EDWARDS, WILLIAM ROBERT (Glanllafar; 1858 - 1921), Congregational minister, poet, and littérateur

Born 19 September 1858 at Tŷ Coch, Parc, Bala, son of Edward Jones Edwards and Annie his wife. He was educated in the local schools and at the Independent College, Bala, under Michael D. Jones. The family were Methodists, but he became a member of Hen Gapel Llanuwchllyn (Congregational) in 1876, and about the same time began to preach. After his ordination at Sardis, Llanwddyn, Montgomeryshire, in January 1881, he was pastor of the churches of Sardis and Saron (1881-8) and Braich-y-waen (1882-8), Carmel, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire (1889-90), and Bethesda, Brynmawr, Brecknock (1890-6), In 1896 he received a call to be pastor of the Welsh Congregational church at Granville, New York; in 1906 he accepted the pastorate of the Tabernacle church, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and there he spent the remainder of his days. He died 23 February 1921 and was buried in Dunmore cemetery, Scranton. His wife was Ellen Anwyl, Cae'r Berllan, Towyn, Meironnydd, and they had a son and two daughters. W. R. Edwards made a name for himself as a poet and littérateur. He won many prizes at eisteddfodau, including five bardic chairs. Over a long period he was in great demand as adjudicator of literary subjects at the eisteddfodau of Welsh communities throughout the United States. He contributed much to the Welsh press and was the editor of Cofiant Rhys Gwesyn Jones (Utica, T. J. Griffiths, 1902).

Author

• Gildas Tibbott, (1900 - 1979)

Sources

• H. Blackwell, NLW MSS 9251-9277A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, v, 28, 73, 347
• R. T. Jenkins, Hanes Cynulleidfa Hen Gapel Llanuwchllyn (1937), 189
• Y Drych, 3 March 1921
• The Druid, 1 March 1921
• Y Seren, 2 April 1921

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734705

Published date: 1959

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