Thomas Thomas (cleric)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Thomas was a Welsh
Anglican
clergyman. He was noted for his parish ministry in Caernarfon
, particularly for his educational work in building schools and helping to found the North Wales Training College.
, he studied at the University of Oxford
, matriculating
as a member of Jesus College
on 29 March 1824 and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1827. He then spent a year teaching in Liverpool
before being ordained deacon by John Luxmore, Bishop of St Asaph
, on 20 July 1828. He spent three years as a curate in Llanfair Caer Einion, during which time he was ordained priest (on 26 July 1829). He then served as the curate of Ruabon
.
His longest period of parish ministry was spent as vicar
of Llanbeblig with Caernarfon
– the position carried the name of the older foundation first, although Caernarfon was the larger of the two places. He was appointed to the position by John Bird Sumner
, Bishop of Chester
, on 14 April 1835, and stayed there until 1859. He became known as "Thomas of Caernarfon" and was noted for his pastoral work in a town that suffered from poverty and outbreaks of cholera. He helped to establish schools in Caernarfon and assisted with the foundation of the North Wales Training College, a teacher-training college that later became St Mary's College, Bangor. (The college later merged with the education department of what is now called Bangor University
.)
In 1859, Thomas was appointed to Ruabon again, this time as vicar, and he spent three years there before moving to Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch
, Denbighshire
in 1862. In 1864, he was appointed a canon
of Bangor Cathedral
. He died on 9 January 1877 in Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, and was buried in the cemetery of the church in Llanbeblig. A pulpit in the church was erected in his memory. Thomas was married and had five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Thomas Llewellyn Thomas
, was a priest and a noted scholar of the Welsh language
. He died in 1897 and was buried in Llanbeblig cemetery, alongside his father.
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...
Anglican
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...
clergyman. He was noted for his parish ministry in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
, particularly for his educational work in building schools and helping to found the North Wales Training College.
Life
Thomas Thomas was born on 7 September 1804, the son of John Thomas of Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn. After being educated at Ystrad MeurigYstrad Meurig
Ystrad Meurig is a village in Ceredigion, Wales. It lies on the B4340 road northwest of the town of Tregaron.- History & Amenities :...
, he studied at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, 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...
as a member of Jesus College
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...
on 29 March 1824 and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1827. He then spent a year teaching 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...
before being ordained deacon by John Luxmore, Bishop of St Asaph
Bishop of St Asaph
The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph.The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St Asaph in the town of...
, on 20 July 1828. He spent three years as a curate in Llanfair Caer Einion, during which time he was ordained priest (on 26 July 1829). He then served as the curate of Ruabon
Ruabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
.
His longest period of parish ministry was spent as 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 Llanbeblig with Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
– the position carried the name of the older foundation first, although Caernarfon was the larger of the two places. He was appointed to the position by John Bird Sumner
John Bird Sumner
John Bird Sumner was a bishop in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury.-Life:Sumner was the elder brother of Bishop Charles Richard Sumner. He was born at Kenilworth, Warwickshire and educated at Eton College and Cambridge University. In 1802 he became a master at Eton and was...
, Bishop of Chester
Bishop of Chester
The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral...
, on 14 April 1835, and stayed there until 1859. He became known as "Thomas of Caernarfon" and was noted for his pastoral work in a town that suffered from poverty and outbreaks of cholera. He helped to establish schools in Caernarfon and assisted with the foundation of the North Wales Training College, a teacher-training college that later became St Mary's College, Bangor. (The college later merged with the education department of what is now called Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
.)
In 1859, Thomas was appointed to Ruabon again, this time as vicar, and he spent three years there before moving to Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch
Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch
Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch is a village and local government community in Denbighshire, Wales. It lies in the Vale of Clwyd near the A525 road between Denbigh and Ruthin...
, 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...
in 1862. In 1864, 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 Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
. He died on 9 January 1877 in Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, and was buried in the cemetery of the church in Llanbeblig. A pulpit in the church was erected in his memory. Thomas was married and had five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Thomas Llewellyn Thomas
Thomas Llewellyn Thomas
Thomas Llewellyn Thomas was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and scholar of the Welsh language. He wrote poems in English, Latin and Welsh and worked on a Basque translation of the Old Testament...
, was a priest and a noted scholar of the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. He died in 1897 and was buried in Llanbeblig cemetery, alongside his father.