CARMARTHENSHIRE-FHS-L Archives

From: "Pauline James" <>
Subject: [CmnFHS] William Williams Pantycelyn
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 20:27:09 -0000

Some Carmarthen Personalities....
William Williams, Pantycelyn, reputed to be the greatest of all Welsh hymn
writers, as well as poet and preacher, was born at Cefncoed
Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Llandovery, in 1717. Originally intgending to enter the
medical profession, he experienced religious conversion on hearing Howel
Harris preaching in Talgarth churchyard. In 1740 he became a deacon in the
Established Church and until 1743 served as a curate at Llanwrtyd and
Abergwesyn. Influenced by the growing Welsh Calvinistic Methodist revival,
he became associated with evangelist Daniel Rowland and preached to
congregations throughout the Principality.
However, it was as a writer of inspiring Welsh Hymns that William Williams
became famous. As well as composing many hundreds of hymns in Welsh, he
also wrote over one hundred in English. His first hymns, printed by Samuel
Lewis in Carmarthen, appeared in 1744 under the title Aleluia. Further
collections of hymns followed. His long peom Bywyd a Marwolaeth Treomemphus
(Life and Death of Theomemphus) was printed at Carmarthen by John Ross in
1764, as well as his English volume of hymns Gloria in Excelsis in 1772.
His most famous hymn is Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah. He also wrote many
books and pamphlets. He died on 11th January 1791 at Pantycelyn, his
farmhouse family home near Llandovery, and was buried at Llanfair-ar-y-bryn
Church.

***
I know the person with connections to this man knows this story, but just
thought I'd type it out in case someone else is interested.

Pauline James
Carmarthenshire FHS

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• [CmnFHS] William Williams Pantycelyn by "Pauline James" <>