REES, GABRIEL (1757-1807), Baptist minister;
b. near Llanglydwen, Carms., early in 1757. He was baptized in 1778 at Rhydwilym, began to preach immediately afterwards, and was ordained in June 1789. Although he lived in Pant-hywel, Tre-lech, he ministered to the congregations at Rhydwilym and its branches, asking for no salary except a wage for his man-servant. He preached often in the assemblies of his denomination; he travelled also as a missioner. He belonged to the group of revivalist preachers who were nicknamed ‘the people of the strange fire.’ With others he was appointed to support moderate Calvinism at Carmarthen in 1799. Although he was not accounted a great thinker, hardly any one was received with a warmer welcome than he by various congregations. He d. 21 May 1807. Joshua Watkins (q.v.) composed an elegy on his death.
Bibliography:
- H. Price, Hanes Eglwys Rhydwilym;
- J. Gwili Jenkins, Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist, 276;
- Traf. Cymd. Hanes Bed., 1930;
- Hist. Carms., ii, 233.
Author:
Rev. William Joseph Rhys, (1880-1967), Gelli, Rhondda / Treherbert
