His progress as a preacher was very rapid. He proved himself to be a gifted young man, a born speaker. His passion also for work was intense. With all his might he laboured night and day in order to make amends for what was lacking in former days. He was received into the Caernarvonshire Presbytery of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists at Christmas 1794. Soon after New Year's Day 1799 he moved to Anglesey. On 22 February he married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Broadhead of Llanbadrig, Anglesey. The couple were happy, loving and deeply sympathetic with one another, they enjoyed a life of sweet companionship for over twenty-nine years, until her death on 2 April 1828. They had four children; two of them died in infancy and two survived their father. In 1830 following his second marriage he moved to Llangefni, where he lived until the day of his death, 8 June 1841. He is buried at Llanfaes Churchyard. A celebrated clergyman of the Church of England wrote in his diary,--"To-day, June 15, was buried the greatest preacher in Wales, and, perhaps, the greatest in the kingdom. May the Lord have mercy upon his church, and favour her again with such a minister as Elias was, like a flaming seraph in the pulpit." 10000 people are estimated to have attended his funeral. Writings John Elias was the author of numerous works in Welsh, all on a theological or doctrinal theme. He contributed regularly to the early Calvinistic Methodist periodical Y Drysorfa and wrote an autobiography, which was published long after his death. His most influential works in his day were Traethawd ar y Saboth (1804) and Golygiad Ysgrythurol ar Gyfiawnhad Pechadur (1821). Bibliography – includes a biographical introduction by Iain Murray External links 1774 births 1841 deaths People from Gwynedd Welsh Protestant religious leaders 19th-century Welsh writers