John Islan Jones
Encyclopedia
John Islan Jones was a Welsh Unitarian
minister, academic and writer.
and Llanwnnen, studying with the poet David Thomas
("Dewi Hefin") until he was about 10 years old. He then worked as a farm servant and a stonemason until 1896, when he attended a school in Cribyn run by a Unitarian minister called David Evans, leaving in 1898 with a scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford
. After graduating in 1901, he transferred to Manchester College, Oxford to study for ordination. He won a scholarship to Marburg University and Jena University, but illness meant that he had to leave Germany before his doctorate was complete. He was a Unitarian minister in Accrington
from 1906 to 1909, Bolton
from 1909 to 1917 and Hindley
from 1917 to 1939. He then retired to Wales, but was asked in 1945 to become Principal of Carmarthen
Presbyterian College, a post he held until 1948. His writings included A brief history of the Unitarian Church, Accrington (1909), (1948), and a prize-winning volume of reminiscences, (1958). He died on 28 May 1968.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister, academic and writer.
Life
Jones was born on 17 February 1874 in Cardiganshire, south Wales. He was educated locally in CribynCribyn
Cribyn is a small village in Ceredigion, Wales, about 7 miles north of Lampeter and with the villages of Troed y Rhiw, Mydroilyn and Dihewyd to the north.-History and amenities:...
and Llanwnnen, studying with the poet David Thomas
David Thomas (Dewi Hefin)
David Thomas was a Welsh poet and teacher.-Life:Thomas was born in Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, south Wales on 4 June 1828. He went to school in Cribyn and later ran schools in various places in Cardiganshire until his retirement in 1883...
("Dewi Hefin") until he was about 10 years old. He then worked as a farm servant and a stonemason until 1896, when he attended a school in Cribyn run by a Unitarian minister called David Evans, leaving in 1898 with a scholarship to 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...
. After graduating in 1901, he transferred to Manchester College, Oxford to study for ordination. He won a scholarship to Marburg University and Jena University, but illness meant that he had to leave Germany before his doctorate was complete. He was a Unitarian minister in Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
from 1906 to 1909, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
from 1909 to 1917 and Hindley
Hindley, Greater Manchester
Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Lying three miles east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically a part of Lancashire, Hindley which includes Hindley Green borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield and Leigh within Wigan...
from 1917 to 1939. He then retired to Wales, but was asked in 1945 to become Principal of 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....
Presbyterian College, a post he held until 1948. His writings included A brief history of the Unitarian Church, Accrington (1909), (1948), and a prize-winning volume of reminiscences, (1958). He died on 28 May 1968.