Thomas Lewis on the early years

Ryeford Baptist Chapel

We have already established that Thomas was born in 1778 in Whitson, Monmouthshire and some time later his parents moved (c 1782-1792) from New Inn to Llangibby. He was schooled in Tredunnock then Trosnant, Pontypool(c 1792-1799) . Aged 17 (1795) he was baptised and joined Pen-y-garn Baptist church, beginnin to preach aged 18 (1796). In December 1800 (22) he began at Bristol Baptist Academy, In 1801 he preached his first sermon at Ryeford, Herefordshire, on Christmas Day (on Luke 19:10). In 1802 (24) he was voted £5 by the London Particular Baptist Itinerating Society to itinerate in Herefordshire and on 19 September of that year he was ordained in Ryeford.Thomas Lewis preserves these notes on the years 1803-1807, the Ryeford years.

1803. According to a table Thomas preached at home 54 times and away from home 60 times. During the years that Mr Thomas was in Ryeford he often preached in the following nearby places: Hoarwithy, Gansley, Coleford, Ross, Tainton (Tintern?), Ruardean and Mitcheldean. In the same year he also preached in Leominster (Llanllieni), Bridgnorth, Llanwenarth, Blaenavon, Penygarn, Trosnant, Bristol and Hereford.

1804. According to a table Thomas preached at home 42 times and away from home 67 times. In this year the old building in Ryeford was repaired. It was re-opened on the 17th of October when the preachers were Mr [John] Rowland of Pershore [who preached when Micah Thomas was ordained] and Mr [Thomas] Symmons of Wotton-under-Edge. Their texts were Isaiah 4:3 and 66:14. [It was some time around 1804 that Thomas married his first wife Sophia Wall of Ross, 23 years his senior!]

1805. According to a table Thomas preached at home 46 times and away from home 66 times. This year Mr Thomas preached in Bradford [on Avon], Bath, Bromley Shrewsbury, Coseley, Pershore and Evesham.

1806. According to a table Thomas preached at home 44 times and away from home 48 times. This year he preached in Cardiff, Peterstone, Caerphilly, Cadoxton and Worcester. This was the first year of stirrings about baptism. He baptised 27 all told in Ryeford.

1807. According to a table Thomas preached at home 95 times and away from home 90 times. January 4th was Mr Thomas's last Sabbath in Ryeford. The following Monday he went to Abergavenny and one Mr Jonathan Davies from Llanddewi Rhydderch moved his furniture. Jonathan Davies was a member in Llanwenarth and a reliable and godly man. His children are now members in Llanddewi, and two of his sons are deacons there. This J D ... John Williams from Tresaeson ... the men who started the cause in Llanddewi about 60 years ago. It is their disciples who are there to this day and they are blessed. ...