Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harry, Nun Morgan

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1386778Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 25 — Harry, Nun Morgan1891Rees M. Jenkin Jones

HARRY, NUN MORGAN (1800–1842), congregationalist, was born in the parish of Lampeter Velfrey in Pembrokeshire, 9 June 1800. His father died in the prime of life, when Harry was in his fourth year. He and his three brothers with their mother were taken charge of by their grandfather, David Harry, who gave them a good education. At the age of fourteen Harry began to commit to paper on Sunday evenings the texts of the sermons he had heard during the day, and afterwards made as full notes as he could. At the age of seventeen he joined the congregational church at Henllan, and commenced his occasional labours as minister of the gospel there. It was partly through the instrumentality of Lady Barham, who took a kindly interest in him, that in 1822 he entered the college at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Having completed the usual term of study there, he was unanimously chosen pastor of the independent church at Banbury, and was ordained on 25 April 1827. He remained here nearly seven years. On 15 Aug. 1832 he became pastor of the independent church in New Broad Street, London, and remained there till his death on 22 Oct. 1842. He enthusiastically adopted the principles of the Peace Society; in 1837 he was elected one of its honorary secretaries, and became editor of the ‘Herald of Peace.’ He generally drew up the annual reports, and wrote several valuable tracts and circulars, published by the committee. When asked to take part in any public meeting, he always stipulated that he should be allowed to say a word on ‘peace.’ In his theology he was probably in advance of the majority of the ministers of his own denomination. A memorial sermon by his ‘bosom friend,’ the Rev. Caleb Morris of Fetter Lane Chapel, London, passed through several editions. He published a series of twelve lectures on the subject, ‘What think ye of Christ?’ Banbury, 1832.

In 1828 he married Eliza, the eldest daughter of the Rev. William Warlow of Milford, by whom he had five children.

[Jones's Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol; Herald of Peace for January 1843; Caleb Morris's Memorial Discourse; Letters from Mr. E. John Harry.]

R. J. J.