ANDREWS, JOSHUA (1708?-1793), Baptist minister.
Nothing is known of his beginnings, but in 1732 or 1733 he became a member of Pen-y-garn congregation, under Miles Harry (q.v.). In 1736, he went to Bristol Academy; he was one of six Welshmen there, another being Caleb Evans (see under Evans, Hugh, 1712-1781). He returned to serve as a lay preacher at Pen-y-garn; and about 1740 was ordained to assist Harry, with special charge of the cause at Usk; but he was not a man of popular gifts. In 1743, we find him assistant at Llanwenarth. In 1745, he became pastor of the historic church of Olchon, and also of Capel-y-ffin, which is twenty miles distant from Olchon. He laboured in these two places in dire poverty and ill health; ‘for more than fifty years he frequently appeared like a dying man.’ He d. 14 June 1793 ‘aged about 85’; he was buried at Trosnant.
Bibliography:
- Rippon, Bapt. Ann. Reg. for 1794-7 (the account is pretty certainly Joshua Thomas's work).
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.
