Dyke, Thomas Griffiths (1843-1930)

zoom

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1905

Early years

Thomas was born in 1843 at Llambadarn Fawr, Radnorshire to parents John Dyke and Naomi Griffiths. John was a farmer. John and Naomi were nonconformists and attended the Baptist Church.

Thomas had a good education, attending first public schools and later the grammar school at Newton, Montgomeryshire. During his boyhood, he was sent to the Wesleyan Sunday School. When aged twenty-one at the village of Llangunllo, Thomas was drawn to attending services conducted by the Primitive Methodists. He was converted under the powerful and persuasive ministry of Rev George Middleton. Thomas soon became a class leader and exhorter.

Ministry

Thomas was a great plodder and wise administrator, and did excellent service in dealing effectively with heavy chapel liabilities, and leading circuit officials upon lines which have secured the best results in ‘consolidating’ the stations.

Thomas undertook the roles of District Committee Secretary, Orphanage District Secretary and Building Committee Secretary at various times during his ministry.

Thomas was a strong advocate of Temperance Reform. For many tears he was Vice-president of the Land Nationalisation Society and when at Aberavon he was president of the Aberavon Phrenological Society.

Family

Thomas married May Theodosia Lister (abt1854-1934) in the summer of 1872 at Dudley, Staffordshire.

Thomas died on 22 August 1930 at Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.

Circuits

• 1868 Leintwardine
• 1869 Dudley
• 1871 Leominster
• 1872 Macclesfield
• 1873 Hay
• 1875 Ludlow
• 1876 Gloucester
• 1877 Margate
• 1879 Colnbrook
• 1880 St Albans
• 1882 W Bromwich
• 1884 Ramsgate
• 1887 Guernsey
• 1890 Aberavon
• 1893 Redruth
• 1895 Bristol II
• 1898 Madeley
• 1901 Plumstead
• 1905 Sheerness (S)
• 1908 Shoreham

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1905/87; 1931/123

PM Minutes 1931/293

W Leary , Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note:    Phrenology was the study of the relationships between a person’s character and the morphology of the skull.