T. Rees Thomas

Rees Thomas was born in Pontardulzus{{cite web|url=http://www.utc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/barnes_leaders-of-congregationalism.pdf|author=Geoffrey Barnes|title=Leaders of Congregationalism 1904–1977|accessdate=19 October 2016}} (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,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114623562 |title=Personal |newspaper=Queensland Times |issue=18,140 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=20 January 1945 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118638271 |title=Welsh Church |newspaper=Queensland Times |volume=LXVII |issue=12,488 |date=27 July 1926 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110152688 |title=Harvest Festival Services |newspaper=Kadina and Wallaroo Times |volume=LXX |issue=7152 |location=South Australia |date=10 March 1934 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was then conferred with a Diploma in Divinity by the Melbourne College of Divinity, with which Parkin was associated.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91068098 |title=Of The Week At Home |newspaper=The Chronicle (Adelaide) |volume=LXXVII |issue=40,154 |location=South Australia |date=26 July 1934 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94923672 |title=Yesterday's Trans-Australian Train |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Miner |volume=40 |issue=10,208 |location=Western Australia |date=30 November 1934 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was ordained there, and served from December 1934 to January 1942.

He served at Clayton Church, Kensington South Australia from 1942 to 1947, in which year he was conferred B.D. by the Melbourne College of Divinity.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30523041 |title=Passed Divinity Examinations |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=15 April 1947 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}} Late in 1947 he returned to Queensland, where he succeeded Rev. Percival Watson as pastor of the City Congregational Church, Brisbane, being inducted in February 1948 by his old principal Rev. E. S. Kiek and distinguished wife Rev. Winifred Kiek.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49647571 |title=News of the Churches |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |issue=3496 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=7 February 1948 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} He served with distinction until 1981. Following the creation of the Uniting Church in Australia, he served as minister-in-association at St Andrew's Uniting Church, Brisbane until his death in 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/australian_monument/display/101361|title=Reverend Tom & Ruby Rees-Thomas|last=|first=|date=|website=Monument Australia|publisher=|access-date=18 January 2017}}

• President, Australia and New Zealand Congregational Union, 1971–1973
• Chairman Congregational Union of SA 1947–1948
• Chairman Queensland Congregational Union 1951, 1959, 1964–65, 1977.
• Moderator of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia 1978 {{Citation needed|date=November 2016|reason=other sources say Rolland Busch 1977-1979}}
• He was president, Queensland Council of Churches in 1953.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28658343 |title="Mercy Cross" Aids Police |newspaper=The Sun-Herald |issue=256 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 December 1953 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Rees Thomas was an enthusiast for Welsh culture: while at Brisbane City Church he was involved in Cymanfa Ganu singing festivals.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117105005 |title=Welsh Gather for Song Service |newspaper=Queensland Times |issue=19,345 |date=6 December 1948 |accessdate=19 October 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100183843 |title=Club to meet |newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Queensland, Australia |date=13 December 1953 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Rees Thomas was in 1965 awarded an MBE for services to the Congregational Church and the community.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105821185 |title=Commonwealth Relations Office list |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=39 |issue=11,042 |date=1 January 1965 |accessdate=20 October 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

A chapel at St Andrews Uniting Church in Brisbane commemorates the work done by Rees Thomas and his wife Ruby.

• Thomas, T. Rees Prayers for People We Take for Granted Boolarong Publications, Brisbane 1991

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.

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Category:1910 births

Category:1993 deaths

Category:Australian Congregationalist ministers

Category:Australian people of Welsh descent

Category:20th-century Congregationalist ministers

Category:Clergy from South Australia

Category:Members_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire