Memoir by John Jenkyn Brown Part 2

It is impossible at this distance of time to appreciate either the difficulties which he had to encounter or the influence which he has exercised. As the president of a college and as the pastor of a church he had serious obstacles to overcome. He was the pioneer of an educated ministry in Wales. It is not alone in the secluded valleys or on the bleak hills of the Principality that prejudices against a liberal education for the Christian ministry have been found. In England as well as in Wales there existed at that period the utmost indifference if not positive antagonism to learning as a qualification for the ministry. We know that apart from the spiritual and moral qualifications which the gospel demands no learning can avail but we know equally well that where these qualifications are found the value of a sound intellectual training is unspeakable. It was probably a sense of the early disadvantages under which he had laboured and a right appreciation of the value of those which he had enjoyed in Bristol College that led him to contemplate a similar institution for his native land. How highly he valued learning may be concluded from the manner in which he overcame obstacles which would have crushed weaker and less determined spirits from his mastering a language by no means the most facile and tractable so that few would have suspected that Welsh was his native tongue and English an acquired speech and from the conscientious care elaborate and fastidious perhaps to a fault with which he prepared for the discharge of his pastoral duties. It is no small honour to his enlightened and comprehensive views to the largeness of his heart and desires that he should have been the first to suggest and the first to preside over the second institution for training young men for the Christian ministry which the baptist denomination established in Great Britain. Through good report and through evil report he pursued the even tenor of his way. Amid misapprehension discouragement and opposition he was faithful to his trust. Sustained and cheered by the love and fidelity of those who understood and appreciated him he was unmoved by prejudice and opposition. Humble in its origin, slow in its growth, unpretending in its appearance that institution has been a fountain of light and influence to the Welsh people. It is not very easy to estimate the influence which Mr Thomas thus exercised upon the ministry in the Principality. Many doubtless never caught his spirit or reflected his mind. They could neither sympathize with his intellect nor with his heart. The one was too massive and elevated the other too large and catholic for them to comprehend. But there were not a few who did sympathize with him and who reflected in other localities and in milder beams the light which he had shed

It was not simply as a tutor nor merely in the discharge of his duties as a pastor at home that the influence of Mr Thomas was felt. In his general ministry he was eminently distinguished for the maintenance and propagation of and just views of divine truth. The period when he entered upon his ministerial studies in Bristol College is in the annals of religion and especially in the history of the baptist denomination. There existed in close intimacy and in loving action a body and whose names will be had in everlasting remembrance Ryland and Hall and Fuller and their fellow labourers had given an impulse to practical godliness which it had not received since the early days of Wesley and Whitefield. The writings of some, the tuition of others and the preaching of all had tended to awaken the church to a sense of its responsibility and duty. The Baptist Mission to the heathen had just been established and in its reflex influence began to act upon the churches at home. Into the spirit of these eminent men Mr Thomas fully drank. The comprehensive views which they held of the great doctrines of the gospel were embraced with singular clearness and preached with unfaltering confidence by him. While holding as fully and firmly as any man to what are generally recognized as the doctrines of grace he did not hesitate to insist with all solemnity upon the responsibilities and obligations of men. In his mind there was no contrariety between the duty of man and the grace of God. While he preached Christ as the only foundation of human faith and hope he did so "Warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus". He did not permit human theories to cramp his free utterance of the gospel message. The fullest and freest invitations of mercy to sinners were consistent in his theology with the highest conceptions of divine sovereignty and the purest views of the graciousness of salvation. With these views matured by a comprehensive and most conscientious study of the sacred oracles he entered upon his duties as tutor and pastor at Abergavenny. It is unnecessary to enter into the controversies which arose on these points and which greatly disturbed his peace but the writer would be wanting in his duty to the departed and in fidelity to the living and in the unspeakable gratitude we owe to the pioneers of free thought and free speech did he not advert to this phase of his life and influence. He broke down the human trammels that bound the free utterance of Christ's message. He cast in a leaven of truth which has well nigh leavened the whole lump. Gradually and silently with ebbs as well as flows but as certainly progressive as the motion of the tides his views have pervaded nearly the whole of South Wales. Where there has been no conscious renunciation of old sentiments and no avowed and formal adoption of new, there has been a silent though perhaps unconscious modification of those long held. It was at the close of his labours as president of the college that he could gratefully record that "both teachers and the taught began freely to breathe the universally benign atmosphere of that blessed economy which is alike and without difference good tidings of great joy to all people; on earth peace and good will toward men". He has laboured, others have entered into his labours. "With a great price" he purchased his freedom others have been "born free" through his fidelity labours and sacrifices.

Memoir by John Jenkyn Brown Part 1

Following his death in 1853, the following year a memoir by John Jenkyn Brown (d 1907) appeared in The October edition of The Baptist Magazine.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. MICAH THOMAS, OF ABERGAVENNY.

BY THE REV. JOHN JENKYN BROWN.

It is natural that we should hold in grateful remembrance the benefactors of our race. Almost every city has some son whom it delights to honour and every country some patriot whose life and actions it loves to record. The annals of the Christian church present us with a cloud of witnesses whose examples constitute a rich heritage and in whose steps we are to follow. The long period over which his ministrations extended, the varied and important services which he rendered and the wide and lasting influence which he exercised over the prosperity of the baptist denomination in South Wales entitle the late Rev Micah Thomas to an honoured and affectionate place in the memory of the church of Christ.

The subject of this brief sketch born in the parish of Whitstone in the county of Monmouth on the 19th February 1778. His parents were of the class called yeomen. Of his early life but few particulars have been preserved; and his history during the first twenty-three years may be compressed into a few sentences It would appear that in the town of Usk and in the neighbouring hamlet of Glascoed there were many who held baptist sentiments and among these scattered followers of the Saviour he seems to have first experienced the power of divine truth. He himself gratefully records that when he was seventeen years of age he was baptized at the Glascoed church and subsequently united in fellowship with the church at Penygarn near Pontypool. In about a year and a half afterwards he was called upon to exercise his gifts as a minister and was much engaged in preaching in the neighbouring churches.

In his twenty third year he entered Bristol College then under the presidency of Dr Ryland. The tutor and student were of congenial dispositions and though his stay in college was but short the intimacy there formed ripened into a friendship which terminated only by the death of the former and which doubtless has been renewed by the removal of the latter to the society of the blessed.

While at Bristol College Mr Thomas accepted an invitation to the pastoral office at Ryeford in the county of Hereford. In September 1802 the relation thus entered into was recognised by a public service on which occasion Dr Ryland delivered the charge to the pastor from John xii 26. In this place he laboured with honour and success for six years whence in 1807 he removed to Abergavenny.

This town situated in one of most lovely valleys in Monmouthshire, watered by the crystal stream of the Usk and surrounded by the most striking and picturesque hills, Thomas was wont to visit when sustaining the office of pastor at Ryeford. In this neighbourhood resided a family, whose ancestors had been among the most influential and honoured in the baptist community and whose names are still fragrant among the churches, and whose descendants remain true to their principles and illustrate their virtues. Into this congenial circle Thomas was introduced and in Mrs John Harris of Govilon he found a kindred spirit. As women were ministers to the Redeemer and were fellow helpers to Paul so this Christian lady exercised not a little influence upon the life and labours of our departed friend. At this period there was no baptist church at Abergavenny though there was preaching in the Welsh language and occasionally in English in connection with the church at Llanwenarth. Mr and Mrs Harris appear often to have communed on the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom; to her he seems have suggested the idea of a college and into his views she most heartily and zealously entered. The result was that he removed to Abergavenny to undertake the pastorate of a church yet to be formed and the presidency of a yet to be established college. The residence of Mr Thomas at Ryeford was a season of preparation and there is evidence that by giving himself to reading he availed himself of its advantages; but this town was his real field of labour and for forty-seven years with unwearied perseverance and constancy he pursued his course.

Thomas Lewis on the final years 1841-1853

1841. This year he baptised 16 at one time. "In the evening," says Mr Thomas, "we received them into the church and I administered the Lord's Supper. Such a spirit towards one another, we have never seen before. Hallelujah." And at the close of the year he said "Bless Jehovah, my soul".

1843. This year he baptised at once 2? and at twelve other times and ended the year with praise to the Lord.

1844. At the end of this year again we find an Ebenezer.

1846. June 24th, he preached the annual sermon to the students at Bristol College. His text was 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. And as before we have "Ebenezer" at the end.

1847. April 18th, we have the beloved brother Thomas Michael being baptised. He is the son of Mr Job Michael, an important man in Abergavenny, and one of the Llanwenarth deacons. T M is now in the Pontypool College. May he be useful in Christ's kingdom. [He went on to serve in Clapton and Evesham]. In the same month Mr Thomas preached at the opening of the English Baptist place of worship in Pontypool; his text was 1 Corinthians 15:64-55. In August we find him preaching in Middleton and Oxford and ending the year with an Ebenezer stone.

1852. This year was the last complete one of Micah Thomas's long extended ministry. At the end he writes, "Praise the Lord forever".

1853. Mr Thomas's notebook ends "September 25th, Psalm 34:7" but he preached for approximately two months after that. It comes up to about 90 sermons in the last year of his life. In the summer of that year he preached twice in Swansea. August 7th, in York Place, from Romans 8:33; the 14th, in Mount Pleasant, from 1 Timothy 4:10.

Lewis says that in his life time Thomas must have preached

At home 4445 times

Away from home 1046 times

Total 5491 sermons!

And baptised about 401 disciples.

"Good servant, good and faithful".

Thomas Lewis on the preaching 1829-1838

Astwood Bank

1829. June 9th, he preached in the Ross congregation from Ezekiel 36:37.

1830. June 2nd, he preached in the Llanidloes congregation from Acts 17:30, 31. June 4th, in the New Town congregation from Isaiah 30:26. August 11th, to the Trosnant congregation, from Luke 11:9-13.

1831. May 15th, Mr Thomas baptised a very famous young woman from Geneva; her name was Louise Reybaz. She was a French governess in an upper class family near Abergavenny. This year also we find him preaching in Swansea, Coleford, Alcester and Leamington Spa.

1832. We find him preaching in Ross, Lydney, Blakeney, and Bath and at the end of the year writing "Here the work of another year ends. Ebenezer."

1833. May 29th, he preaches in the Bassaleg congregation from Luke 18:30. In July he preached in Broadmead and other places in Bristol; and at the end of the year writes "Gloria Deo, Patri, Filio et S. Spirito" ie Glory to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

1835. We find him this year again preaching in Alcester, Astwood [Bank], Birmingham and Dudley. And at the end he raises his "Ebenezer".

1838. Mr Thomas preached at home every Sabbath but one this year and at the end he writes "Glory to God in the Highest". NB Perhaps some observant reader will ask "How could Mr Thomas have preached at home so many times and in 1825 and 1837 and also preach away more than he did this year?" The answer is that preaching in the week made the difference.

Thomas Lewis on the preaching 1818-1828

1818. This year we find him preaching in different chapels in Bristol, London, Birmingham, Kidderminster, Alcester and Gloucester. June 3rd, he preached to the Brecon congregation from Romans 8:3,4. September 27th, Dr [William] Steadman [1764-1837] preached instead of him.

1819. June 16th, preached to the congregation in New Town [Mid Wales] from John 6:40. I heard Mr Thomas preach there with such power and effect that it made one old sister, of the Llangeitho stamp, jump for joy. There were several others who were ready to agree with her; but their "outer man" was less noble than hers and so they stayed rooted to the floor on that occasion. September 6th, he preached at the funeral of the excellent Mr John Harris [b 1745] from 1 Corinthians 15:7. October 6th, he preached at the opening of the Baptist building in Ross from John 4:20-24.

1820. February 23rd, he preached at the ordination of Mr W.[illiam] Rogers in Garaway [Herefordshire] (now in Dudley) from Deuteronomy 2:20. June 7th, he preached to the Merthyr congregation from 1 John 4:10. This year also we find him preaching in Nantyglo, Brecon and Pontestyll [Llanspyddid, Breconshire]. From the 12th to the 23rd of March we find him in Llanlleifiad and preaching nine times in six different meeting houses. From the 26th of the same month until the 14th of May, he was in London. He preached 25 times in 15 different chapels. The names and the times he was there are all written down in his notebook. In July, he preached in Birmingham, and other places, when returning home.

1821. April 22nd, Mr Thomas baptised James Edwards (1800-1887), who for years has been a well known minister in the town of Nottingham. May 20th, we find him preaching in Eagle Street, London., and on the 22nd he preached in a missionary meeting in Tredegar from Zechariah 14:9, 10. June 6th, he preached to a congregation in Pontnewydd, Builth, from John 6:44. July 19th, he preached at Mr Johns' ordination in Caerwent from Acts 27:18.

1822. In the month of July, he preached in the annual meeting of the Baptist Mission in London; and in different places in the capital. He also preached in Reading and Bath when returning.

1823. July 4th, he preached in the Maes Y Berllan congregation from Philippians 1:27. This year also we find him preaching in Drehir, Allt Yr Ynys and in various other places in that area.

1824. He preached in the Tredegar congregation from John 3:19. In the same month we find him preaching in Broadmead, Counterslip, and other places in Bristol. In July he preached in Bath, Exeter, Plymouth and Devonport.

1825. August 7th, Mr Thomas says he baptised one John Jones, who was 85 years old.

1828. In July and September we find him preaching in various places in Swansea and Birmingham.

Thomas Lewis on the preaching 1807-1817

John Ryland 1753-1825

(1807) ... [April 19 begins Baptist church with four others. Two baptised in river.] June 3rd, Mr Thomas preached to the congregation in Llysfaen (Lisvane);

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. ...