Baptist minister and ecumenist dies

Baptist minister, ecumenist and tutor the Revd Gethin Abraham-Williams has died

Gethin had been General Secretary of Cytûn, Churches Together in Wales, from 1998 to 2006.

He had previously been a minister in Baptist churches in Coventry, Sutton Coldfield and Sutton, Surrey, and then an ecumenical officer in Milton Keynes and for the Church in Wales. Between 1990 and 1998 he was General Secretary of the Covenanted Churches in Wales (Enfys).

He was also a tutor in the Department of History, Archaeology and Religion (formerly School of Religion and Theological Studies), Cardiff University, and had served twice on Baptist Union Council (1971-73 and 1993-95).

Gethin had been receiving treatment for cancer for a couple of years, before suffering a massive stroke, from which he never recovered. He was 77.
 
In illness he had continued to be active, publishing several articles and a book – The Gospel of Thomas in 2015.

The current Chief Executive of Cytûn, Revd Canon Aled Edwards, said, ‘He succeeded in a remarkable way in bringing the faith communities of Wales together – Hindus, Muslims, Jews and others – to be in relationship with each other, and to become friends – and this was rooted in the new politics of devolution. I guess it was Gethin’s skills and genius which was responsible for the great success of that.’

He is survived by his wife Denise, and their children Owain and Ellen.
 
A Thanksgiving Service for Gethin’s full life will be held on Thursday 8 December at 4.30pm in Trinity Methodist Church, Stanwell Road, Penarth CF64 2EX. At Gethin's request, those attending are encouraged to wear white or coloured clothes. Donations will be collected for the Christian Aid Christmas Appeal.