James Havard Protheroe 1840-1903
A clergyman, was born at Dowlais, Glamorganshire, and educated at Llandovery and Corpus
Christi College Cambridge, where he became mathematical prizeman. He was ordained priest in 1866, his first curacy being at St. John’s Cardiff. In 1872 he was appointed to Mountain Ash; in 1884, to Cowbridge; and in 1886, to Aberystwyth. Nine years later he became Archdeacon of Cardigan and Prebendary of Llandyfriog. A strong and patriotic Churchman, he commanded the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Archdeacon Protheroe took the greatest interest in educational matters, and through the Church Students’ Society, which he founded, he exercised considerable influence.
John Howell 1849-1896
A Baptist minister; was a native of Carmarthenshire. His early education was scanty, and he worked underground at a colliery at Aberdare whilst quite a boy. In 1870 he entered Pontypool College, and at the end of his course of training settled as pastor of the Welsh church at Cwmpark, Glamorganshire. Two years later he joined the English cause at Tonypandy, leaving there in eighteen months to take charge of the English church at Mountain Ash, where he spent eighteen years. He was a thoughtful and earnest preacher, a painstaking pastor, and an excellent public man. He was one of the most prominent members of the Glamorganshire English Baptist Association, and was held in high repute as a journalist. His lectures on Palestine, Brittany, &c., in which countries he had travelled much, were very popular.
William Williams 1812-1897
A Baptist minister he was born at Derwendy, near Cardiff. He commenced his ministry at Llysfaen in 1845, and there he enjoyed great prosperity for 10 years. He afterwards settled at Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire, where he laboured with marked success for 36 years. He began with a mere handful of people, which grew into a church of 500 members, with one of the finest chapels in Glamorgan. His saintly character, natural genius, and unassuming manner secured for him a conspicuous place in the affection of his countrymen. His quaint and pithy sayings held the congregation spell bound; he was unaided by the culture of the schools, but occupied an honourable place among the foremost preachers of Wales.