WHELDON, THOMAS JONES (1841 - 1916), Calvinistic Methodist minister

Name: Thomas Jones Wheldon
Date of birth: 1841
Date of death: 1916
Spouse: Mary Elinor Wheldon (née Powell)
Child: Wynn Powell Wheldon
Parent: Mari Wheldon
Parent: John Wheldon
Gender: Male
Occupation: Calvinistic Methodist minister
Area of activity: Religion
Author: Wynn Powell Wheldon

Born 10 March 1841 at Cae-esgob, Llanberis, to John and Mary Wheldon. His parents moved early to Llwyncelyn, where his mother exercised spiritual graces and his father a vigorous independence. Educated at the British School (Capel Coch), he became a pupil teacher. He entered Bala C.M. College in 1857, graduated in the University of London, 1864, but rejected an offer of appointment in the Indian Civil Service, preferring to adhere to the ministry. From 1864 to 1873 he was in charge of the Welsh and English churches at Newtown, Montgomeryshire, from 1873 to 1892 in charge of the Tabernacl and Bethesda churches at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and from 1892 to 1909 pastor of the Tabernacl church, Bangor. He retired to Rhyl in 1909 and died there 28 October 1916. He married Mary Elinor Powell (died 8 June 1915); five children were born to them. To the churches in his care he was a vigorous minister, and a compelling and devout preacher, zealous for the education of the ministry and, above all, for its proper maintenance. His keenest efforts for improved schools were centred on Ffestiniog, where he worked to establish the first 'Higher Grade School' in North Wales and later to establish a county school. In Bangor he promoted the new Tabernacl building. He was a member of the Caernarvonshire L.E.A., and took a responsible interest in the University College of North Wales. A Liberal in politics, he took a prominent part in the 1885 (Merioneth) election, and subsequently supported T. E. Ellis. At Bangor he opposed the war in South Africa. In the Calvinistic Methodist Church, he was moderator of the Association in North Wales in 1891, and of the General Assembly in 1902-3. He contributed articles to the monthly and quarterly periodicals and published his ' Davies Lecture,' The Holy Spirit, in 1900. His biography was written by D. D. Williams (1925).

Author

Published date: 1959

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