David Thomas (bishop)

Thomas was born on 22 July 1942 in Bangor, Wales.[3][4] He was educated at Christ College, Brecon, a private school in Brecon.[4] He studied classics at Keble College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1964: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1967.[1][3] In 1964, he entered St Stephen's House, Oxford, an Anglo-Catholic theological college to train for Holy Orders.[1] During this time he also studied theology at Keble College, graduating with a further BA degree in 1966.[1] After further training, he left theological college in 1967 to be ordained.[1]

In May 1967, Thomas was ordained in the Church in Wales as a deacon by his father Jack Thomas, the then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.[3] In 1968, he was ordained as a priest by David Bartlett, the then Bishop of St Asaph.[1][3]

In the 1970s and 1980s, Thomas worked at St Stephen's House, Oxford, a Church of England theological college. He was Vice-Principal from 1975 to 1979, and Principal from 1982 to 1987.[1]

In November 1996, Thomas received a letter asking him to become the first Provincial Assistant Bishop (PAB) of the Church in Wales; in that role he would provide episcopal oversight to those priests and parishes that could not accept the ordination of women. Having accepted, he was consecrated a bishop on 21 December 1996 during a service at St Asaph Cathedral.[5] He stepped down as PAB and retired from full-time ministry in 2008.[6]

On 1 April 1967, Thomas married Rosemary Christine Calton.[4][3] Together they had two children: one son and one daughter.[4]

On 11 May 2017, Thomas died suddenly, having just returned from a holiday; he was aged 74.[6] A Requiem Mass was held for him on 5 June 2017 at St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny.[6]