My friend and former colleague John Heywood Thomas, who has died aged 98, came from humble beginnings to become a theologian of international standing.
As well as being a scholar of note, in particular of the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and the German-American theologian Paul Tillich, John provided great encouragement to younger academics, especially those teaching and writing in Welsh. Proud of his roots, he frequently attended the National Eisteddfod, was appointed to the Gorsedd of Bards in 1972 and elected fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2012.
Born near Llanelli, one of the four children of Ann (nee Morris) and her husband, David Thomas, a blacksmith, John went to the local boys’ grammar school. He studied philosophy at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University), graduating in 1947, then theology at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, gaining a BD in philosophy of religion and Christian doctrine.
Early interest in existentialism and its relationship with theology was first pursued as a Fletcher scholar at Cheshunt College, Cambridge (1950-52), where he undertook an analysis of the work of Kierkegaard. His studies continued in Copenhagen, enabled by a grant from the Swenson-Kierkegaard memorial fund. A monograph, Subjectivity and Paradox, was published in 1957.
As Mills fellow, he studied at the Union Theological Seminary, New York (1952-53), under Tillich, who referred to John as “my logical critic”. A further monograph, one of the first to interpret and critique his former teacher’s work, Paul Tillich: An Appraisal, appeared in 1963.
In 1965, John was awarded a doctor of divinity degree by the University of Wales, on the basis of his published work.
Though ordained in 1952 at his home church, Bryn Chapel, Llanelli, John pursued his vocation in theological education. He taught scripture at the grammar school in Newcastle Emlyn, in west Wales (1954-55), before undertaking a research fellowship at Durham University (1955-57), a lectureship in the philosophy of religion at the University of Manchester (1957-65), and a readership in divinity at Durham (1964-74). His final appointment came as professor and head of the department of theology at Nottingham University (1974-92).
A special career highlight for John was to facilitate cooperation between Durham University and Ushaw College – the Roman Catholic seminary near the city – supporting seminarians with their studies at the university.
In retirement from 1992, John lived at Menai Bridge and gave distinguished service as honorary professor at the University of Wales, Bangor (now Bangor University), which is where we met, as well as to the philosophical and theological sections of its Guild of Graduates.
Despite his achievements, he remained humble and generous; on relocating to Bonvilston in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1999, he served as honorary minister at Trehill Presbyterian Church of Wales.
He married Mair Evans, also from Llanelli, in 1953. She died in 2021, followed by the untimely death of their only child, the journalist and broadcaster Nicola Heywood-Thomas, in 2023.
