MATTHEWS
,
EDWARD
(
1813
-
1892
),
Calvinistic Methodist minister and author
;
b.
13 May 1813
at
New Barn
near
S. Athan
, son of
Thomas
and
Anne
Matthews
. While he was still young his home was broken up and his father emigrated to the
U.S.A.
He experienced a spiritual awakening under the ministry of
David
Morris
(
1787
-
1858
) (q.v.)
of
Hendre
. In
1827
he went to work at
Hirwaun
where, in
1830
, he began to
preach
. Returning to
Glamorgan
in
1833
he made his home at
Pen-llin
where he lodged with
Mrs.
Truman
, a widow, who became his wife in
1843
. He was ordained in
1841
at the Association held at
Llangeitho
, and in
1843
was a student at
Trevecka
for a short time. He became
minister
of
Penuel chapel
,
Pontypridd
, in
1849
; returned to
Ewenni Isaf
, near
Bridgend
, in
1852
; moved to
Cardiff
in
1864
; lived at
Bonvilston
from 1876 to 1883
; and finally came to rest at
Bridgend
where he d.
26 Nov. 1892
, being buried in
Nolton churchyard
. His reputation as a
preacher
stands high — his congregations were entranced by his droll use of the
Glamorganshire
dialect, astonished by the power of his imagination and his bold, dramatic manner, and stirred by his sudden outcries. For a long time he was the uncrowned king of the
Calvinistic Methodist Associations
. A volume of his sermons was published under the editorship of
D. M.
Phillips
in
1927
. He was also a distinguished
author
. His most popular work was his
Hanes Bywyd Siencyn Penhydd
(
Jenkin
Thomas
, q.v.
). published in book form in
1850
. Another similar work is
George Heycock a'i Amserau
,
1867
. He drew largely on his imagination when writing both these books, which were avidly read by the country people. His
Bywgraffiad Thomas Richard
(q.v.)
appeared in
1863
, and he was joint author of
Cofiant J. Harris Jones
(q.v.)
,
1886
. He edited two volumes of sermons by
Morgan
Howells
(q.v.)
in
1858
and
1869
, and two volumes of
Thomas
Richards
's (q.v.)
sermons (
1866-7
). He was a frequent
contributor
to
Y Traethodydd
,
Y Drysorfa
, and
Y Cylchgrawn
, and a volume containing his articles to these periodicals was published under the editorship of
W. Llywel
Morgan
in
1911
. His style was conversational and discursive, but his work was characterised by the imaginativeness of a born
writer
, and everything he wrote made good reading.
Bibliography:
-
D. G. Jones
,
,
1893
;
-
J. J. Morgan
,
,
1922.
Author:
