Richard Roberts

Born in Festiniog, Wales, in 1874, Richard Roberts trained for the ministry and went on to serve churches in Wales and England before later working in North America. He was not only a preacher but also a prolific author whose writing explored Christian belief, ethics, preaching, and social questions.

Roberts is especially remembered for the stand he took during World War I, when his pacifist convictions put him at odds with the mood of the time. That moral seriousness shaped much of his public work and helped make him an influential voice in religious life.

Over the years he served in the Presbyterian tradition and later became a leading figure in the United Church of Canada. He died in 1945, leaving behind a body of writing that reflects both pastoral warmth and a deep engagement with the challenges of modern faith.