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.