Edward Matthews (13 May 1813 – 26 November 1892) was a Welsh

Calvinistic Methodist Calvinistic Methodists were born out of the 18th-century Welsh Methodist revival and survive as a body of Christians now forming the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Calvinistic Methodism became a major denomination in Wales, growing rapidly in the 1 ...

minister and author. Rev

Religious life

Influenced by the ministry of David Morris, Matthews began to preach at

Hirwaun Hirwaun is a village and community at the north end of the Cynon Valley in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. It is NW of the town of Aberdare, and comes under the Aberdare post town. At the 2001 census, Hirwaun had a populati ...

in Wales in 1830, having worked there from 1827. Matthews moved back to Glamorgan in 1833 and was ordained in 1841 at Llangeitho's Association. He was a student at

Trevecka Trefeca (also Trefecca, Trevecca, and Trevecka), located between Talgarth and Llangorse Lake in what is now south Powys in Wales, was the birthplace and home of the 18th-century Methodist leader Howell Harris ( cy, Hywel Harris, italic=no). It was ...

in 1843 and became minister in 1849 at Pontypridd's Penuel chapel. He moved to Ewenni Isaf in 1852 and later Cardiff in 1864. From 1876 to 1883 he lived at Bonvilston but returned to Bridgend before his death in 1892. Matthews gained a reputation as an imaginative and dramatic preacher, known for his sudden outcries. He has been deemed "the uncrowned king of the Calvinistic Methodist Associations".

Written works

Edward Matthews published a volume of sermons in 1927, edited by D. M. Phillips. However, his most popular works were his biographies. ''Hanes Bywyd Siencyn Penhydd,'' concerning the life of Jenkin Thomas, was published in book form in 1850, ''Bywgraffiad Thomas Richard'' (on Thomas Richard) in 1863 and ''George Heycock a'i Amserau'' in 1867''.'' He was also join author of ''Cofiant J. Harris Jones'' (on

John Harris Jones John Harris Jones (28 August 182721 July 1885) was a Calvinistic Methodist minister and classical tutor at Trevecca College. Personal life Jones was born to John and Elizabeth Jones at Waunwthan in Llangeler, Carmarthenshire. At the age of ...

) in 1886 and edited two volumes each of Morgan Howells (in 1858 and 1869) and Thomas Richards (in 1866 and 1867). He often wrote articles for ''Y Traethodydd, Y Drysorfa'' and ''Y Cylchgrawn,'' to the extent that W. Llywel Morgan edited a volume of Matthews's published articles in 1911.

Personal life

Edward was born at New Barn near St Athan to Thomas and Anne Matthews. As a child, his parents split and his father emigrated to the US. In 1833, he lived in Glamorgan as a lodger to the widow Mrs. Truman at Pen-llin. He and Mrs. Truman married in 1843. Matthews is buried in Nolton churchyard.

References

* https://biography.wales/article/s-MATT-EDW-1813 {{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Edward (author) Welsh Protestant ministers and clergy Welsh writers Welsh biographers Calvinistic Methodists People from Glamorgan 1813 births 1892 deaths

Religious life

Written works

Personal life

See also

References