WILLIAMS, GWILYM IEUAN (1879 - 1968), minister (Presb.)

Born 3 October 1879 at Cardiff, son of John Williams and his wife, both of Merionethshire. After leaving school he worked in a shipping-office, but within a few years he began to preach at Heol y Crwys church. He was educated at the University College, Cardiff (where he gained an honours degree in English), and at the theological colleges of his denomination at Trefeca and Aberystwyth. He was ordained in 1909, and became minister of Tabernacl, New Quay, Cardiganshire (1908-20). During this period he was also a chaplain in the army, serving in Egypt and Palestine. In 1920 he received a call to Tŵr-gwyn church, Bangor, where he remained until 1966. In 1939 he married Phyllis Roberts of Bangor. He died 1 February 1968. His ashes were transferred from Colwyn Bay Crematorium to the family grave in Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff.

He was a person of wide culture and interests, and he was prominent in the life of his denomination, being Moderator of the General Assembly (1948) and Moderator of the North Wales Association (1956). He was also chairman both of the Forward Movement and of the Praise Committee of his Connexion. He took a great interest in hymns and hymn tunes, and co-operated with E.T. Davies in translating and arranging several of the cantatas of J.S. Bach, such as Aros di gyda ni (1919), Amser Duw, goreu yw (1922), Iesu dyrchafedig (1922), and The Short Passion (St. Matthew's Gospel) (1931, 1932 and 1933). Having learnt the rules of cynghanedd from Dyfed (Evan Rees) who was one-time a lodger at his parents' home, he often composed englynion, &c. He contributed occasionally to Y Drysorfa and Y Goleuad. He was a prominent member of the society of Rotarians, being president of the Mersey and North Wales circle. He represented the society at conferences in America (1936) and Nice (1937).

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Blwyddiadur y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1969, 309-10
• Y Drysorfa, 1948, 143-5, 1956, 51-3
• T. Bowen, Dinas Caerdydd a'i Methodistiaeth Calfinaidd (Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru) (Cardiff 1927), 60
• information from Glenys Hughes Jones, Pen-y-groes, Arfon, Arfon and Derwyn Jones, Bangor, Bangor
• personal acquaintance

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733123

Published date: 2001

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