Evan Lorimer Thomas

Evan Lorimer Thomas (21 February 1872 – 9 April 1953) was a Welsh clergyman and Professor of Welsh at St David's College, Lampeter (which later became the University of Wales, Lampeter) from 1903 to 1915.

Thomas was the son of a vicar from Caernarvonshire. He was educated at Westminster School and Jesus College, Oxford where he matriculated in 1891 and was a scholar.cite web|url=http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-THOM-LOR-1872.html|title=Thomas, Evan Lorimer (1872–1953), priest and scholar|last=Price|first=David Trevor William|work=Welsh Biography Online|publisher=National Library of Wales|accessdate=2008-09-02] [cite book|last=Foster|first=Joseph|authorlink=Joseph Foster (genealogist)|title=Oxford Men & their Colleges. Illustrated with portraits & views. Together with the matriculation register, 1880–1892|year=1893|chapter=Scholars and Commoners of Jesus College|page=516|publisher=J Parker and Co |location=Oxford] He trained for ordination in Leeds, and was a curate in Bangor, Wrexham, Cuddesdon and Colwyn Bay in succession between 1897 and 1903. In 1903, he became Professor of Welsh at St David's College, Lampeter, where his actions to strengthen the Welsh language included reviving the honours degree course in Welsh, holding a Welsh Bible class, and establishing a Welsh library and Welsh-speaking society. In 1915, he became vicar of Holywell and in 1922 moved to become vicar of Tywyn near Abergele before he was appointed Archdeacon of Montgomery and vicar of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in 1938. He wrote in Welsh on the Gospel of St Luke and 1 Corinthians. He died in 1953 and was buried in Holyhead.

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