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The academy at Neuaddlwyd was opened in October 1810 as a result of the deliberations of the ministers of the Independent chapels in Cardiganshire. They needed a place to train young men from poorer backgrounds and prepare them for the ministry. At the time Thomas Phillips had built a small two roomed house in the grounds of his farm at Penybanc in which to teach his own children, and he offered this as a site for the academy. Thus began his 30 year association with the school.
The Rev John Maurice was appointed to teach classics and Phillips theology. Unfortunately Maurice died of tuberculosis within the year and thereafter Thomas Phillips was the sole master at the school for 30 years. (He was assisted from time to time by senior students)
During the life of the academy Phillips claimed to have trained 200 ministers of all denominations and the first two missionaries to Madagascar, Jones and Bevan.
2010 will mark the bicentenary of the establishment of the academy which at the time was famous in Wales and well known throughout Britain, indeed its fame had reached America and Thomas Phillips was awarded an Hon. Doctorate in Divinity by what is now Princetown University in 1831. It was significant in the ecclesiatic and educational history of Wales in the early 19th century and it is appropriate that its foundation should be celebrated.
It is proposed to mark this occasion with a visit to the site of the school, a meeting to discuss the work of Thomas Phillips and the academy, a celebratory meal and a service in the chapel at Neuaddlwyd.
For this to happen in a meaningful way it would need the participation of those who have any past connection with the school or Thomas Phillips to gather together in Neuaddlwyd in October 2010. The academy started on the 18th so we will be holding the celebration on the 15th, 16th and 17th being the nearest weekend.
If you would like to attend or even if you would only wish to express an interest in the academy or the Phillips family please leave a message on the site. It would be especially helpful if you could indicate if you are related to Thomas Phillips.
This site will be regularly updated as matters develop.
Zoe Crossland
Dafydd Tudur
Rev Carys Anne, Pisgah
Rev Richard Lewis, Llanbadarn Fawr
Bryan Jones
Organisers
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The academy at Neuaddlwyd.doc
Hi… my gt gt grandfather was a pupil at the academy….he was also called David Jones and was the minister at Capel Sul Kidwelly from 1824-1867…(there seems to have been a few David Jones’s about at the time and I’m doubtful that he’s the one who went to Madagascar).
I know that he came from nearby Cilcennin and wondered if you knew whether any admission or graduation lists exist for the academy…Regards, David
I am a direct descendant of Dr Thomas Phillips and would be grateful to be informed of any celebrations planned to mark the bicentenary of the foundation of the college at Neuaddllwyd. Thank you.
Dear Dr George,
Thank you for your email. The Celebration will be held on the 15th,16th,and 17th October this year and some details are available on the website under Bryan’s blog. It will be a great thing to gather as many of Thomas Phillip’s descendants together and hopefully learn more about our extended family tree. I am descended from his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Moses Rees wrote the Cofiant of Phillips in 1845.
We hope to meet on the 15th at the Feathers Hotel in Aberaeron for discussions and presentations about the academy, the students, missionaries and the Phillips family. This will be followed by a diner in the evening. On 16th there are planned to be visits to the site of the school, Neuaddlwyd chapel,possibly Scythlyn farm and maybe other places associated with Phillips. On Sunday 17th there will be a service in the chapel at Neuaddlwyd. The academy was opened on the 18th October 1810 and this is the closest weekend to that date.
I look forward to meeting you.
Kind regards
Bryan Jones
Dear Bryan Jones,
I am a direct descendant of Dr. Thomas Phillips. I believe my late cousin Mary Snowball was in touch with you, unfortunately we could not get together to discuss your meeting before here death. My side of the family tree is through my Grandmother Margret Dobbs [nee George]of Cilfyndd.S.Wales
I would be pleased to have any infomation for attending.
Yours,
Beresford Dobbs
Dear Mr Dobbs
Thank you for your email. I was in contact with Mary who expressed a strong wish, shortly before she went into hospital, to attend this year. Her death was as sudden as it was sad and she must be greatly missed by her family.
I am sure you are in contact with other members of the Dobbs family in South Wales, one has contacted me .
The celebration will start on the 15th with a morning of lectures about the school, missionaries and the Phillips family. In the afternoon there will be an open forum for anyone to talk for 15 mins about their own knowledge or experience or family connection. This will be followed by a diner in the evening, al at the Feathers Hotel, Aberaeron.
Saturday will be a visit to the site of the school, Neuaddlwyd and other places connected with Phillips.
Sunday there will be a service of celebration at Neuaddlwyd chapel.
You can fill in a form available on the site and details will be sent by September.
Kind regards
Bryan Jones
Hi, I believe that Dr Thomas Phillips was a distant relative of my grandma Mary Peacock (nee Thomas), my family and myself are interested in attending the Bicentenary of the Foundation of Neuaddlwyd and meeting other relatives.
I look forward to receiving information from you about attending this event.
Best regards
Jean Tait-Barber
Dear Ms.Tait-Barber,
Thank you for your message and the final programme will be available next week and I will send it on. Friday the 15th promises to be an interesting day with talks about the school, family and the missionaries and an opportunity to share our knowledge of the Philips family. Do you know from whom your grandmother is descended? If so I can try to find you on the family tree.
Look forward to seeing you in October.
Hwyl
Bryan
hello.
there seem to be many phillips relatives wishing to attend your event.
tonight i have been surfing the net,
researching my gr gr grandfather, a protestant reverend thomas philips/phillips. family legend has it that he had an academy for boys.i would appreciate your sending the names of your thomas phillips’ wife(wives)if you have them, and any connection that there might have been between thomas and an admiral.this will help me to know if he is my relative or not. his daughter, my gr-grandmother was purportedly born in 1803.
thank you for your consideration of this matter.
marilyn colby
I would be glad to have details of the programme on Saturday and/or Sunday (unfortunately I have another appointment on the Friday evening.
I have done a fair amount of research about the life of David Griffiths who was born near where I live and was a student at the Academy.
I tried very hard some years ago to interest CADW in the sad remains of the Academy building but had no success – maybe it might be worth trying again in this bicentenary year?