HUGHES, THOMAS HYWEL (1875 - 1945), Congregational minister, theologian, and philosopher

Name: Thomas Hywel Hughes
Date of birth: 1875
Date of death: 1945
Spouse: Nina Hughes (née Owen)
Parent: Ann Hughes
Parent: Daniel Hughes
Gender: Male
Occupation: Congregational minister, theologian, and philosopher
Area of activity: Education; Religion; Scholarship and Languages
Author: John Daniel Vernon Lewis

Born 10 July 1875, at Penclawdd, Gower, son of Daniel and Ann Hughes. According to the Rev. W. Glasnant Jones, Swansea, Hughes worked for a brief period as a shoemaker in Gowerton before becoming a student at Gwynfryn Academy, Ammanford. Educated at New College and London University where he graduated B.A., (1st class hons. in Philosophy) and B.D. (1st class hons. in Biblical Theology), he was ordained at Gunnersbury (1904) where he remained until 1911; he moved to Bishop's Stortford (1911-22), where he wrote his thesis on ' The Philosophy of Plotinus ' for which he was awarded a D.Litt. degree by London University. In 1922, he was appointed Principal of the Scottish Congregational College, Edinburgh, where he served with great distinction until 1937. He gained his D.D. (Lond.) for a thesis on ' The Hebraic and Hellenic idea of God ', and was awarded an honorary D.D. by Edinburgh University. Whilst he was Principal he also lectured on various subjects in theology, philosophy of religion, psychology and apologetics; he became lecturer in the Post-graduate School of Divinity, Edinburgh University, and examiner in the Divinity Faculty of London University.

Apart from his numerous articles in various English periodicals and journals, he published a number of works which are generally regarded as valuable contributions to theological studies, e.g. The New Psychology and Religious Experience (1933); The Psychology of Preaching and Pastoral Work (1939); The Philosophic Basis of Mysticism (1937); Psychology and Religious Origins (1936); Psychology a Religious Truth (1942); The Atonement (modern theories of the Doctrine), the last being published posthumously.

He spent the evening of his life in retirement at Mount Grange, Penyrheol Drive, Sketty, Swansea, where he continued to preach until his death on 14 August 1945. His wife Nina, daughter of Daniel Owen, pre-deceased him in 1940. There were no children.

Author

Published date: 2001

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.