Born 1st  August 1937 in Llanddewi Brefi, Ceredigion

A. Education

i) Llanddewi Brefi Junior School (1942-1949)

ii) Grammar School (later High School), Tregaron (1949-1955)

iii) University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1955-1959)

Gained BA (Honours), Second Class, in Education, 1959

iv) United Theological College, Aberystwyth (1959-1962)

Gained BD with distinction in 1962.  Won the Pierce Scholarship in 1960, 1961 and 1962 for his theological prowess as well as the Philosophy of Religion prize, 1961 and 1962.

v) Further research (part time)

a) Pursued research in the Department of Industrial Relations at the University College of Wales, Cardiff (1966-70).  Awarded MSc (Econ) University of Wales in 1972 for the thesis: Industrial and Social Reasons for the Decline of Welsh Nonconformity, with particular reference to the Aberdare Valley

b) Pursued research in the Celtic Department University of Liverpool from 1972 to 1975.  Awarded MA University of Liverpool in 1975 for his thesis: Bywyd a Gwaith y Dr Owen Thomas, (1812-1891), Pregethwr y Bobl, Lerpwl

c) Pursued research in the Sociology Department of the University of Salford (1976-1979) for a Doctorate.  Awarded in 1979 a PHD for the thesis:

Social and Political Factors on the Development of Adult Education in Britain 1945-1980.

B. The pastorates and contribution within the Presbyterian Church of Wales (1962-2015)

i. Minister of Tabernacle Chapel, Abercynon and Hermon Chapel, Penrhiwceibr (1962-1968) and Disgwylfa, Merthyr Vale (1965-1968).  He took in 1966 an active role as a pastor during the Aberfan disaster and as a member of the Aberfan Disaster Committee (1966-1968).

ii. Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, Heathfield Road, Liverpool 15 (1968-1975) and Bethel, Heathfield Road, Liverpool (1976-2008), the Welsh Chapel in Garston (1976-1993) and Bethania, Waterloo (1993-2008).  He was the main instigator of the union of three churches (Edge Lane Chapel, Princes Road Chapel and Heathfield Road) which came together to form Bethel in 1976.

iii. Within the denomination:

a) Secretary of the Young People’s League of the South Wales Association (1963-1968) which organised large scale rallies to Llangeitho, Trefeca and Pantycelyn in this period

b) Secretary of the Liverpool Presbytery (1972-2008)

c) Secretary of the North Wales Association (1992-1995)

d) Moderator of the North Wales Association (1995-6)

e) Member of the Executive of the North Wales Association (1990-2008)

f) Secretary of the Church and Society Board of the Presbyterian Church of Wales (1985-2003)

iv. Inter Faith, ecumenical and community activities:

a) Founder member of the Welsh Council of Churches known as CECLAC (Cyngor Eglwysi Cymraeg Lerpwl a’r Cyffiniau) and Secretary as well as Treasurer, since 1980

b) A member of the Executive Committee of the Merseyside Council of Christians and Jews (1970-2000)

c) Member of the Merseyside Inter Faith Group (1998-2005)

d) Founder member of the Mossley Hill Group of Churches, 1969-2008.  Served as Chairman 1975, 1985, 1995

e) Moderator of the Merseyside Free Church Council (1972-73) and a member of the executive (1969-2008)

f) Member of the Merseyside Ecumenical Council (1975-2000) as a representative of the Presbyterian Church of Wales

v) Ecumenical circles in Wales and England

a) Member of the Executive Committee of the Welsh Free Church Council (North Wales area), 1980-1995

b) On Church and Society Committee of Cytûn (1990-2003)

c) On the British Council of Churches Social Questions Committee (1990-2003)

C. Involvement in charitable, religious and peace organisations in England and Wales

i. Member of the Executive Committee of the Fellowship of the Lord’s Day in Wales (1962-     ), Trustee (1977-     ).  Secretary of the North Wales Region (1977-1993).  Secretary for Wales (1993-     )

ii. Founder member in 1984 with his youngest son and honorary secretary of the charity.  Hope in Action which has assisted a school in the slums of Nairobi (1989-1995) and at present assists schools and health clinics in Uganda.

iii. Fellowship of Reconciliation (England).  Served as a trustee on the Executive Committee (1976-1986); Chairman of the Publications Committee (1970-2003).

iv. Founder member, trustee and Director of Studies of North East India-Wales Trust (1990-     ).  The Trust was formed through the financial generosity of Gwyn Phillips (Ystrad Mynach) and his daughter Dr E Jones (Cardiff) to research the history of all the missionaries who had been in India from Wales or of a Welsh descent of all the denominations.  Acted as secretary of the Editorial Board and was responsible for producing two volumes, one in Welsh, the other in English, as well as contributing 250 entries to both volumes:

a) Llestri Gras a Gobaith:  Cymry a’r Cenhadon yn India (2001)

b) Vehicle of Grace and Hope:  Welsh Missionaries in India (1800-1970) (2002) as well as Editor

c) The Call and Contribution of Dr Roberts Arthur Hughes, OBE, FRCS (1910-1996) and some of his predecessors in North-East India (2004)

v. Rotary Movement:

a) President of the Toxteth Rotary Club, 1994

b) President of the Liverpool Rotary Club, 2003

c) Assistant District Governor of District 1180 (North Wales and Merseyside), 1995-1998

d) Received Paul Harris Fellowship for notable contribution to the movement, 2003

vi. Founder and Chairman of the Merseyside Welsh Heritage Society (1995-      ).  It arranges festivals to honour remarkable Welsh men and women who are associated with Merseyside.  It also arranges for plaques to be placed on houses and buildings to commemorate their lives (for example the first was the one arranged for J Saunders Lewis at Wallasey)

D. Educational Involvement

i. Held Extra-Mural classes under the auspices of WEA (1963-1968) in Glamorganshire

ii. Held extra-mural classes in Lancashire under the Department of Adult Education of the University of Liverpool (1970-2000)

iii. Tutor and examiner for the Open University at Liverpool (1971-1980) and Edge Hill College, Ormskirk (1980-1990)

iv. Tutor to students in Welsh literature at the Department of Celtic Studies, University of Liverpool (1972-1976)

v. Tutor in an adult class for Welsh learners under the auspices of the Education Committee of the City of Liverpool at Penny Lane, Allerton (1973-1995)

vi. External Examiner for MA and PHD students in Theology for Potchefstroom University College, Pretoria, part of the North West University, South Africa, 1998-

E Contribution to the University of Wales and University of Liverpool

i. A member of the University of Wales Court on behalf of the Guild of Graduates (1972-2005)  

ii. A Founder member of the Liverpool branch of the University of Wales Guild of Graduates, and its secretary from its inception in 2003

iii. A member of the Executive of the Guild of Graduates (1975-2005).  Delivered the Annual Guild of Graduates Lecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2003

iv. A member of the Court of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1994-2004)

v. A member of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth Court of Governors (2002-2008) 

vi. Represented the Liverpool Guild of Graduates on the annual court of Governors

F. Editor of journals, newsletter, magazines

i. Co-editor Aneurin (a quarterly magazine) 1960-1963

ii. Editor of Rhwyd (bi-monthly newsletter of Bethel Liverpool Welsh Chapel), 1975-2021

iii. Editor Etifeddiaeth/Inheritance, a bilingual quarterly of the Fellowship of the Lord’s Day in Wales, 1977-

iv. Editor of Cymod, Welsh language annual magazine of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales, 1984-1986

v. Editor of the quarterly journal, Reconciliation Quarterly, a peace journal for Fellowship of Reconciliation (England), 1990-2000.  Had a world wide circulation.

vi. Co-editor of Peace and Reconciliation, a quarterly magazine for the Christian peace organisations of Britain, 2000-2003

vii. Editor of Peacelinks, monthly magazine for Fellowship of Reconciliation (England), 1990-1999

viii. Editor of Forum, a theological quarterly magazine, 1980-1986

ix. Editor of four page weekly supplement for three Welsh language newspapers, Y Tyst, Seren Cymru a’r Goleuad, 2002- 2008

x. Editor of Y Bont (1995-2005) and 1180 Rotary News (North and Mid Wales, Borderlane, Chester, Wirral and Merseyside (2005- 2015)

G. Honours

i. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2002-     )

ii. Delivered the Davies Lecture at the Presbyterian Church of Wales General Assembly 2008 on ‘John Calvin and the Connexion’.  The study was published in 2012.

H. Author of books in Welsh and English

i. Gwaith yr Eglwys:  esboniad i’r ifanc (1967)

ii. Llyfr Gwasanaeth Ieuenctid (1967)

iii. Mahatma Gandhi (Pensaer yr India) (1969)

iv. Pymtheg o Ŵyr Llên yr Ugeinfed Ganrif (1972)

v. Enwogion Pedair Canrif (1400-1800) (1976)

vi. Gweddïau’r Cristion (1976), with further editions in 1979, 1983 and 1989.

vii. Chapels in the Valley:  Sociology of Welsh Nonconformity (1976)

viii. Dr Owen Thomas:  Pregethwr y Bobl (1979).  This volume won the Ellis Griffith Memorial Prize of the University of Wales

ix. Wales:  Cultural Heritage (1980)

x. Preparation for Crisis:  Adult Education 1945-80 (1982)

xi. Samuel Roberts (SR) Writers of Wales (1988)

xii. Dr Owen Thomas:  A Welsh Preacher in Victorian Liverpool (1991)

xiii. Cymry Lerpwl a’r Cyffiniau Cyfrol I  (1997);  xiv. Cymry Lerpwl a’r Cyffiniau Cyfrol II  (2001)

xv. The Welsh of Merseyside Volume I (1997); xvi. The Welsh of Merseyside Volume II (2001) 

xvii. Local and Parliamentary Politics in Liverpool from 1800 to 1911 (1999)

xviii. After September 11:  Give Peace a Chance  (2002)

xix. The Polymath:  Reverend William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog, 1802-1883) (2002)

xx. Gyrfa’r Parchedig William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog, 1802-1883), (2002)

xxi. Cwmni Deg Dawnus (2003)

xxii. A bilingual volume, Evan Roberts y Diwygiwr yn Sir Fôn 1905 / Evan Roberts the Revivalist in Anglesey 1905 (2005)

xxiii. A bilingual volume, Arloeswyr Methodistiaeth Môn 1730-1791 / Pioneers of Methodism in Anglesey 1730-1791 (2006)

xxiv. A bilingual volume, Alpha ac Omega:  Tystiolaeth y Presbyteriaid Cymraeg yn Laird Street, Penbedw 1906- 2006 / Alpha and Omega:  Welsh Presbyterian Witness in Laird Street, Birkenhead 1906-2006 (2006)

xxv. A bilingual volume, John Elias a’i Gyd Fethodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1791-1841 / John Elias and the Calvinistic Methodists 1791-1841 (2007)

xxvi. The Life and Work of Henry Richard (2007)

xxvii. Codi Stêm a Hwyl yn Lerpwl:  Hanes y Cymry yng nghapeli Smithdown Lane Webster Road, Ramilies Road, Heathfield Road a Bethel, Lerpwl 1864-2007 (2008)

xxviii. Labour of Love in Liverpool:  the history of the Welsh congregation in the Chapels of Smithdown Lane, Webster Road, Ramilies Road, Heathfield Road and Bethel, Liverpool (2008)

xxix. A bilingual volume, Oes Aur Crefydd ym Môn 1841-1885 / The Golden Age of Religion in Anglesey 1841-1885 (2008)

xxx. A bilingual volume, Dr John Williams, Brynsiencyn a’i Ddoniau (1853-1921) / Dr John Williams, Brynsiencyn and his Talents (1853-1921) (2009)

xxxi. A bilingual volume:  John Calfin a’i Ddisgyblion Cymraeg / John Calvin and his Welsh Disciples (2009)

xxxii. Lledu Gorwelion:  Hanes John Calfin a’r Diwygiad Protestannaidd (2009)

xxxiii. A bilingual volume:  Ymgyrchu dros yr Efengyl ym Môn 1921-1979 / Campaigning for the Gospel in Anglesey 1921-1979 (2006)

xxxiv. The Saga of a Revival:  Early Welsh Pentecostal Methodism (2010)

I. Editor

Edited the following books:

i. Arolwg (1969); ii. Arolwg (1970); iii. Arolwg (1971); iv. Arolwg (1981)

v. Dyrnaid o Awduron Cyfoes (1975)

vi. Herio’r Byd (1980)

vii. Cyfaredd Capel Bethesda Cemaes, Môn (1981)

viii. Cerddi Eisteddfodol y diweddar Gwilym Jones  (1981)

ix. Dali Herio’r Byd (1982)

x. Oriel o Heddychwyr Mawr y Byd (1983)

xi. A bilingual volume - Cymry Lerpwl a’u Crefydd / Liverpool Welsh and their Religion  (1984)

xii. Dal ati i Herio’r Byd (1988)

xiii. May we wish you a Goodnight in Hospital (1990)

xiv. Rotarians of Toxteth (1964-1968) (1998)

xv. A bilingual volume  – Gweddïau ar gyfer Dydd yr Arglwydd / Prayers for Wales and the World (2002)

xvi. Prayers for Peace (1999)

xvii. A bilingual volume - Gweddïau am Gymru a’r Byd / Prayers for Wales and the World (2002)

xviii. Ffydd a Gwreiddiau John Saunders Lewis (2002)

xix. A bilingual volume – Stori’r Mimosa / The Story of Mimosa (2005)

xx. Alun Owen – A Liverpool Welsh Playwright (2008)

xxi. Cynnwrf yn yr Esgyrn Sychion:  Pregethau Pump o Galfiniaid Cymraeg (2010)

J. Important articles and biographical entries

i. Contributed 6 entries to Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru (1986 a 1992)

ii. Contributed 6 entries to Readers Guide to British History (Cyfrol 1 a 2 (2003)

iii. Contributed 37 entries to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004)

iv. Contributed 25 obituaries to the Independent, Guardian, Planet, Barn (1990-     )

v. Two biographical entries to Dictionary of Labour Biography  Volume XIII (2010) and three biographical entries to the volume of 2020

vi. Six biographical entries to Bywgraffiadur ar Lein Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru a Chymdeithas Anrhydeddus y Cymmrodorion

vii. Two articles to the Transactions of the Honourable Society of  Cymmrodorion (2003-2008); five articles to Y Traethodydd (1998-      ); one article to the Transactions of Ceredigion Historical Society, three articles to The Journal of Welsh Religious History (1998-      ), twelve articles to Barn (1965-       ),   Articles have appeared in the following books in Welsh, Cyfrol Goffa Alun R Edwards (Editor) Rheinallt Llwyd;  Namyn Bugail, (Editor)  T J Davies;  Cwm Cynon  (Editor)  Hywel Teifi Edwards, and in English, ‘Part I, A Denomination Overview’ [in] How to become a Creative Church Leader (Editor) John Nelson.

Other publications.  Important articles have appeared in the following Welsh and English publications since 1960, on Welsh characters and way of life namely; Lleufer, Taliesin, Baner ac Amserau Cymru, Y Drysorfa, Porfeydd, Casglwr, Barddas, Y Ffordd, Y Faner Newydd, Cristion, Trafodion Cymdeithas Hanes Bedyddwyr Cymru, Llafar Gwlad, Barcud, Ancr, Expository Times, Faith and Freedom, Labour Monthly, Country Quest, The Evangelical Quarterly, The Voice, The Liverpool History Society Journal.

K. Guest Speaker and Lecturer

i. St David’s Day Celebrations

He has been guest speaker since 1962 to Welsh societies in Ynysybwl, Porth, Llanbradach, Abercynon, Wrexham, Denbigh, Rhyl, St Helens, Ellesmere Port, Chester, Wallasey, Crosby, Southport, Manchester, Stoke on Trent, Blackburn, Nottingham, London and a special occasion at the Athenaeum Club Liverpool on the granting of the Charter  to Liverpool (1207-2007) when for the first time a St David’s Dinner was organised in the oldest club in Liverpool.

ii. Presbyteries and Associations

He has addressed the North Wales, South Wales Associations as well as the Association in the East as well as all the Welsh Presbyterian Church of Wales Presbyteries, a total of 21 Presbyteries, either as preacher, lecturing on John Calvin or addressing spiritual or social or ethical issues.

iii. Historical Societies or Learned Societies

He has delivered lectures to the Lancashire and Cheshire Historical Society, Cymmrodorion Society;  Liverpool Historical Society, Royal Medical Institution, Liverpool, Dr R Arthur Hughes Memorial Lecture, North West Family History Society;  London Welsh Family History Society, Ceredigion Historical Society, Denbighshire Historical Society, Caernarfonshire Historical Society, Anglesey Historical Society (The Sir Ifor Williams Memorial Lecture); Flintshire Historical Society as well as the following local historical societies, Birkenhead Historical Society; West Kirby Historical Society, Huyton Historical Society, Prescot Historical Society, Wavertree Historical Society, Garston Historical Society, Toxteth and Sefton Park Historical Society;  Dingle Historical Society;  Waterloo Historical Society; Hale Historical Society;  Formby Historical Society, Widens Historical Society, Douglas Valley Historical Society, Wigan Historical Society, Litherland Historical Society;  Roby Historical Society, Brymbo Historical Society;  Rhuthin Civic Society, Denbigh Civic Society/

iv. Lectures on Welsh Literature

Has lectured under the auspices of the Welsh Academy to literary societies in Wales and Liverpool every year since 1995.

L. Present responsibilities

i. Member of the Executive Committee of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (2009-2016)

ii. Lecturer to educational societies, literary societies and historical societies in Wales and the North West of England

iii Founder and honorary secretary of a publishing house, Modern Welsh Publications Ltd.  This publishing house has in the last 58 years under his guidance has published 370 volumes, including children’s books, poetry and booklets

iv. Founder and Editor of the Welsh language community newspaper for Lancashire and Cheshire, Yr Angor, since 1979

Contribution to four Departments in the University of Aberystwyth

With his commitment as a writer of Welsh prose and publisher of Welsh literature he would have great interest as well as a desire to assist, in every possible way, the Welsh Department

As one who has been heavily involved in politics one can expect him to support, in particular the important work achieved through the medium of Welsh in the Department of Politics and International Affairs

He stood as a Labour candidate in the Conwy Constituency in the General Elections of 1974

He is still involved, as a commentator in radio, television and Welsh media on political and current affairs, and appears regularly on the BBC Question Time programme in Welsh, Hawl i Holi

Furthermore in the light of his rich experience as a Tutor and Lecturer in Adult Education, he will have valuable contribution of the Department of Education as well as the Department of History

Addition to the CV

Reverend Professor Dr D. Ben Rees has been heavily involved in scholarship in the last six years , since 2013,   and  in that year he  produced  a biography of the    Christian Socialist  Rt Hon James Griffiths, C H ( 1890-1975 )  who was one of the architects of the Welfare State in Britain.  Then he worked on another   influential   lay preacher, son of the manse, and an international politician, namely Rt Hon Cledwyn Hughes, Companion of Honour, and his widely praised biography was published in 1217. These two volumes comprised over 800 pages, but Dr Rees, was invited to prepare two Chapters (100 pages) on the Witness of the Presbyterian Church of Wales to Society in Wales in the Twentieth Century for the official History of the denomination (Volume 4).  In addition, he was able to produce two more studies on forgotten Christian missionaries who had been born and nurtured in the Calvinistic communities of the Liverpool Welsh.   The first was   an original study of Josiah Hughes of Liverpool who went into Malacca in the name of the London Missionary Society. Born in 1800 he died of malaria in 1840. The second volume was a thorough study of Reverend Dr H. Gordon Roberts. who was responsible for the Welsh Missionary Hospital, opened in 1922, in Shillong , North East  India. Dr Rees is acclaimed as the one of the foremost   missionary scholars in Britain., and his study of Dr Roberts   will be translated into the Mizo language in the near future. Reverend Rees has been invited to give two lectures for the Northeast Wales Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Wales in the last two years.   The first was delivered at Mold, Flintshire on a Poet – Soldier of the First World War namely Private Ellis Humphrey Evans but better known by his bardic name of Hedd Wyn . He died in the Pilkem Ridge battle on 31 July 1917 but   won posthumously the National Eisteddfod of Wales highest accolade its bardic chair at Birkenhead in September 1917. Dr Rees   arranged   a Festival at Birkenhead on 7/8 2017   which attracted hundreds of people to commemorate the dead soldier’s brilliance. Then he edited a volume of the celebrations which was produced in   2018.  and all the copies of the book have been sold. Then in 2018 he prepared a lecture on. The Christian denominations in Wales and the First World War delivered this time in Wrexham.

2018 proved to be a special year  for Dr Rees as he was invited  to deliver the most prestigious lecture    of the  National Library of Wales on 2 November  at Aberystwyth on the Birth of the National Health Service  and its  creator  Aneurin Bevan ( 1897-1960 ).  He is the first Church historian in the history of the annual lecture to receive the honour. Then on 3 October at the Town Hall in Liverpool      the Lord Mayor    ( Councillor  Christine Byrne )  bestowed on him  for  all his scholastic,  social, religious, and cultural  involvement as well as his ecumenical  activities  and his inter faith  involvement in the  history  of the City.