William Thomas (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Rt. Rev.
William Thomas D.D.
(2 February 1613 – 25 June 1689) was a Welsh
Anglican bishop
, serving as Bishop of St David's
and Bishop of Worcester
.
Grammar School and the University of Oxford
, matriculating
at St John's College, Oxford
in 1629 and graduating from Jesus College, Oxford
with a BA
degree in 1632 and a MA degree in 1635. He became a fellow
of Jesus College. After ordination as deacon in 1637 and as priest in 1638, Thomas became vicar of Penbryn
in Ceredigion
and chaplain to Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland
. With the apparent help of his patron, he also became vicar of Laugharne and Llansadwrn
, Carmarthenshire
. He was ejected from Penbryn during the English Civil War
. In 1660, he was appointed as precentor
of St David's Cathedral
and was awarded the Oxford degree of Doctor of Divinity. In the following year, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
had him promoted by the crown to the living of Llanbedr Felffre, Pembrokeshire
. He was noticed by James, Duke of York (later King James II) who appointed him as one of his chaplains. He became dean
of Worcester
in 1665.
He was elected Bishop of St David's
on 19 November 1677 and consecrated on 27 January 1678; he was allowed to remain in his position as Dean of Worcester. He was regarded as an active bishop, with strong family links to west Wales and fluency in the Welsh language
. He was translated
to Worcester
in 1683, gaining a reputation for generosity to the poor in his time there. He died in Worcester in 1689, and was buried in the cathedral cloisters.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
William Thomas D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(2 February 1613 – 25 June 1689) was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Anglican bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, serving as Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
and Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
.
Life
Thomas was educated at CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
Grammar School and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
in 1629 and graduating from Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1632 and a MA degree in 1635. He became a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of Jesus College. After ordination as deacon in 1637 and as priest in 1638, Thomas became vicar of Penbryn
Penbryn
Penbryn is a village on the coast of Ceredigion in Wales, some ten miles up the coast from Cardigan between the villages of Tresaith and Llangrannog. It consists mostly of farms and caravan sites...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
and chaplain to Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland
Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland
Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy, KG was an English military leader and a prominent supporter of constitutional monarchy.-Family background:...
. With the apparent help of his patron, he also became vicar of Laugharne and Llansadwrn
Llansadwrn
Llansadwrn is a small village in Carmarthenshire, Wales.It is located in the countryside of the River Tywi river valley, about half way between Llanymddyfri to the north-east, and Llandeilo to the south-west, just off the A40 road....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. He was ejected from Penbryn during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. In 1660, he was appointed as precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
and was awarded the Oxford degree of Doctor of Divinity. In the following year, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon was an English historian and statesman, and grandfather of two English monarchs, Mary II and Queen Anne.-Early life:...
had him promoted by the crown to the living of Llanbedr Felffre, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
. He was noticed by James, Duke of York (later King James II) who appointed him as one of his chaplains. He became dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Worcester
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
in 1665.
He was elected Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
on 19 November 1677 and consecrated on 27 January 1678; he was allowed to remain in his position as Dean of Worcester. He was regarded as an active bishop, with strong family links to west Wales and fluency in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. He was translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to Worcester
Anglican Diocese of Worcester
The Diocese of Worcester forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.The diocese was founded in around 679 by St Theodore of Canterbury at Worcester to minister to the kingdom of the Hwicce, one of the many Anglo Saxon petty-kingdoms of that time...
in 1683, gaining a reputation for generosity to the poor in his time there. He died in Worcester in 1689, and was buried in the cathedral cloisters.