Griffith Jones (Llanddowror)

Griffith Jones, (1684-1761), a minister of the Church of England famous for his work in organising circulating schools in Wales. His name is usually associated with that of Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire.

Jones was born in 1684 at Pen-boyr, Carmarthenshire, and was educated at Carmarthen Grammar School. He was ordained in 1708 and appointed rector of Llanddowror in 1716, he remained there for the rest of his life.

He was an enthusiastic member of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge and in 1731 he started circulating schools in Carmarthenshire in order to teach people to read. The schools were held in one location for about three months before moving (or 'circulating') to another place. The language of instruction in these schools was the language of the people, Welsh. The idea was taken up with enthusiasm and by his death, in 1761, it is estimated that over 200,000 people had learnt to read in schools organised by Jones throughout Wales.

Jones taught people to read in order that they might know those things that were necessary for their salvation – the curriculum at his schools consisted only in the study of the Bible and the Catechism of the Church of England. But in doing so he created a country with a literate population with a deep knowledge of the Christian scriptures. This in turn is believed by many to have played a key role in making the people of Wales so ready to accept Methodism.

Jones is often thought of as the forerunner of Methodist ideas in Wales. He was a powerful preacher and he would preach in the open air, as later the Methodists would do, and bring upon himself the censure of bishops for preaching at irregular meetings. He lent his critical support to the Methodist revival, and was associated with the early leaders. In fact Daniel Rowland was converted through his preaching.

Sources

*Davies, Gwyn (2002), A light in the land : Christianity in Wales, 200-2000. Bridgend : Bryntirion Press. ISBN 1-85049-181-X
*Walker, David (Ed.) (1976), A history of the Church in Wales. Penarth : Published for the Historical Society of the Church in Wales by Church in Wales Publications.