William Williams, Pantycelyn (1717-1791)
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Conversion
William Willams was Wales most prominent writer in the eighteenth century. He was one of the key leaders of the early Methodist Revival in Wales and an eminent poet and author.
He was born in 1717 in Cefn-coed, in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Carmarthenshire, the son of John and Dorothy Williams. He lived there until the death of his father, when his mother moved the family to her old home, Pantycelyn, a nearby farm, and he lived the rest of his life here.
He went to school locally, and then went on to Llwynllwyd Institute of Education near Talgarth, Breconshire. The intention was for him to become a doctor, but that changed when he had a conversion whilst listening to the evangelist revivalist Howel Harris (1714-1773) preaching in Talgarth cemetery in 1737. He was ordained a deacon in 1740, and was curate to Theophilus Evans (1693-1767) in Llanwrtyd, Llanfihangel and Llanddewi Abergwesyn until 1743. The bishop of St Davids refused him the priesthood because of his Methodist activities, so he became a travelling preacher.
Hymns
He married Mary Francis around 1748, and it was she that looked after Pantycelyn farm and the eight children while her husband travelled around Wales preaching. Williams, Daniel Rowlands and Howell Harris were responsible for the Methodist Revival in Wales, and William Williams' hymns were an important factor. Williams is seen as one of the most important influences on the language and culture of Wales in the 19th and 20th century.
In 1744 William Williams published his first volume of hymns, 'Aleluia I', with five further volumes following in the next three years. He wrote 'Hosanha i fab Dafydd' (in two parts, in 1751 and 1754), 'Rhai Hymnau a Chaniadau Duwiol' (1759), 'Caniadau y rhai sydd ar y Môr o Wydr' (1762), 'Ffarwel Weledig, Groesaw Anweledig Bethau' (1763) 'Gloria in Excelsis' (1771), 'Ychydig Hymnau' (1774) and 'Rhai Hymnau Newyddion' (1781).
He wrote two collections of hymns in English too: 'Hosannah to the Son of David' (1759), and 'Gloria in Excelsis' (1772). But his most famous hymn is “Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch”, better known as “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”, translated by Peter Williams in 1771, which was sung to the tune Cwm Rhondda at Prince William and Catherine's wedding in 2011. The hymn was also sung at the opening ceremony of the Millenium Stadium in 1999, the film 'How Green was my Valley' in 1941, and at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
William Williams, Pantycelyn published over 800 hymns in total, and 88 of them are included in the co-denominational hymn book 'Caneuon Ffydd' (2001).
Poems and prose
He wrote two long poems: 'Golwg ar Deyrnas Crist' in 1756 and 'Bywyd a Marwolaeth Theomemphus' in 1764. The first was an attempt to evaluate the divine purpose of creation, and the second was a study of the jouney of the soul in the world through experiences. He wrote around 28 elegies. Some were very mediocre, and others, such as the ones to Lewis Lewis, Grace Price, Howel Harris and Daniel Rowlands, were of a very high standard.
He also published a number of prose books, including 'Llythyr Martha Philopur' (1762), 'Atteb Philo-Evangelius' (1763), 'Crocodil Afon yr Aipht' (1767), 'Tri Wyr o Sodom' (1768), 'Liber Miscellaneorum' (1773), 'Ductor Nuptiarum', or 'Gyfarwyddwr Priodas' (1777), 'Templum Experientiae Apertum' (1777), and 'Pantheologia', or 'Hanes Holl Grefyddau'r Byd' — a work published in volumes between 1762 and 1779.
According to some, William Williams Pantycelyn is the most important Welsh language poet. He died on 11 January 1791, and is buried in Llanfair-ar-y-bryn. William Williams Memorial Chapel is on the main street in Llandovery, and the town's comprehensive school is also named after him.