R. Tudur Jones 1397193 225875554 2008-07-15T20:31:17Z 92.3.8.49 /* Theology */ '''R. Tudur Jones''' ([[June 28]], [[1921]]-[[1998]]) was a [[Welsh nationalism|Welsh Nationalist]] and a [[Protestant]] [[Christian]]. He was the most important Christian scholar in [[Wales]] during the 20th century and is hailed as the giant of [[Protestantism]] in Wales during a century that saw Wales, as a whole, turn against its traditional [[Reformed]] Protestant [[theology]]. ==Early life== Jones was born at Tyddyn Gwyn, [[Llanystumdwy]], north Wales but soon the family moved to [[Rhyl]]. Christian [[faith]] was the foundation of family life as his parents experienced the spiritual zeal of the [[1904-1905 Welsh Revival]]. The family were members of the local Welsh [[Congregational Church]] and while other children recited verses on the Sunday morning, as it is a tradition in [[Nonconformist]] churches, he would recite a whole chapter. Though being raised as a Christian, it is said that the turning point in his life was at an [[evangelism|evangelistic]] crusade at Rhyl Pavilion where he believed he encountered God. Jones' interest in [[Church History]] first started when he was a pupil at Rhyl Grammar School. There his history teacher, S. M. Houghton, taught him about the [[Puritans]] and he read New Testament [[Greek language|Greek]] with the headmaster. After Grammar School he won a Scholarship to [[Jesus College, Oxford]]. His father, however, insisted that he attend the [[University of Wales]] instead. He graduated in [[1942]] from the [[University of Wales, Bangor]] with a degree in [[Philosophy]] and afterwards went on to a [[Bachelor of Divinity|B.D.]] in [[Theology]] in [[Bangor, Wales|Bangor]]. Then he left Bangor for [[Mansfield College, Oxford]] where he researched for his [[DPhil]]. == Career == Returning from Oxford in [[1948]], now married, Jones was ordained as minister of Seion Welsh Congregationalist Chapel, [[Aberystwyth]]. After only two years he left Seion to pursue an academic career. In [[1950]] he was appointed as [[tutor]] in Church History at [[Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary]], Bangor, north Wales, and by [[1965]] he had risen to be the principal of Bala-Bangor, which post he held until the Welsh Congregationalists merged their two Colleges, Bala-Bangor and the Memorial College, [[Aberystwyth]] in 1988. After his semi-retirement in [[1988]] he accepted a post as an honorary lecturer in the Theology Department of the University of Wales Bangor, a post he held until [[1997]]. == Theology == Most of Jones' publications were of an historical nature. Nevertheless his theology and his opinions on doctrine would surface regularly in his work. He was a firm [[Calvinist]], and although it is tempting to classify him as [[evangelicalism|Evangelical]] (see also his fellow Welsh Christian scholars [[Bobi Jones]] and [[R. Geraint Gruffydd]]), he distanced himself from the [[Pietism|pietistic]] evangelicalism that rose from the ashes of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. He opposed [[Liberal Christianity|liberal theology]] and feared [[humanism]]'s effect on the people of Wales. == Nationalist == Jones not only contributed to Wales at a spiritual level but also got involved in the [[nationalist]] struggle through his leadership role in [[Plaid Cymru]] and his support of [[Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg]] (the Welsh Language Society). He was vice president of [[Plaid Cymru]] for a period and stood elections in the party’s name in [[Anglesey]] during the [[1959]] and [[1964]] elections. His nationalistic arguments are best put forward in his book ''The Desire of Nations'' where he notes that his nationalism "asks nothing for itself that it does not wish for others." == Publications == Jones is listed to have published over 341 books and articles mainly on the history of the Church. Among his main publications on Church history are ''Hanes Annibynwyr Cymru'' (''History of the Welsh Congregationalists'') and ''Ffydd ac Argyfwng Cenedl – Cristnogaeth a Diwylliant yng Nghymru 1890-1914'' (''Faith and the crisis of the Nation – Christianity and Culture in Wales 1890-1914''). He also published some work giving political discussion such as his book on nationalism ''The Desire of Nations''. == Resources == *Davies, Gwyn, ''Light in the Land - Christianity in Wales 200-2000'' (2002) *Pope, Robert : ''A Giant of Welsh Protestantism – R. Tudur Jones 1921-1998'' (2003) {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, R. Tudur}} [[Category:1921 births]] [[Category:1998 deaths]] [[Category:Alumni of Mansfield College, Oxford]] [[Category:Alumni of Bangor University]] [[Category:Calvinist ministers and theologians]] [[Category:Welsh Christian leaders]] [[Category:Welsh-speaking people]] [[Category:Congregationalism]] [[Category:Protestantism]] [[Category:Puritanism]] [[cy:R. Tudur Jones]]