Plaque to Micah Thomas's Memory

TO THE MEMORY OF THE REVd MICAH THOMAS

THE FIRST MINISTER OF THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION ASSEMBLING IN THIS

PLACE OF WORSHIP

THIS TABLET ERECTED BY HIS AFFECTIONATE PEOPLE AND A FEW OTHER FRIENDS

SERVES AS BUT A FAINT EXPRESSION OF THE HIGH AND LASTING ESTEEM WHICH

THEY CHERISH TOWARDS HIM FOR HIS MORAL EXCELLENCE HIS MENTAL

ENDOWMENTS AND HIS DEVOTEDNESS OF HEART AND LIFE TO HIS MASTERS WORK

HE WAS A SKILFUL AND FAITHFUL INSTRUCTOR

A WIDE AND JUDICIOUS COUNSELLOR

AND A TRUE AND SYMPATHIZING FRIEND

FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AND TO FOUR SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS HE

PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD AND FOR THIRTY YEARS

HE WAS THE SOLE TUTOR OF THE ENGLISH AND WELSH ACADEMY WHICH

THROUGH HIS EXERTIONS WAS ORIGINATED IN THIS TOWN

ON THE 28th OF NOVEMBER 1853 AND IN THE 76th YEAR OF HIS AGE

THIS SUCCESSFUL MINISTER QUITTED

THE FIELD OF LABOUR AND ENTERED INTO HIS ETERNAL REST.

WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS

I WILL MAKE THEE RULER OVER MANY THINGS ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD

"THEY THAT BE WISE SHALL SHINE AS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIRMAMENT AND THEY

THAT TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS S THE STARS FOR EVER AND EVER"
This plaque is found in the basement of the present Frogmore Street church

Abergavenny Baptist

This is Abergavenny Baptist Church, Frogmore Street as it presently stands

Aenon House

Aenon House Plaque

The preaching notebook

The Gwent Archive in Ebbw Vale holds what is listed as a diary of Micah Thomas. It is in fact a notebook chiefly containing the record of his preaching (date, text, time, venue) from 1805-1853. A small calf skin (?) covered notebook, it contains c 93 pages, 27 of which are completely blank and 65 have writing on. To summarise, we have

1. Side with 2 notes [1]

2. Diary entries regarding students at the Academy Jan 14 1807-Sep 26 1835 [20 pages]

3. Blank pages [7]

4. 4 sides on the plague 1665 [2]

5. Blank pages [4]

6. Blank side backed with some sort of note [1] then a page ripped out

9. Sermon record 1801-1853 with notes on baptisms & new members [40 pages]. Two pages cut after 17.

10. Blank pages [13]

11. Miserable attempt on one side at a chart of Bible books covered [1]

12. Blank pages [3]

13. Brief quotation from Edwards' Miscellanies [1]

The diary reveals that in the Ryeford period (1801-1806) he preached regularly at Ryeford and Ross but also at Bury Hill, Coleford, Gosley, Hoarwithy, Mitcheldean, Ruardean, Staveley, Tetbury and Tainton, as well as Bridgnorth, Broad Oak, Broseley, Coseley, Evesham, Leominster, Shrewsbury, Worcester; Bath, Bradford and Bristol and in Wales, Abergavenny, Cadoxton, Caerleon, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Dyffryn, Llangibby, Penygarn, Peterstone, Pontypool, Trosnant and Usk.

When at Abergavenny (1807-1853) he preached at various places in England and Wales, including on tour to  places such as London and the Midlands.

He was ill at least one Sunday in Ryeford but at Abergavenny there were three big periods of lay off from preaching due to illness - six weeks in 1812, five weeks in 1828 (having a knee operation in London) and 15 weeks in 1845.

He did not preach every Sunday he could but there must be a record of something like 2,500 texts preached on.

We will try and say something about texts another time. He certainly repeated sermons in different places.

Ill health in 1845

In a note after the date June 1 1845, Thomas writes

“The last Sermon was the last I preached for 15 weeks, the longest interval from preaching for three & forty years. The most dire attack & scene of personal affliction prevented my engaging in my long accustomed work for so many weeks my recovery was the wonder of all around me. “Bless the Lord O my soul, etc. Ps ciii.1-5” At the end of the year he writes “Thus ends another in the Summer of which the writer was wonderfully restored to health. Lam III.22."

Operation in London 1828

In his preaching diary Thomas makes a note in 1828 that

“From the 18^th of Feby till the 22^nd of March I was from home in London undergoing a great & severe operatn, viz, the removal of a Tumour weighing Six Pounds & one ounce from my left knee”

Andrew Fuller in Wales 1812

In June 1812 Micah Thomas's hero Andrew Fuller 1754-1815 made a tour of South Wales. T M Bassett suggests it was at Thomas's suggestion. In a piece of bad timing Thomas records that “For six weeks after the 10^th of May I did not preach at all being much indisposed in my body." It was "During this period the excellt. Mr. Fuller paid us a visit. He preached in our place May 31^st at 11 o'clock, forenoon. His text was Ps. Lxxxvi.17. Shew me a token for good."

He goes on to list the other dates on the tour

June 1. He preached at Trosnant at 2.30 pm from Acts xii.24.

June 3. He preached at the Association at Hengoed from Isaiah ix.7 the last clause.

June 4. He preached at Zion Chapel Merthyr at 6 o'clock in the evening from John III.35.

June 7. He preached in the Back-lane meeting house at Swansea at 3 o'clock from John XVII.22.27.

June 8. He preached at Carmarthen in the Tabernacle at 7 o'clock from Phil. III.8.

June 10. He preached at the Association at Cwm Felin Monach (ie Cwmfelin Mynach) in Carmarthenshire from John XVII.21: the same text as he preached from at Swansea. Afterwards he returned to Bristol.

In a letter from Abergavenny to Sutcliff, Fuller wrote of his own bad health

"It was not because I forgot your kind request, that I did not write before; but, from being so unwell, that writing has been a burden. I have had much fever, and five or six sleepless nights; no sleep however, in several instances, till three or four in the morning. I have preached only three sermons, since I left home. One at Birmingham, one at Worcester, and one here. I do not find any ill effect from these, as I speak low, and only stand about half an hour. ... Our wisdom is to be still and quiet, and to mind our own business. For my own part, my afflictions say to me, Study to show thyself approved unto God. What empty things are the applauses of creatures, and how idle the pursuit of them! I seem near the end of my course, ... etc.

In 1852 Fuller's son wrote of the tour to Wales that it "is remembered with feelings of deep interest by the venerable minister whose hospitality he was then partaking, and who was principal of the academy since removed to Pontypool, and by such as still survive to speak of it." He goes on "Early in June, Mr. Fuller preached to a large out-door assembly, at the Welsh association, in Glamorganshire. A considerable portion of the ministry, jealous of the reputed inroads made by him on the purity of Calvinistic doctrine, retired to the chapel during his discourse, fine reports, however, of such as remained on the ground to hear of the great things performed by "the zeal of the Lord of hosts," modified the prejudices of many, and contributed, with his subsequent ministrations, and the perusal of his writings, to effect a great change in the views and ministrations of his brethren in that district; and it may be affirmed with truth, that in no part of the United Kingdom are his works more thoroughly estimated, or have contributed more largely to an enlightened and efficient ministry of the word of God."