PRITCHARD, Robert Hugh 1881 - 1962

Obituary from the Minutes of the Methodist Conference 1962, page 204

Born in Tre-garth, Caernarvonshire, in 1881 Throughout his ministry he retained the marks of the sturdy Methodism and the strong qualities of character which are to be found among the slate quarrymen of his native village.

This sound heritage, which he often referred to with gratefulness, stood him in good stead in later years. He himself became a quarryman, but he was impelled to a fuller dedication of himself through the quickening of the Spirit which followed the Welsh Revival of 1904-5.

He was accepted for the Wesleyan Ministry in 1907. His training at Richmond College was cut short when he was called out to supply in the Abergele Circuit in 1908. Subsequently he travelled in Tredegar, Treorchy, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth, Pontypridd, Llannvst, Dolgellau and Barmouth, Caernarvon, Towyn, Llanfair Caer Einion, Beaumaris and Portmadoc.

He was a man in whom was no guile, and he fulfilled all his work with all seriousness and a singleness of mind.

In the Treorchy Circuit he led his people in the building of a chapel at Y Garth (Maesteg).

Having known, in early years, something of the hardships of a working-class community, he had a lively interest in social questions. He was a keen advocate of temperance, serving for many years as the Welsh Assembly representative on the Connexional Christian Citizenship Committee. He strove diligently to fit himself for his high calling, and was a student to the end, in particular in the realms of theology and Methodist doctrine.

He sought fellowship in ministerial groups and there shared his knowledge in helpful discussion.

He served for a term as president of the Council of North Wales Evangelical Churches and was a member of its executive committee up to his death.

On his retirement in 1946 he returned to live at Tre-garth and continued to serve his own and the neighbouring circuits.

Clwb Tegai, one of the most flourishing of clubs for Pensioners, was founded by him and he was its president.

He died in hospital on 22 January 1962, in the eighty-second year of his age and the fifty-fourth year of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1962

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