David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981)

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh protestant minister and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement of the 20th century. He was regarded as one of the top 10 preachers of the 20th century.

Born in Cardiff he attended a London grammar school from 1914-17. He then went to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and qualified as a doctor. After struggling for 2 years, with the sense that he had a call to preach, he returned to Wales in 1927. He married Bethan Phillips in the same year.

For 10 years he was minister at Aberavon. He returned to London at the beginning of WW11 to become associate pastor at Westminster Chapel, working along side G. Campbell Morgan. In 1943, on Morgan’s retirement he became sole pastor of Westminster Hall. He stayed pastor there for the next 25 years until his retired in 1968 following a major operation.

David was well known for his style of preaching. His sermons drew crowds of several 1000s to hear him preach at the Sunday morning and evening meetings, plus talk (!) at Bible studies. In his book * Preaching and Preachers* he defined his style as Logic on Fire. The fire had to do with activity and the power of the Holy Spirit. He believed true preaching was always expository (set forth in argument/discussion). This means he believed that the primary purpose of the sermon was to reveal and expand the primary teaching of the scripture being studied.

• *Never heard such preaching with the force of electric shock, bringing to at least one of his listeners more of a sense of God than any other man. J.I. Packer - theologian and preacher

David did a vast amount of writing during his life time.
( See the list - many not printed during his life time)

David preached his last sermon on 8th June at Barcombe Baptist Chapel. He died peacefully in his sleep on 1st March 1981, St. David’s day. He was buried in West Wales. A well attended thanksgiving service was held at Westminster Chapel on 6th April.

His tombstone reads
*For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him Crucified. * 1 Corinthians 2 v 2

The 10 things you should know about David Martyn Lloyd Jones, written by his eldest grandson Christopher Catherwood. is well worth a read.

Sources used
wikipedia
Crossway Articles 10 things you should know about Martyn Lloyd Jones
The 10 greatest preachers of the 20th century - Michael Duduit