Bala-Bangor was a theological seminary belonging to the Welsh Independents (

Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg The Union of Welsh Independents ( cy, Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg) is a Reformed congregationalist denomination in Wales. History Welsh congregational churches or Independents stand in the Puritan tradition. The first congregational congregati ...

), an association of Welsh

congregationalists Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

. It was founded in 1841 at

Llanuwchllyn Llanuwchllyn () is a village and community in Gwynedd, Wales, near the southern end of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid). It is one of the most sparsely populated communities in Wales. The electoral ward includes the small settlement of Llangywer. The ...

, then moved to a permanent location at

Bala, Gwynedd Bala ( cy, Y Bala) is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales. Formerly an urban district, Bala lies in the historic county of Merionethshire, at the north end of Bala Lake ( cy, Llyn Tegid). According to the 2021 Census, Bala had a population ...

in 1842 under the principalship of Michael Jones (1787–1853), who was followed by his son

Michael D. Jones Michael Daniel Jones (2 March 1822 – 2 December 1898) was a Welsh people, Welsh Congregational church, Congregationalist minister and principal of a theological college, but is best remembered as a founder of the Welsh settlement in Patago ...

(1822–1898). During Michael D. Jones's principalship, a row broke out between two rival factions within Welsh congregationalism over the seminary's constitution – Michael D. Jones and his followers wanted to keep and adhere to the old constitution but Rev. John Thomas of Liverpool and his followers wanted to impose a new constitution upon the seminary. Michael D. Jones's argument was that Rev. John Thomas's plan would only lead to the presbyterizing of the seminary and of the Congregational churches in general. This row lead to a split and for a period the Congregationalists had two seminaries in Bala, Thomas Lewis's seminary at Plasyndre and Michael D. Jones's at Bodiwan. But by 1886 Thomas Lewis's seminary had moved to Bangor. Michael D. Jones retired in 1892 and this paved the way to unite the two seminaries once again and this time at Bangor thus explaining the seminary's eclectic name: "Bala-Bangor". The seminary remained in Bangor until its closure in 1989 by which time it was under the principalship of R. Tudur Jones, the last in the distinguished line of Principals to serve the Congregational churches in Wales. The seminary was closed mainly because of lack of demand for two Congregational seminaries in Wales. The Memorial College (having moved from Brecon to

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

and then to

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...

) offered a more central location for a United College to serve the Congregational churches throughout Wales. Through the 1990s, the United College remained at Aberystwyth, until its closure – now Congregational training is based back in Bangor under the supervision of Rev. Euros Wyn Jones.

Alumni

David Evan Jones (missionary) David Evan Jones, Mizo name Zosaphluia (15 February 1870 – 10 August 1947) was a Welsh missionary in Mizoram, India, connected to both the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church of Mizoram. Jones was born at Brynmelyn, Llandde ...

John Hughes Morris ''The history of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists' foreign mission'' Page 319 1996 "DAVID EVAN JONES — Born February 15th, 1870, at Brynmelyn, Llandderfel. Educated at Bala Grammar School, Liverpool Institute, Bala and Aberystwyth Colleges. For two years pastor of Bettws church, Mont. Ordained in 1897. Sailed for India, June 26th, 1897, arriving at Aijal, Lushai Hills, August 31st. In 1903, married Miss K. E. Williams, Sylhet." *

Susannah Jane Rankin Susannah Jane Rankin (26 November 1897 – 24 July 1989, née Ellis) was a Welsh Congregational minister, religious educator, linguist and translator. She spent time as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. She translated works from Welsh and Engl ...

References

{{Authority control Congregationalism in Wales Former theological colleges in Wales 1841 establishments in Wales