JOHN PUGH:
Extraordinary evangelist and church planter
By D. Eryl Davies
DayOne. 188 pages. £8.00
ISBN 978 1 846 257 698
Once well-known across Welsh churches, the name of John Pugh is much less familiar to Christians today. In this new biography, Eryl Davies makes the case for revisiting Pugh’s remarkable ministry, highlighting its enduring relevance for us.
Ordained in 1872, Pugh was a tireless evangelist, with a particular heart for working-class communities in the developing industrial areas of South Wales. Constrained by the love of Christ, he was committed to open-air preaching, even in the face of the apathy of many churches. His passion led to the founding of the ‘Forward Movement’, an evangelistic initiative among Calvinistic Methodists. In the course of his ministry, he established almost 50 mission halls and churches – including Heath Church, Cardiff, where the author serves as elder.
