William Thomas (bishop)

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.

Life

Thomas was educated at Carmarthen 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, Cardiganshire 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.cite web| url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/27244| title= Thomas, William (1613–1689)| last=Roberts |first=Stephen K. |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition, subscription access)| publisher=Oxford University Press| month=October|year= 2005| accessdate=2008-03-16]

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.

References