ALLEN, ROBERT (1847-1927), Baptist minister;
b. 5 Jan. 1847 at Llanelly, son of John Allen of Neath and his wife, of Cilrhedyn, Newcastle Emlyn, but Glamorgan was the scene of his upbringing and earthly pilgrimage. He was baptized in Blaen-y-cwm, began to preach in Cwmafan, and was ordained to the ministry on 17 and 18 Oct. 1880 at Bryntroedgam. He remained at the latter place for seven years, thereafter moving to Pontrhyd-y-fen, 1887-90, Capel Rhondda, 1890-2, Calfaria, Maesteg, 1892-1908, and Philadelphia, Cwm Ogwr, for a short while. He d. 13 March 1927 in Nantyffyllon, Maesteg. Although he had a small coalmine and a small farm, he showed no great enthusiasm for either the one or the other and was more in his element lecturing. Possessing a homely wit and an exceptional gift of oratory, he delighted his congregations by his unconventional preaching and his even more unconventional acting.
Author:
Rev. William Joseph Rhys, (1880-1967), Gelli, Rhondda / Treherbert
