Charles Lloyd (minister)

Charles Lloyd LL.D. (1766–1829) was a Welsh dissenter and schoolmaster.

The third son of David Lloyd, Presbyterian minister at Llwyn-rhyd-owen, Cardiganshire, he was born there on 18 December 1766. On his father's death (4 February 1779, aged 54) his education for the ministry was undertaken by his uncle, John Lloyd of Coed-lanau; but that support provided only for schooling (1779–84) under David Davis, who had been his father's colleague. In the autumn of 1784 he entered with an exhibition the Presbyterian academy, then at Swansea, under Solomon Harries (1726–1785), who was succeeded in 1785 by Josiah Rees and Thomas Lloyd, a first cousin. William Howell became theological tutor in 1786; and when the other tutors established a grammar school, preparatory to the academy, Lloyd was appointed afternoon teacher. Among his fellow-students was Lewis Loyd, father of Samuel Jones Loyd.

Leaving the academy (1788) in poor health, Lloyd went to Hotwells, near Bristol, where he was supported by John Wright, M.D., and his brother, Thomas Wright, Presbyterian minister at Lewin's Mead, Bristol: almost the only persons whom Lloyd, in his autobiography, fails to censure. Through the influence of Nathaniel Philipps, Presbyterian minister at Derby, Lloyd was elected minister, in August 1788, of the Oak Street congregation, Evesham, Worcestershire; he was at this time judged a "moderately high Arian". He started a Sunday school and an evening service, and increased his congregation from forty to two hundred. He wished, however, to administer the sacraments without being ordained; the congregation objected; he consulted Joseph Priestley, then in Birmingham, who, to his surprise, urged him to be ordained. The congregation gave in on cost grounds.

Shortly afterwards Lloyd began to have doubts about infant baptism, and on 3 April 1790 proposed to omit this rite or resign; his resignation was accepted. Through Joshua Toulmin he was put in charge of a General Baptist congregation at Ditchling, Sussex, and went there after visiting London in May 1790. At Ditchling he received adult baptism, but refused imposition of hands, then usual among General Baptists; he also again declined ordination. He cultivated extempore preaching.

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