William Williams (pen name "Caledfryn" or "Gwilym Caledfryn") (6 February 1801 – 23 March 1869) was a Welsh Congregational minister, poet and literary critic born at Bryn y Ffynnon, Denbigh. He was one of the leading figures in the Welsh Eisteddfod movement and did much to raise the standards of Welsh literature of his time.
Caledfryn | |
|---|---|
 Engraving from Ceinion Llenyddiaeth Gymreig (1876) | |
| Born | William Williams 6 February 1801 Bryn y Ffynnon, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales |
| Died | 23 March 1869 (aged 68) Groes-wen, Glamorgan |
| Occupation | Minister, poet, writer, editor |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Years active | 1820s - 1860s |
Biography
editHe was from a family of weavers at Bryn y Ffynnon. He studied at Rotherham College before becoming ordained as a minister with the Independents in 1829. He was a prominent member of the Anti-Corn Law League, the Peace Society and the Society for the Liberation of Religion which sought to separate the church from the state.[1]
He tried to standardize Welsh as a literary language and wrote a number of articles and criticisms on Welsh poetry, becoming popular in the first half of the 19th century. In 1851 he published Grammadeg Cymreig, an important book of Welsh grammar.[1]
From 1831 to 1868 he served as an editor for numerous Welsh periodicals.[2] He published Cyfarwyddiadur i Ddarllen ac Ysgrifennu Cymraeg ("A Guide to reading and writing Welsh" in 1821; Grawn Awen, a volume of verse in 1826; and Drych Barddonol neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth (an essay on Poetry) in 1839.[1]
He spent the last days of his life in South Wales as minister at Groeswen Independent Chapel, near Cardiff in Glamorgan.
Literary work
editPoetry
edit- Grawn Awen (1826)
- Caniadau Caledfryn (1856)
References
edit- ^ a b c "The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography". yba.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ Stephens, Meic (2004). "Williams, William [pseud. Caledfryn]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29559. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
External links
edit- Glamorgan Archives: Groes-wen Independent Chapel records at archiveswales.org.uk