CROWDS gathered in Wolfscastle earlier this month to commemorate a newspaper pioneer and preacher.

Joseph Harris (Gomer) was born on a farm in the parish of St Dogwells in 1773. He married Martha Symons, and went on to become a Welsh Baptist minister during the religious revival of 1795.

In January 1814 he founded the first Welsh weekly newspaper the ‘Seren Gomer’ in Swansea. It was a national newspaper, and though its circulation was comparatively large, it ended after just 85 issues the following year. This was mainly because the tax on the paper made it too expensive, and its advertising income was insufficient.

The publication was revived by Mr Harris in 1818, and became associated with the Baptist denomination. Two years later it became a monthly.

During his lifetime Mr Harris also published a number of books, one of his best-known works, Cofiant Ieuan Ddu, was a biography of his son, John Ryland Harris, who worked as a typesetter for his father's printing press and died at the age of 20.

Mr Harries died shortly after his 52nd birthday in 1825.

A plaque has been erected on a stone outside the school in Wolfscastle to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Seren Gomer’s first publication and the birthplace of Mr Harries.

It was officially unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday, April 12. Among the guests were John Walker Williams, the great great great grandson of Mr Harries.

The service was led by Rev Geoffrey Eynon who said: “It is important to remember Gomer who was born locally and contributed so much to the life of Wales in the early 18th Century.”

Local historian Richard Davies said: “We remember him as a preacher, as hymn writer, but also as a theologian.

“In those days there was great rivalry between the denominations and Joseph Harris was very firm in his beliefs and convictions and would challenge anyone in print or in word who disagreed with him.”