THOMAS, DAVID (1813-1894), Congregational minister and Biblical commentator;
b. near Tenby, Pembs., the son of William Thomas, Congregational minister. After leaving school he served for a time in a shop and as a school teacher; he also preached in local churches at the week-ends. He had a brilliant career at Newport Pagnell college. He was ordained as minister of the Congregational church, Chesham, in 1841, moved to Stockwell, London, in 1844, and remained there until 1877, when he retired. His ministry at Stockwell was exceedingly successful; his sermons of Biblical exposition attracted large congregations; he also became the most popular Biblical commentator of his age. His main works are: A Biblical Liturgy, 1856; Augustine Hymnbook, 1866, containing some hymns of his own composition; the Crisis of Being, 1849; Homiletic Commentary on St. Mathew, 1864; Homiletic Commentary on the Acts, 1870 (2nd ed. 1889); Problemati Mundi, 1878. His complete works were published in nine volumes, 1882-9. His chief contribution to Biblical literature was the editing of The Homilist, fifty volumes. He d. 30 Dec. 1894 at Ramsgate.
His son, REES URIJAH THOMAS (1839-1901) was president of the Congregational Union in 1895 (Congl. Year Book, 1902).
Bibliography:
- Congl. Year Book, 1896;
- D.N.B.;
- The Times, 1 Jan. 1895;
- N.L.W. MS. 9274.
Author:
Rev. John Dyfnallt Owen, M.A., (1873-1956), Aberystwyth
