R S Thomas

R S Thomas

Poet and Nobel prize-nomiee, Ronald Stuart Thomas began his clerical career here, in the Parish of Chirk.

RS Thomas was born in Cardiff, 1913, moving to Holyhead with his family in 1918. This move from South to North Wales was due to his father’s work with the merchant navy. In 1932 Thomas was awarded a bursary to read classics at the University College of North Wales, Bangor (now Bangor University). After graduation, he moved to Cardiff to study theology at St Michael’s College, Llandaff. In 1936 Thomas was ordained a priest in the Church in Wales and began his curacy here at Chirk.

Thomas served as curait in Chirk from 1936 until 1940. During this time he conducted services primarily in the church at Halton / Black Park. It was while in Halton that Thomas met Mildred (Elsi) Eldridge, an artist. In 1940 they were married and move away from the parish of Chirk to a church in the Maelor area of Flintshire, as it was then (now Wrexham CBC).

References:

bbc.co.uk : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/942723.stm
independent.co.uk http://www.independent.co.uk/news/r-s-thomas-nominated-for-nobel-prize-1590561.html
R S Thomas : http://www.cymru2008.com/rst/

All accessed 09/10/10