Gwilym Edwards
Encyclopedia
Gwilym Arthur Edwards was a Welsh Presbyterian
minister and writer on theological topics. He was Principal of the United Theological College Aberystwyth
from 1939 to 1949.
, Gwynedd
in north Wales. His father, a Presbyterian minister called Owen Edwards, emigrated to Australia for health reasons, but his wife Mary died before she could join him with the children. Edwards was then brought up by his maternal grandparents in Dolgellau
, and was educated at the county school there before studying at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He graduated with a BA
degree in 1903, and later studied at Jesus College, Oxford
(graduating from there in 1908). He had begun preaching at an early age and was ordained in 1909, serving firstly at Zion chapel in Carmarthen
. Between 1911 and 1917, he was minister at a chapel in Oswestry
; he also worked in chapels in Chester
(1917 to 1923) and Bangor
(1923 to 1928). Edwards was then appointed professor at Bala College in 1929, before becoming Principal of the Aberystwyth Theological College
in 1939. After retiring in 1949, he moved back to Oswestry. In 1957, he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales. He died on 5 October 1963 and was buried in Llanycil, Gwynedd.
. He wrote books in Welsh on the Bible and on Christian doctrine, a history of civilisationand a history of Bala College. He also wrote two volumes of stories for children in Welsh and a syllabus for religious instruction in Welsh schools. A pamphlet he wrote on Sunday School teachers and world peace was published by the United Nations in 1934. He was described as a "scholar with a clear, analytical mind" who paid "great attention to detail".
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...
minister and writer on theological topics. He was Principal of the United Theological College Aberystwyth
United Theological College Aberystwyth
The United Theological College located in Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in mid Wales was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and an associate college of the University of Wales...
from 1939 to 1949.
Life and career
Edwards was born in CaernarfonCaernarfon
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...
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
in north Wales. His father, a Presbyterian minister called Owen Edwards, emigrated to Australia for health reasons, but his wife Mary died before she could join him with the children. Edwards was then brought up by his maternal grandparents in Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
, and was educated at the county school there before studying at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He graduated with a BA
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 1903, and later studied at Jesus College, Oxford
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...
(graduating from there in 1908). He had begun preaching at an early age and was ordained in 1909, serving firstly at Zion chapel in Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. Between 1911 and 1917, he was minister at a chapel in 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....
; he also worked in chapels in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
(1917 to 1923) and 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...
(1923 to 1928). Edwards was then appointed professor at Bala College in 1929, before becoming Principal of the Aberystwyth Theological College
United Theological College Aberystwyth
The United Theological College located in Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in mid Wales was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and an associate college of the University of Wales...
in 1939. After retiring in 1949, he moved back to Oswestry. In 1957, he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales. He died on 5 October 1963 and was buried in Llanycil, Gwynedd.
Works
Edwards lectured and wrote extensively for the periodicals of the Welsh Presbyterian churchPresbyterian 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...
. He wrote books in Welsh on the Bible and on Christian doctrine, a history of civilisationand a history of Bala College. He also wrote two volumes of stories for children in Welsh and a syllabus for religious instruction in Welsh schools. A pamphlet he wrote on Sunday School teachers and world peace was published by the United Nations in 1934. He was described as a "scholar with a clear, analytical mind" who paid "great attention to detail".