A RESPECTED lawyer, writer, "gentleman", and Christian pioneer involved in the planting of two churches has died.

Tributes have poured in following the death of Geraint Elfyn Jones who died peacefully at his home in Llanbrynmair on Sunday, February 13.

For more than 40 years, Geraint was a solicitor in Newtown and founded Geraint Jones & Co with offices in the town and in Llandrindod Wells. He used his preaching talent across Wales and established Newtown Evangelical Church.

Born in Pwll, Llanelli on January 23, 1948, Geraint was the son of the Reverend Thomas Elfyn and Myra Jones. With his two sisters, Sian and Menna Elfyn, they spent most of their childhood in Pontardawe before moving to Carmarthen to finish his education at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for boys - and completed A-levels an academic year early.

In 1965 Geraint studied for a degree in Welsh at the University of Wales, Cardiff, which he followed with a master’s degree on the 'Life and Works of John Dyfnallt Owen'. He later studied minority languages in Northern Italy and Sardinia, sponsored by the British Council.

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While at university, Geraint met Elisabeth Jarman – from Llanbrynmair. They were married in August 1969. They had two daughters Sara Esyllt and Bethan Elfyn in Bangor where Geraint finished his research before moving back to Cardiff to begin his apprenticeship as a lawyer. Sara, now working in education, and Bethan with the BBC, both working in Cardiff.

In 1978 after completing his articles the family moved to Newtown where he practised for 44 years as a solicitor (including a few years in Shrewsbury). Rhys and Owain were also brought up in Newtown. Both are also now lawyers, Rhys in America and Owain with the firm 'Geraint Jones & Co'.

His Christian faith was the foundation of his life. As a teenager he accompanied a friend to listen to Richard Wurmbrand, a Christian who had been imprisoned for his faith in Romania who came to Swansea to address a congregation on his release from prison. Geraint was impressed with the life and testimony of this unassuming man of a true Christian life. After converting to the Christian faith, he pioneered with others to establish the Evangelical Church in Bangor in 1969 and at Newtown in 1978 where he served as an elder until January 2022.

Geraint used his preaching talent across Wales and welcomed the Welsh 'Seiat' in Llanbrynmair to the family home for nearly 20 years. He was on the Editorial Board for the Welsh Language Evangelical Magazine, translated the booklet "Living Through Grief" and during the pandemic co-authored the 'Newtown Story' which was distributed to 10,000 homes in the area.

He travelled three times with the European Missionary Society to Poland with essential supplies after the collapse of the 'Iron Curtain'. Today those same friends are helping refugees on the Ukraine border.

Robert Hanratty, solicitor and treasurer of the Mid Wales Law Society, had known Geraint for more than 40 years.

"He was held in the highest regard by those of us who knew him for his very kind nature and professionalism," he said. "His experience as a lawyer was considerable and varied. He appeared as an advocate in pretty well all jurisdictions in England and Wales, and drew the considerable admiration of his colleagues, being one of the first solicitor advocates to take Higher Rights of Audience. Thereafter he appeared regularly in the Crown Court and presented many cases before the Court of Appeal, a testament to his ability and enthusiasm for the Law. He will be very much missed by all of his colleagues, and I in particular shall miss our many friendly exchanges."

Nerys Jones, chair of magistrates, paid tribute to "gentle" Geraint saying his death is a "great loss" to his family and to society.

Geraint's family would like to thank everyone for their condolences and for the kind donations received to the Bronglais Chemotherapy Unit Appeal and the Christian charity Barnabas Fund which supports refugees worldwide. Thanks also to the Bro Ddyfi Community Nurses and the staff at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth.