Henry Edwards

Who was Henry Edwards?

Henry Thomas Edwards was a Welsh preacher.

He was born at Llan-ym-Mawddwy, Merioneth, where his father was vicar. He was educated at Westminster but left Westminster in his seventeenth year with the intention of proceeding to India, but, changing his mind, studied for twelve months under the Rev. F. E. Gretton at Stamford School.

He went up to Jesus College, Oxford, and after teaching for two years at Llandovery went to Llangollen as his father's curate.

He became vicar of Aberdare in 1866 and of Carnarvon in 1869. Here he began his lifelong controversy with Nonconformity, especially as represented by the Rev. Evan Jones and Rev. E. Herber Evans. In 1870 he fought in vain for the principle of allround denominationalism in the national education system, and in the same year addressed a famous letter to Mr. Gladstone on The Church of the Cymry, pointing out that the success of Nonconformity in Wales was largely due to the withering effect of an alien episcopate. One immediate result of this was the appointment of the Welshman Joshua Hughes to the vacant see of St Asaph.