading preacher
s of his generation.
In 1872 the new university at Aberystwyth
was founded, and Edwards was appointed as the first Principal. He resigned from this post in 1891, partly for health reasons and partly to follow his father as head of the Bala Theological College. He was Moderator of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in 1887.
. The sculptor was Goscombe John
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
minister, writer and academic who was the first Principal of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
.
Edwards was the son of Lewis Edwards
Lewis Edwards
Lewis Edwards was a Welsh educator and Nonconformist minister.He was born in the parish of Llanbadarn Fawr in Ceredigion, Wales, and educated at Aberystwyth and at Llangeitho. He then ran schools in both these places...
, founder of the Bala
Bala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
Theological College. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, and began preaching with the Presbyterian Church of Wales
Presbyterian Church of Wales
The Presbyterian Church of Wales , also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church , is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. It was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the preaching of Hywel Harris Howell Harris in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811...
in 1856. He became minister of the Windsor Street chapel in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and later of the Catherine Street chapel in the same city. He was accounted one of the leading preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
s of his generation.
In 1872 the new university at Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
was founded, and Edwards was appointed as the first Principal. He resigned from this post in 1891, partly for health reasons and partly to follow his father as head of the Bala Theological College. He was Moderator of the General Assembly
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of the Presbyterian Church in 1887.
Statue at Aberyswyth University
A statue of Thomas Charles Edwards was unveiled in July 1922 in the forecourt of University College of Wales, AberystwythUniversity of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
. The sculptor was Goscombe John
Goscombe John
Sir William Goscombe John R.A. , was a Welsh sculptor.-Biography:He was born in Canton, Cardiff and as a youth assisted his father, Thomas John, a wood carver, in the restoration of Cardiff Castle...
.