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R.B. Jones

Rhys Bevan Jones (1869–1933) was a Welsh preacher and evangelist whose fervent ministry played a key role in the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival and the spread of Keswick holiness teachings in Wales. Born on September 19, 1869, in Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales, he grew up in a devout Baptist family. After attending Pontypool Baptist College, he was ordained in 1893 and began his pastoral work, initially serving at Heol-y-Felin Baptist Church in Trecynon, Aberdare. His early ministry was marked by a deep commitment to evangelical preaching, which gained momentum when he experienced a transformative "total consecration" in 1904 under the guidance of F.B. Meyer at a Keswick Convention, aligning him with the movement’s emphasis on sanctification and victorious Christian living. Jones’s preaching career reached its peak during the Welsh Revival, where he became a prominent figure, bringing the revival’s fervor to Rhosllanerchrugog and beyond. Known as a "stern prophet of divine wrath," his impassioned sermons drew large crowds and solidified his reputation as a revivalist leader. In 1914, he founded the South Wales Bible Training Institute in Porth, serving as its first principal and training future ministers in evangelical doctrine. A prolific writer, he likely authored the first Welsh-language book on premillennialism, reflecting his eschatological focus. Jones continued preaching across Wales until his death on April 10, 1933, leaving a legacy as the "chief exponent of Keswick teaching in Wales," whose ministry bridged revivalist zeal with theological education. Personal details, such as his family life, are not extensively recorded.