Thomas "Tom" Rees Thomas MBE (1910–1993), generally referred to as T. Rees Thomas, often Rees-Thomas, was an Australian Congregationalist minister.
History
Rees Thomas was born in Pontardulzus[1] (perhaps Pontarddulais), Wales, and with his parents bootmaker Thomas Thomas (1876 – c. 1 December 1953) and Sarah Jane Thomas (1876 – c. 1 December 1952), and their family emigrated to Queensland in 1913. It is likely he grew up in Blackstone,[2] a suburb of Ipswich, Queensland with a strong Welsh association. His parents for many years lived in Thomas Street, Blackstone, and the Thomas family were active members of the Blackstone United Welsh Church by 1926.[3]
Rees Thomas was educated in Queensland, then studied for the Congregationalist ministry for five years at Parkin College, Adelaide, where he was conferred with the L.Th., and was conducting services at the Church of Christ in Kadina, South Australia in March 1934.[4] He was then conferred with a Diploma in Divinity by the Melbourne College of Divinity, with which Parkin was associated.[5] Late that year, in company of Rev. E. S. Kiek, principal of Parkin Theological College, travelled by rail to Perth, Western Australia for a three-month probation with Subiaco and Mt. Hawthorn Congregationalist churches.[6] He was ordained there, and served from December 1934 to January 1942.[1]
He was president, Queensland Council of Churches in 1953.[10]
Other interests
Rees Thomas was an enthusiast for Welsh culture: while at Brisbane City Church he was involved in Cymanfa Ganu singing festivals.[11]
He was a crusader against gambling: SP bookmaking was a particular target of his sermons, and he drew adverse criticism for his targeting of bridge clubs who played for cash prizes.[12]
Recognition
Rees Thomas was in 1965 awarded an MBE for services to the Congregational Church and the community.[13]
A chapel at St Andrews Uniting Church in Brisbane commemorates the work done by Rees Thomas and his wife Ruby.[9]
Bibliography
Thomas, T. Rees Prayers for People We Take for Granted Boolarong Publications, Brisbane 1991
Family
Rees Thomas had a sister Annie Grace Thomas (1907–1987) and three brothers: William (1905–1930), David (1907–1974) and John (1915–1953), all living in Queensland.
Rees Thomas married Ruby Fanny Byerley (1915–1989) of North Adelaide in Perth on 6 February 1937. Their children included:
son (24 January 1944 – )
daughter (3 April 1947 – )
Many of the Thomas family are buried at the Blackstone cemetery.
^"Personal". Queensland Times. No. 18, 140. Queensland, Australia. 20 January 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Welsh Church". Queensland Times. Vol. LXVII, no. 12, 488. 27 July 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 20 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"News of the Churches". The Courier-Mail. No. 3496. Queensland, Australia. 7 February 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 20 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^""Mercy Cross" Aids Police". The Sun-Herald. No. 256. New South Wales, Australia. 20 December 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 20 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.