PUGH, EDWARD CYNOLWYN (1883 - 1962), minister (Presb.), author and musician

Born 21 June 1883 at Abergynolwyn, Merionethshire, son of William and Mary Pugh. His parents moved to Trehafod, Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire, in 1888. He was brought up there and became a coal miner after leaving school. Interested in music, he became a conductor of brass bands, and became an accomplished cornet player (in his day he was cornet player for the Gorsedd of Bards). During the 1904-05 religious revival he became a dedicated convert and began to preach in Siloam, Trehafod. He proceeded to further his education at Pontypridd Collegiate School, Trefeca College, and University College, Cardiff (where he graduated B.A.). He was ordained in 1917, and served his ministry with the Forward Movement at Pontypool and Tonyrefail, and in Wilmer Road English church, Birkenhead. In 1928 he emigrated to U.S.A. to take charge of the Welsh church in Chicago, and later the Welsh church in New York. He retired c. 1956 and returned to Wales. In 1917 he married Jennet Jenkins of the Vale of Neath, and they had three daughters.

Cynolwyn Pugh was talented and contributed to periodicals in Wales and America. He won the prose medal at Ebbw Vale national eisteddfod (1958) for an autobiography which was published under the title Ei ffanffer ei hun (1959) (transl. by Nansi Pugh, His own fanfare (1999)). He died in Cardiff, 22 March 1962.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• His autobiography
• Y Goleuad, 18 April 1962
• Blwyddiadur y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1963, 270
• personal acquaintance

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20732930

Published date: 2001

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