John Griffith

John Griffith was among the most prominent clergymen in industrial south Wales during the second half of the nineteenth century. He was born in 1818 or 1819 in Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, the son of Thomas Griffith. Educated at Ystradmeurig School, Swansea Grammar School and Christ's College, Cambridge, he was ordained a priest in 1843. He was rector of Aberdare from 1846 until 1859. From 1859 until his death in 1859 he was vicar of Merthyr Tydfil where he proved a strong supporter of workers' rights and, by the end of his life a supporter of the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales. He died on 22 April 1885.