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Too little is known of his boyhood and early manhood, but the following facts have been ascertained. He was born in the parish of Whitson, Monmouthshire, on February 19th, 1778, the son of a respected farmer who was a member of New Inn Independent Church on the outskirts of Pontypool. Later on, while he was still young, his parents removed to a farm in the parish of Llangibby and the boy was sent to a school at Tredunnock. He remained there for several years and it seems that he did so well and evinced such bookish tastes that he was sent on to another school, at Trosnant, Pontypool. The master of his first, and perhaps of his second, school was an Anglican clergyman.
When Micah Thomas was seventeen years of age (1795) he was baptised and received into membership at Penygarn Welsh Baptist Church, Pontypool, and in the following year he began to preach. We cannot but wish that we knew the workings of his mind at this decisive period of his life -just how and why he was led to become a Baptist and then a preacher of the Gospel. He was certainly a debtor to the piety and consideration of his parents. We are also ignorant of what he did for a livelihood after he left school and before he entered Bristol Baptist College. It is possible, even probable, that he helped his father on the farm.
Dr E J Tongue has kindly copied for the present writer the following extract from the Bristol Baptist College minutes for August 5th, 1801: "Mr Micah Thomas from the Church at Pen-y-garn was admitted into the Academy at Christmas (1800) under the patronage of the London Fund." He was there, under Dr John Ryland, for less than two years, but the College has good reason to rank him with the more distinguished of its alumni.
On September 29th, 1802, he was ordained to the ministry at Ryeford, near Ross, Herefordshire, where he had often preached during his College course. Bristol and Ryeford proved to be real, but as yet unrealised, preparations for his life work in Abergavenny.
The need of a better educated and trained ministry had long been apparent to some of the more judicious and far-seeing Welsh Baptists. In this matter the Presbyterians and Independents were ahead of us, and it was not until some time between 1732 and 1736 (say, 1734) that action was taken. An Academy was set up at Trosnant, Pontypool, by Miles Harry, minister of Penygarn, and his devout and capable brother-in-law, Mr. John Griffiths, who was the manager of Pontypool Iron Works. John Griffiths was probably the prime mover in the enterprise. This Academy did good service for several years and some of its students became eminent. Many of them proceeded to Bristol for further and fuller instruction under Bernard Foskett and, perhaps, Hugh Evans. Just when it was closed is extremely doubtful. The commonly accepted date is 1770, but it was probably much earlier. John Griffiths emigrated to America in 1759, and it is unlikely that it survived for more than a few years after his departure. Joshua Thomas, the Welsh Baptist historian, suggests 1761, and he estimates the number of students as twenty five in all. Another estimate is forty. Even so, Trosnant is to be remembered with no little gratitude. Among its students were Evan Jenkins, Wrexham (father of Dr. Joseph Jenkins, Walworth), Timothy Thomas, Aberduar, Dr. Thomas Llewelyn, London, Morgan Edwards, historian of American Baptists and one of the founders of Brown University, Rhode Island, and Benjamin Francis, Horsley.
Thereafter, until 1807, such Baptists as sought ministerial education mostly went to Bristol. They were drawn thither, presumably, not only by its educational standing, but by its proximity to Wales and by the Welsh sympathies of Hugh and Caleb Evans. But Welshmen at Bristol were apt to settle in England, and it was increasingly felt that Wales required a college of its own. "Undoubtedly the question was discussed by many at divers times and places," wrote the late Dr E K Jones, "but the first mention of doing something practical was at the house of John Harris, Abergavenny. Mrs. Harris was the daughter of Caleb Harris, once minister of Llanwenarth. She and her daughters, while talking the matter over, were joined by Mr Isaac Wyke, a surgeon ... Mr Wyke suggested an academy.
Another account credits Micah Thomas with making the suggestion to Mrs Harris. The matter was discussed at length and brought the following day before the Association at Penygarn, and approved of. Mrs Harris journeyed to Bristol to collect towards this new academy and received, amongst others, a donation of £10 from the widow of Dr. Caleb Evans. Great preparations were being made in 1805 and 1806. A committee was appointed; the Rev. Micah Thomas was elected tutor; the location was fixed at Abergavenny; and the academy was opened with one student, Jonathan Davies; of Capel Iwan, Carmarthenshire, on January 1st, 1807. Two others entered in February.
So, Micah Thomas left Ryeford in order to become tutor of the, Abergavenny Academy - conceived and planned but barely established. But he also became minister of a new English Baptist Church now, and long since, known as Frogmore Street. This church, founded in that year, 1807, worshipped in Tudor Street Welsh Baptist Chapel (built in 1769 as an offshoot of Llanwenarth) until its chapel was opened in Frogmore Street in 1816. The present building is a much later structure, but the old chapel, renovated, is in regular use for the Sunday school and weekday activities. The church prospered under his ministry, notwithstanding the regrettable secession (probably on doctrinal grounds) of those who founded Bethany, Abergavenny in 1827 or 1828.
With increasing honour and a commanding influence he retained its pastorate until his death on November 28th, 1853, and his body was laid to rest in its burial-ground. It is not clear whether the idea of an English church was conceived before Micah Thomas actually went to Abergavenny or whether he was one of its founders after he had settled in the town as tutor of the Academy. Perhaps the situation was similar to the one at Pontypool, when the Rev (later Dr) Thomas Thomas, London, was invited to become President of the proposed new College in 1836 and also minister of an English Baptist church (now known as Crane Street) which was to be formed after his arrival.
Under Micah Thomas's capable rule the Academy grew in strength, usefulness and influence. It was never a large institution and its curriculum was necessarily modest, but it fully justified its existence. More than that, it marked an important stage in the development of Baptist ministerial education in Wales.
The over-all number of its students was 103 (perhaps l06) - in twenty-nine years - but many of them were men of outstanding ability and future leaders of the denomination. Three of them subsequently became Principals (or Presidents as they were then called) of the three new colleges of Pontypool, Haverfordwest and Llangollen: Dr. Thomas Thomas, David Davies and Dr. John Pritchard. Some Abergavenny students pursued further studies at an English college, e.g. Dr. Thomas proceeded to Stepney.
The students lived in rented rooms in the town and went to Micah Thomas's home, Aenon House, for lectures etc. Pontypool was a residential college and one is glad that its successor in Cardiff has decided "longo intervallo" to foIlow its good example.
