Again in the 1966 article we read
In Britain, throughout the years the main method of teaching
homiletics has been the sermon class, supplemented by some lectures
on rhetoric, given normally by the Principal. The purpose of the
sermon class was defined by Micah Thomas of Pontypool, "To
furnish an opportunity for detecting false grammar, promoting a
natural and just arrangement and pointing out any erroneous construction
that may be laid on divine truth". The problem at Abergavenny
was a peculiar one, for few students who entered there
had any knowledge of the English language for the first purpose of
this academy was to teach English to Welsh preachers, so that they
could serve those parts of the Principality, mainly English speaking,
which were almost devoid of an evangelical ministry. The approach
to homiletics however was the same as in the other colleges. At
Bristol, about the same time, each student took his turn to read an
essay or sermon in the lecture room, for subsequent criticism. This
exercise fell to each man about four times a session. Each month
the juniors prepared sermon sketches for the criticism of the tutors,
and every two months the seniors prepared full sermon drafts,
which received similar treatment. There have been many who have
felt that such help that was given to future preachers was hopelessly
inadequate, especially in view of the infrequency of a student's
opportunity to preach before the class.
