James Griffiths (minister)
James Griffiths (1856 – 12 April 1933) who served as minister of the Baptist churches at Calfaria, Llanelli and Calfaria, Aberdare.
Early life[edit]
Griffiths was born in Pencoed in 1856, the third of thirteen children. At the age of twelve he was baptized and became a member of the congregation at the Baptist church at Blackmill.[1] In early life, he worked as a weaver before enrolling as a student at Pontypool Baptist College in 1879[citation needed].
Ministry at Llanelli[edit]
In 1883, Griffiths was ordained as minister at Calfaria, Llanelli, where he remained for seven years.[2] During his time at Llanelli, he built a reputation as a minister.
Ministry at Aberdare[edit]
In February 1889, Griffiths preached at Calfaria, Aberdare, where there was a vacancy following the death of its long-serving minister, Thomas Price the previous year.[2] Later that year he received a unanimous call to become his successor at Calfaria.[3] He was inducted as minister at special services held on Christmas Day 1889.[4]
In 1898 the Welsh Baptist Union held its annual assembly at Calfaria, and in 1903 a new organ was purchased at a cost of £850.[2]
Griffiths later wrote the church's centenary history in 1912. Membership stood at 537 in 1899 with a slight decline to 420 by 1916 and 396 in 1925.[5]
Later years[edit]
In 1923, Griffiths was elected president of the Baptist Union of Wales.[2] He retired from his pastorate in 1930 at the age of 74.[2]
Griffiths died on 12 April 1933 and was buried at Blackmill.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Davies 1968, pp. 364–5.
- ^ a b c d e f Davies 1968, p. 365.
- ^ "Aberdare". South Wales Daily News. 5 October 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Sefydlu Gweinidog Newydd yng Nghalfaria. Aberdar". Seren Cymru. 10 January 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ Jones 2004, pp. 95–6.
Sources[edit]
Books and Journals[edit]
- Davies, G. Henton (July 1968). "A Welsh Man of God" (PDF). Baptist Quarterly. XXII (7): 360–70. doi:10.1080/0005576X.1968.11751256. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- Jones, Alan Vernon (2004). Chapels of the Cynon Valley. Cynon Valley Historical Society. ISBN 0953107612.