When in 1931 he became Bishop of Llandaff he was the first member of a religious community to be appointed to an Anglican see in Wales for over three centuries.

He was born to David Rees and his wife Catherine at Llain, Llanbadarn Trefeglwys, Ceridigion.

[1] He served two years as curate at Mountain Ash, then returned to S. Michael's College as lecturer.

He became bishop at the most acute stage of the industrial depression; he was instantly faced with the problems caused by widespread unemployment in the mining communities.

[3] As president of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Council of Social Service, he took a leading role in the promotion of occupational clubs and other activities for the jobless.