My friend the Rev J Elwyn Jenkins, who has died aged 80, was a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and served the congregation of Tabernacle, Aberystwyth, for 28 years from 1970. He had a tender heart, full of human sympathy for the lost and the needy, and devoted a great deal of his spare time to Christian Aid and the League of Friends at Aberystwyth hospital.
Born in Pen-twyn on the outskirts of Cross Hands, west Wales, the eldest child of eight children in a Welsh-speaking home, Elwyn received his education at Cwmgwili school and attended the Presbyterian Chapel at Pen-twyn. He spent his youth as a coalminer.
The second chapter of his autobiography, Pwll, Pêl a Phulpud (2008), is important as an account of a miner's life in the colliery of Mynydd Mawr, near Tumble. Elwyn was extremely fortunate to have survived on two occasions during his time as a miner: the Davy lamp saved him the first time; and a bout of sickness on the second occasion.
In these years, he made an impact as a first-class rugby player in the Tumble side, then wore the scarlet colours of Llanelli before moving to Swansea rugby club (1954-56). He played for Wales against the Lions on 22 October 1955.
It was in October 1960 that I first met Elwyn, when he arrived from theological training at Trefeca College, Brecon, to the United Theological College, Aberystwyth, as a student for the ministry. We immediately became friends. When I launched a student socialist magazine, in memory of Aneurin Bevan, under the title Aneurin, I invited Elwyn to be a member of the editorial and distribution board.
Then in 1964 he was called to the ministry at Moriah, Brynaman and Brynllynfell, Cwmllynfell. He made friends with his members and cared for them, and in 1970 he was called to the large congregation of Tabernacle, Aberystwyth, before serving the Presbyterians and Welsh Independents of Lampeter. After retirement he returned to Aberystwyth.
His wife, Elisabeth, died in 2011. He is survived by three sons and two granddaughters.