Welsh Journals

and money to the enrichment of the new Cathedral Church, formerly the Priory Church. He was buried in the cathedral precincts in 1934. The Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church in Wales in 1920 brought about a re-defining of the boundaries of the Archdeaconry of Brecon. Some parishes in the former County of Radnorshire, such as Presteigne and Old Radnor opted for remaining in the Church of England and the Diocese of Here- ford which they accepted when the opportunity was given. In 1923 the new Diocese of Swansea and Brecon was created and the parishes of Abercraf and Ystradgynlais were apportioned to the new Archdeaconry of Gower, named after the medieval lordship of that name. The first Archdeacon of Brecon in the newly disestablished Church was Henry James Church Jones who had been appointed Vicar of Builth Wells in 1919. He was Archdeacon of Brecon 1923-39 when he was succeeded by Henry John Stewart, who also became Vicar of Builth Wells, moving there from Sketty. H.J. Church Jones was born in 1870. He graduated from St John's College, Oxford in 1893 and was ordained in that same year. He was curate of the parish of St John with St Mary, Brecon 1893-1919, combining the curacy with the charge of the parish of Battle 1904-19 when he went to Builth where he was active in local affairs and has long been remembered. Henry John Stewart was born in 1873. He graduated with first class honours in History at St David's College, Lampeter, and proceeded to St Michael's College, Aberdare (later to move to Llandaff) in 1895. Thus he was the first Archdeacon of Brecon to have been trained at theological college, a late nine- teenth century development. After serving curacies at Llandysyl and Llansamlet he was successively vicar of Llangorwen, Cockett and Sketty. He was the first member of the Cathedral Chapter to occupy the new Canonry in the Cathedral Close at Brecon for his month's duty as Canon in Residence. Richard Mervyn Cole-Hamilton was Archdeacon of Brecon 1947-55. Born in 1877 he took his initial degree at Worcester College, Oxford, in 1901. He too went to a theological college, in his case Salisbury, and was ordained in the Diocese of Southwark in 1902. He returned to Wales in 1913 as Rector of Llan- gattock where he stayed until his retirement from the parish in 1947 and from the Archdeaconry in 1955. William David George Wilkinson was Archdeacon of Brecon 1955-69. Educated at Christ College, Brecon, and Jesus College, Oxford, he was ordained in 1920. After a curacy in Pembroke Dock he became Diocesan Missioner for the diocese of Swansea and Brecon. He was the incumbent of the parishes of Crickhowell, Landore and Oystermouth and finally Llanfaes (St David's, Brecon) on his appointment as Archdeacon. He was the first of a new breed of Archdeacon, for the Governing Body of the Church in Wales decreed that each diocese should have one 'full time Archdeacon' and one or more 'part time Archdeacons', in effect one who had no parochial responsibilities and the other who was also the incumbent of a parish. W. D. G. Wilkinson was one of the first of the 'full time' Archdeacons.