We are now come down so far in our journey of Mr Thomas's life to the point where we find him as a young man, 17 years old, under the yoke of Christ, which yoke he never threw off but faithfully and steadily bore, till his master called him to his reward. Soon after his baptism, the brotherhood in Penygarn began to think and talk of their young brother as one of a very promising character and they called him without delay to exercise his gifts in preaching the gospel of salvation. So when he was eighteen and a half years old Mr Thomas began to evangelise, first in the church where he was a member, and after this in other places, where he was requested to go. Having thus been employed for about three and a half years he "went to the Bristol Academy (under the suoerintendence of Rev John Ryland DD) on the 19th of the month of February, 1801." being that very day 23 years old. During the year and a half Mr Thomas was in Bristol, he was supported by the London Fund; and as every young man should he improved to his best advantagethe precious months allotted to him at that eminent seminary. Dr Ryland and Mr Thomas were of congenial dispositons and though his stay there was brief, the friendly union formed between there ripened into a friendship terminated only by death of the former and which doubtless has been renewed by the removal of the latter to the society of the blessed.
When he was in Bristol Mr Thomas used often to preach in Ryeford, as well as other churches and preaching places around. It can be seen from his own notebook that he first preached there on Christmas Day 1801 and his text was Luke 18:10 For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost; and at 6 O'Clock he preached on Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgement, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. The church at Ryeford, being very urgent in their solicitations, that Mr Thomas should settle among them as their pastor prevailed - undoubtedly to his disadvantage; he, therefore, after due deliberation, accepted the invitation in June, 1802. Mr Thomas was ordained, as we find it in his own papers, "was ordained as minister of the Baptist C|hurch in Ryeford, near Ross, in the county of Hereford, September 29, 1802". The ordination involved the following - Mr J Watkins, Capel Y Ffin, began by reading 1 Timothy 3 then prayed; Mr H Williams of Cheltenham introduced the service (or gave the introductoy address) and received the confession of faith; Dr Ryland offered the ordination prayer and preached the charge from John 12:26; Mr J Rowland of Pershore preached to the church from Deuteronomy 1:38 Encourage him. Mr J Bradley of Coleford closed in prayer and the hymns were announced by Mr J Horlick of Ruardean.
January 21st "Mr Thomas was married to Sophia Wall of Ross" in whom he found an excellent partner over many years. Respecting here we have the following record in his own hand "Mrs Thomas was born August 9th, 1755; baptised at Ryeford August 27th, 1786 by the Rev. James Williams minister of the place and most tranquily died at five o'clock in the afternoon of April 21st 1829 aged 73 years, eight months, 12 days. She and I were married 24 years and three months to this day, Abergavenny, April 2nd, 1829."
He ministred with honou, diligence and success in Ryeford for about five years. January 4th, 1807, Mr Thomas preached his last sermon there from 2 Chronicles 15:2 and moved to the town of Abergavenny. There he commenced an English language church in the old meeting house in Heol Tydur and established the academy which has been productive of so much good in Wales. When Mr Thomas was in Ryeford, it seems, he was in the habit of visiting Abergavenny from time to time and made a most intimate acquaintance with the family of Mr John Harris of Govilon. Mr Harris, though not yet a member at this time was every ready and cheerful whenever he had opportunity, to do something for the cause of Jesus Christ. Mrs Harris, however, was a Baptist, an intelligent and superior woman. And it appears to me that this family under the hand of the great providence of heaven were the chief influence that drew Mr Thomas to Abergavenny. I also heard that Dr Ryland had some hand in the work; he had commended him to the attention of certain Baptists and Baptist ministers as a young man who possessed the ability and fitness to make a big impact on the country of his birth by training young preachers for the Baptist churches in the Principality. Whatever the case, Mr Thomas settled in Abergavenny in January, 1807, as a minister and a teacher.
