John Daniel Jones

John Daniel Jones

6 Sermons
John Daniel Jones (1865–1942) was a Welsh preacher, pastor, and author whose ministry within the Congregational Church earned him recognition as one of Britain’s most influential Nonconformist leaders of the early 20th century. Born in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, to Joseph David Jones, a schoolmaster and lay preacher, he grew up steeped in Welsh Nonconformist culture, excelling academically at Bala Independent College and Owens College, Manchester, before training for ministry at Lancashire Independent College and earning an MA from the University of St Andrews. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at Newland Church in Lincoln, but his defining work came in 1898 when he succeeded Joseph Parker at Richmond Hill Congregational Church in Bournemouth, England, where he served for 39 years. Married to Annie Davies in 1892, with whom he had two daughters, he blended family life with a rigorous pastoral calling. Jones’s ministry at Bournemouth transformed Richmond Hill into a hub of evangelical vitality, drawing thousands with his eloquent, practical sermons—often likened to Charles Spurgeon’s in power—delivered without notes in a conversational style. Known as “J.D. Jones,” he chaired the Congregational Union of England and Wales in 1909–1910 and 1925–1926, advocating unity and missions, and served as president of the National Free Church Council in 1916–1917. A prolific author, his works like The Gospel According to St. Mark and The Model Prayer reflected his expository depth, while his leadership during World War I, including hospital visits and war relief efforts, showcased his pastoral heart. Retiring in 1937 due to health issues, he died in 1942, leaving a legacy as a “prince of preachers” whose Welsh fervor and English outreach bridged cultures and inspired generations.
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