WE are appealing for funds to help raise a memorial to Benjamin Thomas (Myfyr Emlyn), one of north Pembrokeshire’s most famous sons.

He was a Baptist minister, a poet, lecturer, and author. He was born at Tŷ-rhos, a little cottage at the foothills of the Preseli hills in the parish of Whitechurch (Eglwyswen) in October, 1836, seventh of the eight children of David and Elizabeth Thomas.

His father was one of the founders of the local Baptist church of Bethabara in 1826.

It was at Tŷ-rhos that the first Baptist Sunday school in the district was held in 1823.

He received his early education at the nearby school at Penygroes and after the family moved to Pantygarn, Eglwyswrw in 1849; he attended school at Elim Baptist chapel in the village.

At the age of 15 he went to the South Wales valleys in search of work, whilst there he was baptised in 1852.

When he returned home he started preaching and after training at a school in Fishguard, he was admitted to Haverfordwest College in 1855, and later to Bristol College.

He was ordained at Dre-fach and Graig, Newcastle Emlyn, in 1860, and after some time there he spent a couple of years at an English church in Penarth before moving to Bethesda, Narberth in 1875.

He died on November 20 1893 and was buried at Bethesda, Narberth where an impressive memorial stands in his memory.

Eglwyswrw and District Heritage Society has been asked to be involved in a project to erect a memorial for Myfyr Emlyn in the area of his birth. Rev H B Thomas, Bethabara made this reference to Myfyr Emlyn in 1926: “He was probably the most famous preacher, lecturer, poet, biographer ever bred in Wales. He died after a short illness at the age of 57 years. His funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the county”.

The society has researched his life for a long time, but it following prompting by nonmembers we have decided to raise funds so that a fitting memorial is erected in the area of his birth.

Please get in touch if you would like to be involved or wish to contribute in anyway.

Eglwyswrw and District Heritage Society.

eglwyswrwheritage@ gmail.com – 01239 891372