David Thomas (1813 – 30 December 1894) was a Welsh preacher and publisher of ''The Homilist'', a magazine of liturgical thought. The son of William Thomas of Hopsill, also a preacher, Thomas was born near

Tenby, Pembrokeshire Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community. Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...

and started life in a commercial career, in which he achieved a rapid success.Thomas Rowland Roberts, ''Eminent Welshmen'' (1908), p. 507-508. Thomas was already giving his Sundays to preaching, and was prevailed upon to give up his business prospects in order to devote himself wholly to the ministry. He entered Newport Pagnell College to prepare for the ministry, and afterwards became pastor at Chesham. In 1844, he moved to

Stockwell Stockwell is a district in south west London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. It is situated south of Charing Cross. Battersea, Brixton, Clapham, South Lambeth, Oval and Kennington all border Stockwell. History The na ...

, London, where he ministered to a congregation reaching up to 900 people until his retirement in 1877. He began publication of ''The Homilist'' in 1852, and proceeded to publish over forty volumes. He also wrote ''The Crisis of Being—six lectures to Young Men on Religious Decision''; ''The Progress of Being''; ''The Genius of the Gospels''; ''A Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew''; ''The Practical Philosopher''; ''Problemata Mnndi'', and other works. His collected writings eventually filled nine volumes, republished between 1882 and 1889. Thomas was the originator of the Working Men's Club and Institute, of which

Lord Brougham Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, (; 19 September 1778 – 7 May 1868) was a British statesman who became Lord High Chancellor and played a prominent role in passing the 1832 Reform Act and 1833 Slavery Abolition Act. ...

was first president; and of an insurance plan for the benefit of widows of ministers. His congregants included Catherine Mumford (whose wedding to

William Booth William Booth (10 April 182920 August 1912) was an English Methodist preacher who, along with his wife, Catherine, founded the Salvation Army and became its first "General" (1878–1912). His 1890 book In Darkest England and The Way Out outli ...

was officiated by Thomas in 1855) and

Wilson Carlile Wilson Carlile, CH (1847–1942) was an English priest and evangelist who founded the Church Army and was a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral, London. Known as "The Chief", Carlile inspired generations of evangelists. Early years Carlile was ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

Waynesburg College Waynesburg University is a private university in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1850 and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. The university enrolls over 2,500 students, including ...

awarded Thomas an Honorary Doctorate, recognizing his efforts to reconcile the churches of the United States and England. He died at his daughter's home in

Ramsgate Ramsgate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the district of Thanet District, Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. In 2011, according to t ...

on 30 December 1894 and was buried at

West Norwood Cemetery West Norwood Cemetery is a rural cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery. One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the " Magnificent Seven" cemeteries of L ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, David 1813 births People from Tenby 1894 deaths People from Stockwell English Protestant ministers and clergy Burials at West Norwood Cemetery 19th-century English clergy