Person Page - 146

The death occurred at Aberystwyth recently of Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Rees, widow of Dr. Dan Rees, formerly headmaster of Cardigan Grammar School who, when he retired some ten or twelve years ago, came to Hastings and lived at High Wickham.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Rees had literary tastes and took a great interest in the Borough Museum and Public Library, Dr. Rees being a member of the Museum Association.
Mrs. Rees had been in indifferent health for many years and never recovered from the shock of her husband's sudden death some five years ago. Hastings and St Leonards Observer, June 21, 1941.

Obituary. The Rev. John Davies, who for over 40 years was pastor of the Welsh Congregational Church at Shrewsbury, has died at Newtown, Montgomery, where he has resided since his retirement from the ministry. He was a native of Llansamlet, Swansea, was educated at the Normal College, Swansea, the Bala Independent College, and the Brecon Memorial College. In 1862 he was ordained to the Congregational ministry as pastor of Sirhowy Church, Tredegar, where he successfully ministered until his removal four years later to become the pastor of the Welsh Church at Shrewsbury, where he laboured until his retirement a few years since. Deceased, who was 77 years of age, had been in feeble health for some time. He leaves a widow and two daughters.- Mrs Rees, wife of Dr. Rees of Cardigan, and Miss Florence Davies, head mistress of the Newtown County School. Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, 15 October 1908

Death of the Rev. John Davies. - We much regret to announce the death of the Rev. John Davies, which occurred on Saturday morning at Oak Villa, the residence of his daughter. Although he had been for some time in rather feeble health, Mr Davies was able to move about and his kindly face and familiar figure will be greatly missed. On Friday evening he retired without showing any symptoms of serious illness. In fact when taking leave he expressed a wish that all the members of the household would have a good night's rest. At about half-past eight o'clock, however, the following morning he was found dead in his bed. The deceased gentleman, who was 77 years of age, and Mrs Davies, came to Newtown four or five years ago with their daughter, Miss Florence Davies, on the occasion of her appointment as headmistress tho County School. For about 40 years he was Welsh Congregational Minister at Shrewsbury. On Sunday week he assisted at the services in the Welsh Congregational Chapel, Newtown. He leaves a widow and two daughters - Mrs Rees, wife of Dr. Rees, Cardigan, and Miss Florence Davies. The funeral cortege has been fixed to leave the house at 10-30 on Tuesday morning for the railway station, and the remains will be interred at Shrewsbury. The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times, 6 October 1908

"In the year 1866 a call was given to the Rev. John Davies of Sirhowy, Mon., which was accepted. The recognition services took place in September of that year. The following account of the event appeared in the "Dysgedydd" (Congregationalist) for November 1866:- "On Saturday night, September 29th, Mr. Jones, Wrexham, went through the opening service and sermons by the Revs. S. Edwards, Machynlleth, & W. Ambrose, Portmadoc. On Sunday morning, at 7-30 a prayer meeting was held and at 10 a.m. the Rev. John Davies opened the service, & Messrs. Edwards & Ambrose preached. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the Recognition Meeting took place, when addresses were given by the Revs. S. Edwards & J. Jones, Smethcote, and letters of recommendation were read from the church at Sirhowy, and the Monmouthshire Association. Remarks were made about the difficulties of a Welsh minister in an English town by Mr. Edwards. The meetings were encouraging in every respect, and it was pleasing to notice the unanimity in every branch of the church; the congregation is on the increase, more interest taken in the Sunday school, and the church is progressing very favourably.
The Rev. John Davies is a native of Llansamlet, near Swansea. His parents, John & Margaret Davies, were distinguished for their piety, and he was especially indebted to his mother for the good impressions he received in his youth. He was received into church membership when only ten years of age, and commenced to preach when about seventeen. At the end of about twelve months, during which he exercised his talent in preaching on Sundays in the chapels of the neighbourhood, he went in 1855 to the Normal College, Swansea, which was at the time presided over by Dr. Evan Davies, a learned man and excellent schoolmaster. In 1856 he went to Bala College, which was then under the care of the Rev. M.D. Jones. In June 1858 he was received into Brecon College, where he earned for himself a good name as a successful student and an acceptable preacher. He had for his fellow students the late principal E. Herber Evans, D.D. of Bangor College, and Professor D. Rowlands, B.A., of Brecon College. At the end of his course he received a unanimous call from the Congregational church at Sirhowy, Monmouthshire, which was then, as it is now, one of the most influential churches in South Wales. His predecessor was the late Rev. Noah Stephens, afterwards of Liverpool, one of the ablest preachers of the past generation. Here he laboured with diligence until the year 1866, when he received a call from Shrewsbury. Though a Welsh pastorate in an English town is beset with many difficulties and discouragements, owing to the shifting nature of the congregation, and the difficulty of retaining the children, Mr. Davies stuck to his post for more than thirty years. In September 1896 he was compelled to resign on consequence of ill-health, to the great regret of his people, by whom he was greatly beloved. He was presented with a purse of gold on his retirement."