Thomas Evan Nicholas (Niclas y Glais)
| T. E. Nicholas | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Thomas Evan Nicholas 6 October 1879 Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Died | 19 April 1971 (aged 91) Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales |
| Resting place | Ashes scattered on the Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Nationality | British (Welsh) |
| Other names | "Niclas y Glais" ("Nicholas of Glais") |
| Education | Hermon School, Gwynfryn Academy |
| Occupation | Preacher, lecturer, dentist and poet |
| Notable work | 'Canu'r Carchar' |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Alys Hopkins |
| Children | Thomas Islwyn Nicholas (1903–1980) Gwladys Thelma Williams (1904-1938) Nellie Alys Nicholas (1911-1991) |
| Parent(s) | David and Elizabeth Nicholas |
Thomas Evan Nicholas (6 October 1879 – 19 April 1971), who used the bardic name "Niclas y Glais" (English: '"Nicholas of Glais"'), was a Welsh language poet, preacher, radical, and champion of the disadvantaged of society.
Nicholas was born at 'Blaunwaun Felen' in Llanfyrnach parish, Pembrokeshire, Wales, the fifth child of David (a farmer) and Elizabeth Nicholas. As a teenager he worked two days a week at The Swan Inn, Eglwyswen (Whitechurch), Pembrokeshire. He left Pembrokeshire in 1897 and worked briefly in Treherbert in the Rhondda.
He married Mary Alys Hopkins, daughter of Thomas Hopkins, watchmaker, Ammanford. Their children included a son, Thomas Islwyn Nicholas (Islwyn ap Nicholas) (b. 1903) and two daughters, Gwladys Thelma (b. 1904) and Nellie Alys (b. 1911).
In 1901 he was ordained to the ministry among the Welsh Independents at Horeb Chapel, Llandeilo, in Carmarthenshire. He received his three-year training for the ministry at the Gwynfryn Academy (Ysgol y Gwynfryn), Ammanford, under Watcyn Wyn (Watkin Hezekiah Williams) and Gwili John Jenkins. In 1903, he was briefly minister of the Welsh Congregational Church at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Between 1904 and 1914 he was minister of Seion Chapel in the village of Glais in the Swansea Valley, where Nicholas Road bears his name.
His religious convictions, influenced by Watcyn Wyn and Gwili, were focused on the radical message of the Gospels. He supported the socialism of R. J. Derfel with its emphasis on brotherhood, peace and justice, equality, land nationalisation, and a Parliament for Wales, and opposition to the royal family, the brewers and militarism. Nicholas fearlessly thundered out a prophetic gospel and he became a favorite preacher at ‘Big Meetings’ and public speaker.
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