William Williams

William Williams
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Short Name: William Williams
Full Name: Williams, William, 1717-1791
Birth Year: 1717
Death Year: 1791

William Williams, called the "Watts of Wales," was born in 1717, at Cefn-y-coed, near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. He originally studied medicine, but abandoned it for theology. He was ordained Deacon in the Church of England, but was refused Priest's Orders, and subsequently attached himself to the Calvinistic Methodists. For half a century he travelled in Wales, preaching the Gospel. He died in 1791. Williams composed his hymns chiefly in the Welsh language; they are still largely used by various religious bodies in the principality. Many of his hymns have appeared in English, and have been collected and published by Sedgwick. His two principal poetical works are "Hosannah to the Son of David," and "Gloria in Excelsis."
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.
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Williams, William, of Pantycelyn, was the Sweet Singer of Wales. He was born at Cefn-y-Coed, in the Parish of Llanfair-y-bryn, near Llandovery, in 1717. He was ordained a deacon of the Established Church in 1740, by Dr. Claget, Bishop of St. Davids, and for three years he served the Curacies of Llan-wrtyd and Llanddewi-Abergwesyn. He never received Priest's Orders. He became early acquainted with the revivalist Daniel Rowlands, and for thirty-five years he preached once a month at Llanllian and Caio and Llansawel, besides the preaching journeys he took in North and South Wales. He was held in great esteem as a preacher. In 1744 his first book of hymns appeared under the title of Halleluiah, and soon ran through three editions. In1762, he published another book under the title of Y Môr o Wydr, which soon went through five editions. His son John published an excellent edition of his hymns in the year 181lines In addition to his Welsh hymns Williams also published several in English as:—
(1.) Hosannah to the Son of David; or, Hymns of Praise to God, For our glorious Redemption by Christ. Some few translated from the Welsh Hymn-Book, but mostly composed on new Subjects. By William Williams. Bristol: Printed by John Grabham, in Narrow-Wine Street, 1759. This contains 51 hymns of which 11 are translated from his Welsh hymns. This little book was reprinted by D. Sedgwick in 1859.
(2.) Gloria in Excelsis: or, Hymns of Praise to God and the Lamb. By W. Williams . . . Carmarthen. Printed for the Author by John Ross, removed to Priory Street, near the Church, M.DCC.LXXI. This contains 70 hymns, not including parts.
From these volumes the following hymns are in common use:—
i. From the Hosannah, 1759:—
1. Jesus, my Saviour is enough. Jesus, All in All.
2. My God, my God, Who art my all. Communion with God desired.
3. The enormous load of human guilt. God's love unspeakable.
ii. From the Gloria in Excelsis, 1772.
4. Awake, my soul, and rise. Passiontide.
5. Beneath Thy Cross I lay me down. Passiontide.
6. Hark! the voice of my Beloved. The Voice of Jesus.
7. Jesus, lead us with Thy power. Divine Guidance Desired. Sometimes given as "Father, lead us with Thy power."
8. Jesus, Whose Almighty sceptre. Jesus as King.
9. Saviour, look on Thy beloved. The Help of Jesus desired.
10. White and ruddy is my Beloved. Beauties of Jesus.
Williams is most widely known through his two hymns, "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah," and "O'er those gloomy hills of darkness." Williams died at Pantycelyn, Jan. 11, 1791. [Rev. W. Glanffrwd Thomas]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Texts by William Williams (152)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Anweledig, 'r wy'n Dy garuW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwchW. W. (Author (stanzas 1, 2))Welsh4
Arglwydd, danfon dy leferyddW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Arosaf ddydd a nôsW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Arnat, Iesu, boed fy meddwlW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Bendithiaist waith ein dwyloWilliam Williams (Author (stanza 3))Welsh2
Beneath Thy cross I lay me downWm. Williams (Author)English8
Boed fy nghalon iti'n demel (Make my heart thy holy temple)William Williams (Pantycelyn) (Welsh Words)Welsh3
Can I forget bright Eden's graceWilliam Williams (Author)1
Caned nef a daear lawrW. W. (Author (stanza 2))Welsh1
Chwilio am danat, addfwyn ArglwyddWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Come Holy Spirit, now descendWilliam Williams (Author)2
Cudd fy meiau rhag y werinWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Cul yw'r llwybr imi gerddedWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Cyffelyb i fy Nuw William Williams (Author)Welsh1
Cymer, Iesu, fi fel 'r ydwyf William Williams (Author)Welsh5
'D oes arnaf eisieu yn y bydWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
'D oes gyffelyb iddo EfWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Dacw gariad nefoedd wènWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Dàl fi, fy Nuw, dàl fi i'r lànWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Datguddiwyd dirgelion i maesWilliam Williams (Author (stanzas 1, 3))Welsh2
Dechreu canu, dechreu canmolW. W. (Author (stanzas 1, 2))Welsh2
Deffro, f'enaid, deffro'n ufuddWilliam Williams (Author (sts. 1, 4))Welsh2
Dewch, hen ac ieuainc, dewchWilliam Williams (Author (stanza 3))Welsh2
Disgyn, Iesu, o'th gynteddoeddWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Dros bechadur buost farwWilliam Williams (1716-1791) (Welsh Verses)Welsh2
Dros y bryniau tywyll niwlogWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Duw anfeidrol yw Dy enwWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Duw yw fy nerth a'm noddfa lawn (God is my strength in all my woe)W. W. (Author)English, Welsh2
Dwell in me, O blessed SpiritW. W. (Last 2 lines)English2
Dyma gyfarfod hyfryd iawnW. W. (Author (stanza 1))Welsh1
E ka'i oe, e IehovaWilliam Williams (Author)Hawaiian3
Eternal God! Almighty causeWilliams (Author)English2
Führe du mich, o JehovaWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)German3
Führe mich, o Gott JehovaWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)German4
Führ' mich, du getreuer VaterWilliam Williams (Author)German1
Führe du uns, o JehovaW. Williams (Author)German5
Führe mich, mein Gott und VaterWilliam Williams (Author)German1
Fy ngweddi dos i'r nefWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Fy Nuw, fy Nhad, fy IesuWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Fy Nuw, fy Nuw, fy Mhrïod, a fy NhadW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Fy Nuw, uwch law fy neallWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Goleuni ac anfreidrol rymWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Gosod babell yn ngwlad GosenWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Gott des Himmels, Gott der StärkeWilliam Williams (Author)German2
Great Redeemer, Friend of sinnersWilliam Williams (Author)English22
Großer Gott, je mehr an GüteW. Williams (Author)German3
Großr Gott, Jehova, führ' mich PilgerWilliam Williams (Author)German2
Guia, ó Deus, a minha vidaWilliam Williams (Author)Portuguese2
Guide me, O Thou great JehovahWilliam Williams (Author)English1387
Guide us, O Thou great Jehovah, lead us to the promised landWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)English1
Gwel, uwchlaw cymylau amserW. Williams (Translator)Welsh3
Gwna ni fel halen â Dy râsWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Gwyn a gwridog yw fy ArglwyddWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Hark, the voice of my beloved Lo, he comes in greatest needWilliam Williams (Author)2
Here is love as vast as the oceanWilliam Williams (Author (attr. to, v. 3 & 4))English3
Iesu, difyrwch f'enaid drudWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Iesu, Iesu, 'r wyt Ti'n ddigonWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Iturongnac, O JehovaWilliam Williams (Author)Tagalog2
Jehová, sé nuestro guíaWilliam Williams (Author)Spanish2
Jeová, sê nosso guiaWilliam Williams (Author)Portuguese2
Jesus is all my hopeW. Williams (Author)2
Jesus, lead us with Thy powerW. Williams (Author)English15
Kingdoms wide, that sit in darknessWilliam Williams (Author)2
Led mig, m'gtige JehovaWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)2
Leite mich, o du JehovahWilliam Williams (Author)German2
Leite mich, o mein JehovaWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)German6
Light of them that sit in darknessW. Williams (Author)7
領我,大哉,主耶和華 (Lǐng wǒ, dàzāi, zhǔ yēhéhuá)William Williams (Author)Chinese2
Mae dafn bach o waedWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Mae fy meiau fel mynyddauWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Mae fy nghalon am ehedegWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Mae'r faner fawr yn mlaenWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)Welsh3
Onward march, all conquering JesusW. W. (Author)1
Marchog, Iesu, yn llwyddianusWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
මෙලෝ වන මැදින් යන (Melō vana maedin yana)William Williams (Author)Sinhala2
Mi dafla' maich oddi ar fy ngwàrW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Mi edrychaf ar i fynyWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Na foed im feddwl, ddydd na nos (By day or night my thought is loss)W. W. (Author)English, Welsh2
Ndikhokele, O JehovaWilliam Williams (Author)Sotho2
Ni feddaf ar y ddaear fawrWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Ni fuasai gennyf obaithWilliam Williams (Welsh Words (stanza 1))Welsh2
Ni welir un yn llesgWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Nid oes ond f' Arglwydd mawr Ei ddawnW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Nid wy'n haeddu dim trugareddWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Niongoze, Bwana Mungu, ni msafiri chiniWilliam Williams (Author)Swahili1
Nis gall angylion nef y nef William Williams (Author)Welsh2
നിത്യനായ യഹോവായെ! ലോക വൻ കാട്ടിൽ കൂടെ (Nityanāya yahēāvāye! lēāka van kāṭṭil kūṭe)William Williams (Author)Malayalam2
O am nerth I dreulio', dyddiauPantycelyn (Author)Welsh1
O arglwydd, cofia'th angeu drudWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O, Arglwydd, rho im dafodWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
O, cymer fy serchiadau'n glauWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O Enw ardderchocafWilliam Williams (Translator (into Welsh))Welsh1
O flaen y fainc rhaid sefyllWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
O iachawdwr pechaduriaidWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)2
O, iachawdwriaeth gadarnWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
O Iesu mawr, rho'th anian burW. W. (Author (stanzas 2-3))Welsh1
O Iesu mawr, y Meddyg gwellWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O llefara, Addfwyn IesuWilliam Williams (Author)2
O nefol addfwyn Oen!W. W. (Author)Welsh2
O! p'le mae'r manna perffaith gwirWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O! Rosyn Saron hardd!William Williams (Author)1
O sancteiddia f'enaid, ArglwyddWilliam Williams, Pantycelyn, (1716-1791) (Welsh Words)Welsh3
O! tyred, Argwydd mawr, Dihidla o'r nef i lawrWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)Welsh3
O tyred, f'Anwylyd, fy Arglwydd yn ddynWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O, tyred Ysbred Glân, Yn fflam a ddwyfol dânWilliam Williams (Author (stanzas 2, 3))Welsh2
O! tyred, Ysbryd sanctaidd, purWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O ysbryd pur nefolaiddWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Over the gloomy hills of darknessWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)English273
Oh Pastor divino escucha Los que en este buen lugarWillliam Williams (Author)Spanish4
"One thing have I desired," The Hebrew Psalmist saidWilliam Williams (Author)2
O'r diwedd daeth yr awrWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
O'r nef mi glywais newyddWilliam Williams (Author (stanzas 1, 2))Welsh2
Pa le dechreauf rifoWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Pa'm y caiff bwystfilod rheibusWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
Pecadur wyf, f'Argylwydd a'i gŵyr William Williams (Author)Welsh1
Peregrino en el desiertoWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)Spanish2
Peregrinos en desierto Rev. William Williams (Author)Spanish5
Pererin wyf mewn anial dirWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)Welsh4
Plant ydym eto dan ein hoedW. Williams, Pantycelyn (1716-1791) (Author)Welsh1
'R wyf yma, Arglwydd, wrth Dy draedWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
'R wy'n chwenych gwel'd Ei degwch EfWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
'R wy'n dewis Iesu a'i farwol glwy'William Williams (Author)Welsh1
'R wy'n ofni'm nerth yn ddimWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
'Rwyf yma, Arglwydd, wrth Dy draedWilliam Williams (Welsh Words)Welsh1
'Rwy'n edrych, dros y bryniau pell (I gaze upon those distant hills)William Williams (Pantycelyn), (1717-1791) (Welsh and English Words)English, Welsh2
Speak, I pray thee, gentle JesusWilliam Williams, 1717 - 1791 (Author)4
Sqwahteeneesehsdee, Yeehowah (ᏍᏆᏘᏂᏎᏍᏗ, ᏱᎰᏩ)William Williams (Author)Cherokee2
Take me as I am, O SaviorWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)2
Tegwch hardd Ei wyneb-prydWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Ti Dy Hunan, Iesu mawrWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Ti, Iesu, ydwyt oll Dy HunWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
To thy great name, O Prince of peaceWilliams (Author)13
Tra yn Dy gwmni, f' Arglwydd mawrWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Tyred, Iesu, i'r anialwch At bechadr gwael ei lunWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh2
We stand in deep repentanceWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)English1
Wel, bellach mi gredaf, er nad wyf ond gwanWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Wel, dyma'r eiddil, dyma'r gwànWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Wel, f'eniad dos ymlaenW. W. (Author)Welsh2
Wel, mi ddarfyddaf mwyWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Wele'r hafan, wele'r ardalW. Williams, Pantycelyn (Author (stanza 1))Welsh2
While Thee I seek, Protecting PowerWilliams (Author)English2
Wrth dy orsedd 'rwyf fi'n gorweddWilliam Williams (Author)1
Wrth edrych, Iesu, ar Dy groesWilliam Williams (Author)1
Y cysur i gydW. W. (Author (stanza 1))Welsh1
Y mae hapusrwydd pawb o'r bydWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Yn Eden, cofiaf hyny bythWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh4
Yn mhlith holl ryfeddodau'r nefWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Yr Iesu adgyfododd Yn ogoneddus iawnWilliam Williams (Author)Welsh1
Yus amayaŋ ye, JehovahWilliam Williams (Author)Dakota1
Zion stands by hills surroundedWilliam Williams, 1717-1791 (Author)English5
Zot shpërblyes udhëheqmëWilliam Williams (Author)Albanian2

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