Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Bala-Bangor was a theological seminary
belonging to the Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg), an association of Welsh congregationalists
. It was founded in Bala, Gwynedd
in 1842 under the principalship of Michael Jones (1787–1853), who was followed by his son Michael D. Jones
(1822–1898).
During Michael D. Jones's principalship, a row broke out between two rival factions within Welsh congregationalism
over the seminary's constitution - Michael D. Jones and his followers wanted to keep and adhere to the old constitution but Rev. John Thomas of Liverpool
and his followers wanted to impose a new constitution upon the seminary. Michael D. Jones's argument was that Rev. John Thomas's plan would only lead to the presbyterizing of the seminary and of the Congregational churches in general. This row lead to a split and for a period the Congregationalists has two seminaries in Bala, Thomas Lewis's seminary at Plasyndre and Michael D. Jones's at Bodiwan. But by 1886 Thomas Lewi's seminary had moved to Bangor. Michael D. Jones retired in 1892 and this paved the way to united the two seminaries once again and this time at Bangor
thus explaining the seminary's eclectic name: "Bala-Bangor".
The seminary remained in Bangor up until its closure in 1989 by which time it was under the principalship of R. Tudur Jones
, the last in the distinguished line of Principals to serve the Congregational churches in Wales
. The seminary was closed mainly because of lack of demand for two Congregational seminaries in Wales. The Memorial College (having moved from Brecon
to Swansea
and then to Aberystwyth
) offered a more central location for a United College to serve the Congregational churches throughout Wales. Through the 1990s, the United College remained at Aberystwyth, up until its closure - now Congregational training is based back in Bangor under the supervision of Rev. Euros Wyn Jones.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
belonging to the Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg), an association of Welsh congregationalists
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
. It was founded in Bala, Gwynedd
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...
in 1842 under the principalship of Michael Jones (1787–1853), who was followed by his son Michael D. Jones
Michael D. Jones
Michael Daniel Jones was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and principal of a theological college, but is best remembered as a founder of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia known as Y Wladfa and as one of the fathers of modern Welsh nationalism.Jones was born in Llanuwchllyn, Merioneth in 1822...
(1822–1898).
During Michael D. Jones's principalship, a row broke out between two rival factions within Welsh congregationalism
Congregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
over the seminary's constitution - Michael D. Jones and his followers wanted to keep and adhere to the old constitution but Rev. John Thomas of 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 his followers wanted to impose a new constitution upon the seminary. Michael D. Jones's argument was that Rev. John Thomas's plan would only lead to the presbyterizing of the seminary and of the Congregational churches in general. This row lead to a split and for a period the Congregationalists has two seminaries in Bala, Thomas Lewis's seminary at Plasyndre and Michael D. Jones's at Bodiwan. But by 1886 Thomas Lewi's seminary had moved to Bangor. Michael D. Jones retired in 1892 and this paved the way to united the two seminaries once again and this time at Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
thus explaining the seminary's eclectic name: "Bala-Bangor".
The seminary remained in Bangor up until its closure in 1989 by which time it was under the principalship of R. Tudur Jones
R. Tudur Jones
R. Tudur Jones was a Welsh Nationalist and a Protestant Christian. He was the most important Christian scholar in Wales during the 20th century and is hailed as the giant of Protestantism in Wales during a century that saw Wales, as a whole, turn against its traditional Reformed Protestant...
, the last in the distinguished line of Principals to serve the Congregational churches in Wales
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...
. The seminary was closed mainly because of lack of demand for two Congregational seminaries in Wales. The Memorial College (having moved from Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and then to 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....
) offered a more central location for a United College to serve the Congregational churches throughout Wales. Through the 1990s, the United College remained at Aberystwyth, up until its closure - now Congregational training is based back in Bangor under the supervision of Rev. Euros Wyn Jones.