大象传媒

Two highly influential Welshmen are being honoured this year.听 One well known and the other, surprisingly not.

听

As a host of events mark the centenary of the birth of Dylan Thomas we look at some of the religious influences on his life, and the way they鈥檙e reflected in his work.听听 One of the best known Welsh writers of the last century he might have been, but the notion of the boozy, irreverent Thomas as a religious poet sounds as fanciful as some of the characters he created.听 But what鈥檚 the reality?听 Roy Jenkins is joined by guests Prof. John Goodby of Swansea University, a poet, critic and world authority on Dylan Thomas, and by the Rev. Dr. Leslie Griffiths to discuss this less explored dimension to his life and work.

听

And Leslie Griffiths enlightens us on another highly influential but far less well known Welshman whose death is also being commemorated next weekend.听听

Thomas Coke, who was mayor of Brecon at the age of 23, is regarded as the father of Methodist missions, making 18 crossings of the Atlantic under sail to America and the Caribbean and who succeeded John Wesley as minister of his chapel in central London.听听 Leslie Griffiths, one of the key speakers at that commemorative event in Brecon marking the 200th anniversary of Coke鈥檚 death, shares his views on his life and legacy.听

听

Related links: