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William Williams
1717 - 1791 Person Name: Pantycelyn Author of "Mi edrychaf ar i fyny" in Cân a Mawl 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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See also in:
Hymn Writers of the Church
William Williams
James Allen
1734 - 1804 Person Name: J. Allen Author of "Sweet the moments, rich in blessing" in Cân a Mawl Allen, James, born at Gayle, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, June 24, 1734, and educated with a view to taking Holy Orders, first with two clergymen at different times, and then for one year at St. John's Coll., Cambridge. Leaving the University in 1752 he became a follower of Benjamin Ingham, the founder of the sect of the Inghamites, but subsequently joined himself to the Sandemanians; and finally built a chapel on his estate at Gayle, and ministered therein to the time of his death; died 31st Oct., 1804. He published a small volume, Christian Songs, containing 17 hymns, and was the editor and a principal contributor to the Kendal Hymn Book, 1757, and Appendix to the 2nd edition, 1761.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
James Allen
Walter Shirley
1725 - 1786 Person Name: W. W. Shirley Alterer of "Sweet the moments, rich in blessing" in Cân a Mawl Walter Shirley was born in 1725. He was the friend of Whitefield and Wesley. After preaching with great success in England, he received the living of Loughrea, Ireland, where he continued to exercise his ministry for many years. His last sickness was of a lingering character, and it is related of him that when no longer able to leave his house he used to preach, seated in his chair in his drawing room, to many who gladly assembled to hear. He died in 1786. He published one volume of sermons and two poems.
--Annotations of the Hymnal by The Rev. Charles L. Hutchins, M.A. (1872).
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Shirley, Hon. Walter, M.A., fourth son of the Hon. Laurence Shirley (son of the 1st Earl Ferrers, and cousin of the Countess of Huntingdon), was born in 1725. He was a friend of Whitefield and the Wesleys, and often preached in their chapels. He was for sometime Rector of Loughrea, county of Galway. He died April 7, 1786. A selection of his sermons was published; also two poems in 1761—-Liberty, an Ode, and The Judgment. In 1774 he assisted the Countess of Huntingdon in revising the collection of hymns used in her chapels, and therein a few of his productions are found. In the Life of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, 1839, vol. ii., p. 291, the following note is given on Shirley's hymn-writing:—
"Mr. Shirley was the author of several well-known hymns in Lady Huntingdon's collection, particularly:—
‘From heaven the loud angelic song began.'
‘Hark! in the wilderness a try.'
‘Flow fast my tears, the cause is great.'
‘Sweet as the shepherd's tuneful reed.'
‘Source of light and power divine.'
“There are also some in other collections; and a few little poems scattered in various periodical publications. The lines on the departure of the Missionaries from Lady Huntingdon's College for America, in 1772, under the direction of Mr. Piercy, have been much admired; they were re-published in the Evangelical Magazine, in 1796, on the departure of the ship Duff, for the South Sea inlands.....He likewise assisted Lady Huntingdon in the Selection of hymns now in use in the congregations in her Connexion."
The Missionary hymn here referred to is:— "Go, destined vessel, heavenly-freighted, go!" His hymns now in common use include:—
1. Flow fast, my tears, the cause is great. Good Friday. Published in the Countess of Huntingdon's Collection, circa 1773, p. 294, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. It is in several modern hymn-books; and especially in America, including Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872.
2. From heaven the loud angelic song began. Ascension. Also in the C. of Huntingdon's Collection, circa 1773, p. 312, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines. The hymn, "Worthy the Lamb of boundless sway," in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, and others, is composed of st. ii. and vii.
3. Hark, in the wilderness a cry. St. John Baptist. Also in the C. of Huntingdon's Collection, circa 1773, p. 245, in 7 st. of 4 1.
4. Source of light and power divine. Before Sermon. Also in the C. of Huntingdon's Collection, circa 1773, p. 231, in 4 st. of 6 1. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 812, st. i. and iv. are given in an altered form; and the first two lines of the hymn are added as a refrain.
5. Sweet as the shepherd's tuneful reed. Peace. Also in the above Collection, circa 1773, p. 126, in 4 st. of 6 1. The hymn, “Peace, troubled soul, whose plaintive moan," in Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884, and others, is composed of stanza ii. and iii.
For Shirley's popular recast, "Sweet the moments, rich in blessing," see “While my Jesus I'm possessing."
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Walter Shirley
Daniel Hughes
Person Name: D. H. Translator of "Dyma Feibil annwyl Iesu (This is Jesus' precious Bible)" in Mawl a chân = praise and song
Daniel Hughes
Richard Davies
Person Name: R. D. Author (stanza 1) of "Dyma Feibil annwyl Iesu (This is Jesus' precious Bible)" in Mawl a chân = praise and song See also Mynyddog, 1833-1877
Richard Davies
Thomas Levi
1825 - 1916 Person Name: T. L. Author (stanzas 2, 3) of "Dyma Feibil annwyl Iesu (This is Jesus' precious Bible)" in Mawl a chân = praise and song LEVI,THOMAS (1825-1916), Calvinistic Methodist minister, editor of Trysorfa y Plant, and author; born 12 Oct. 1825 at Penrhos near Ystradgynlais, son of John and Prudence Levi. He received his early education at a school kept by an old soldier at Ystradgynlais, and later, while still a boy, worked at Ynyscedwyn iron works. About 1846 he began to preach at Cwmgïedd chapel, Ystradgynlais. He was minister of Capel yr Ynys, Ystradgynlais, about 1855-60, of Philadelphia, Morriston, 1860-76, and of Tabernacle, Aberystwyth, 1876-1901. He married (1), Elizabeth Daniel of Cwmgïedd (d. 1871), and (2), 1873, Margaret, youngest daughter of Hugh and Catherine Jones of Coedmadoc, Tal-y-sarn, Caerns. He began his literary labours in 1853 and wrote thirty books. Today, the best known are: Hanes Prydain Fawr, 1862; Bywyd a Theithiau Livingstone, 1857; Gweddiau Teuluaidd, 1863; Hanesion y Beibl, 1870; Casgliad o Hen Farwnadau, 1872; Hanes y Beibl Cymraeg, 1876; Traethodau Bywgraffyddol, 1882 and after, published in a single volume entitled Cedyrn Cymru; Canmlwyddiant yr Ysgol Sabbothol, 1885. He also translated sixty books from English into Welsh, including Yr Anianydd Cristionogol1859; Crist a Gwroniaid y Byd Paganaidd, 1887. He co-operated with Dr. Joseph Parry in the production of ‘Cantata yr Adar,’ 1873; ‘Cantata Joseph,’ 1885; Hymnau a Thonau yr Ysgol Sabbothol, 1887, etc. But his chief literary achievement was the starting of Trysorfa y Plant, and its regular production every month for half a century- 1862-1911. Although this periodical was produced under the patronage of the Calvinistic Methodists, it was popular with every denomination. The circulation of Trysorfa y Plant, which ultimately reached 44,000 a month, was greater than had ever been known in Wales before. Its income was so great that it paid the entire cost of production of Y Drysorfa and Y Traethodydd. It was read by Welshmen all over the world and in it were published some of the earliest poems of Islwyn, Ceiriog, and others. Levi was moderator of the C.M. General Assembly in 1883 and of the South Wales Association in 1887. He played a prominent part in the setting up of monuments to Daniel Rowland, Thomas Charles, Williams of Pantycelyn, and bishop Morgan. He continued to preach until 1910 and to edit Trysorfa y Plant until 1911. He was nearly 91 when he d. 16 June 1916. A list of his original works and of his translations of hymns was prepared at the request of the N.L.W., and this list will be found in that Library.
Bibliography:
Personal knowledge.
Thomas Arthur Levi, M.A., B.C.L., Ll.B., (1875-1954), Aberystwyth
http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s-LEVI-THO-1825.html
Thomas Levi
