Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Probert, Lewis

by John Edward Lloyd

PROBERT, LEWIS (1841–1908), Welsh divine, third son of Evan and Mary Probert, was born at Llanelly, Breconshire, on 22 Sept. 1841. He became a congregational church member in 1860, at a time of revival, began to preach in 1862, and, after a short preparatory course under Henry Oliver at Pontypridd, entered Brecon College in 1863. In July 1867 he was ordained to the congregational ministry at Bodringallt, in the Rhondda valley, where he was active in establishing new churches among a rapidly growing colliery population. From 1872 to 1874 he was pastor of Pentre Ystrad, in this district; in Oct. 1874 he moved to Portmadoc, Carnarvonshire, where he spent twelve years. In 1886 he returned to Pentre; he soon gained considerable repute through his theological writings, and upon the death in 1896 of Evan Herber Evans [q. v. Suppl. I] was chosen to succeed him as principal of the congregational college at Bangor. That position he held until his death on 29 Dec. 1908. In 1891 he received the degree of D.D. from Ohio University and was chairman of the Welsh Congregational Union for 1901. He was twice married: (1) in 1870 to Annie, daughter of Edward Watkins, of Blaina, Monmouthshire, who died in 1874; and (2) in 1886 to Martha, only daughter of Benjamin Probert of Builth.

In theology Probert had conservative views, but was highly esteemed for the breadth and solidity of his learning. He published the following:

1. A prize essay on the nonconformist ministry in Wales (Blaenau Festiniog, 1882).
2. A Welsh commentary upon Romans (Wrexham, 1890).
3. A companion volume upon Ephesians (Wrexham, 1892).
4. 'Crist a'r Saith Eglwys' (Rev. i.-iii.) (Merthyr, 1894).
5. 'Nerth y Groruchaf,' a treatise on the work of the Spirit (Wrexham, 1906).

[Album Aberhonddu (1898); Congregational Year Book for 1910, pp. 185-6; Rees and Thomas, Hanes yr Eglwysi Annibynol, ii. 351, iv. 285, 467, 477.]

J. E. L.