Surprisingly, he never climbed the church ladder beyond being Archdeacon of Merioneth, a post he held from 1959-76. So to everyone who knew him, Thomas was "the Arch".
Born to working-class parents in Llanrwst, he was educated at Pwllheli grammar school and University College, Bangor, where he studied French before going to Jesus College, Oxford, to read theology. At Oxford, he considered himself an outsider; he always felt that, as a Welshman, he was not welcome. Yet later, at Barmouth and Dolgellau, he found himself very much the centre of a circle of English incomers. And, despite the prevailing leaning towards the Welsh language, his mother tongue, he chose for the most part to preach in English.
Throughout a long ministry, which began at St David's church, Bangor, in 1931, Wallis Thomas was renowned for his fine sermons and enormous fund of stories. In the early years, he was secretary and chaplain to the Archbishop of Wales, and was responsible for organising a number of bishops' consecrations. He was rector of Barmouth from 1946-66, moving to the tiny hamlet of Llanelltyd, where he was vicar until he officially retired in 1976, when the parish was absorbed into the Dolgellau benefice.
But until a few years ago, he continued to preach regularly, not only in the tiny Llanelltyd church but also in St Mary's, Dolgellau. Even after his 90th birthday, it was not unknown for him to conduct the service, preach and play the organ in Llanelltyd.
To the end, his mind was sharp, although failing hearing frustrated him greatly. Reminiscing on his 90th birthday, he described himself as an inveterate visitor. "I will always believe that a house-going parson makes a church-going people," he said.
Earlier, he had played cricket for north Wales in 1954, and been a reserve for the Welsh hockey team as well as a keen tennis player.
