Maurice Jones
Encyclopedia
Maurice Jones (1863-1957) was a priest
and university educator.
Born on 21 June 1863 at Trawsfynydd
, Meirionnydd
, he was educated at local school then, with scholarships, proceeded to Friars School, Bangor
and Christ College, Brecon
, and then Jesus College, Oxford
, where he gained a first class degree in divinity
in 1886, an MA
and BD
in 1907 and a DD
in 1914.
From 1890 to 1916 he served as chaplain
to the Forces, and on his return, was offered the benefice
of Rotherfield Peppard
(Jesus College being the Patron of the benefice), and remained there until 1923 when he was appointed Principal of St David's University College
, Lampeter. When he arrived, the college had less than 70 students, and he worked steadfastly to increase their number. When he left in 1938, there were more than 200 students. Jones' involvement with higher education did not come to an end on his departure from Lampeter, for he was later external examiner for both Oxford
and the University of Wales
. He was also a Fellow of Jesus College.
He was a member of the Gorsedd
of Bards, with the bardic name of Meurig Prysor, and was treasurer of the Gorsedd from 1925 to 1938, when he was elected Gorsedd Bard. He was attendant druid
from 1947 to 1957, and only narrowly missed election to become archdruid in 1955. In that same year, however, he was made a Fellow of the National Eisteddfod. He was also chairman of Cymdeithas Ceredigion Cerdd (The music and poetry society of Ceredigion
) and Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion.
He died on 7 December 1957 in Addington
, Surrey
, and is buried in the churchyard there.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and university educator.
Born on 21 June 1863 at Trawsfynydd
Trawsfynydd
Trawsfynydd is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, adjacent to the A470 north of Dolgellau near Blaenau Ffestiniog....
, Meirionnydd
Meirionnydd
Meirionnydd is a coastal and mountainous region of Wales. It has been a kingdom, a cantref, a district and, as Merionethshire, a county.-Kingdom:...
, he was educated at local school then, with scholarships, proceeded to Friars School, Bangor
Friars School, Bangor
Ysgol Friars is a comprehensive school in Bangor, Gwynedd, and one of the oldest schools in Wales.-1557 Establishment:The school was founded by Geoffrey Glyn, Doctor of Laws, who had been brought up in Anglesey and had followed a career in law in London....
and Christ College, Brecon
Christ College, Brecon
Christ College, Brecon is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It caters for pupils from eleven to eighteen.Christ College was founded by Royal Charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII...
, and then 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...
, where he gained a first class degree in divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
in 1886, an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and BD
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1907 and a DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1914.
From 1890 to 1916 he served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the Forces, and on his return, was offered the benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of Rotherfield Peppard
Rotherfield Peppard
Rotherfield Peppard is a village and civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire. It is just over west of Henley-on-Thames, about north of Reading, Berkshire and just over west of the village of Rotherfield Greys.-History:Rotherfield derives from the Old English redrefeld meaning...
(Jesus College being the Patron of the benefice), and remained there until 1923 when he was appointed Principal of St David's University College
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
, Lampeter. When he arrived, the college had less than 70 students, and he worked steadfastly to increase their number. When he left in 1938, there were more than 200 students. Jones' involvement with higher education did not come to an end on his departure from Lampeter, for he was later external examiner for both 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...
and the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. He was also a Fellow of Jesus College.
He was a member of the Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
of Bards, with the bardic name of Meurig Prysor, and was treasurer of the Gorsedd from 1925 to 1938, when he was elected Gorsedd Bard. He was attendant druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
from 1947 to 1957, and only narrowly missed election to become archdruid in 1955. In that same year, however, he was made a Fellow of the National Eisteddfod. He was also chairman of Cymdeithas Ceredigion Cerdd (The music and poetry society of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
) and Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion.
He died on 7 December 1957 in Addington
Addington, London
Addington is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and is buried in the churchyard there.