Ann Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Ann Griffiths (April 1776 – August 1805) was a Welsh
poet
and writer of Methodist
Christian hymns.
(in the former county of Montgomeryshire
) in Powys
. She was the daughter of John Evan Thomas, a tenant farmer and churchwarden, and his wife, Jane. She had two older sisters, an older brother, John, and a younger brother, Edward. Her parents' house, Dolwar Fechan, was an isolated farm-house some two-and-a-half miles south of Llanfihangel and one mile north of Dolanog, set among hills and streams. Not far away lay Pennant Melangell, where Saint Melangell had lived as a hermit in the 8th century.
Ann was brought up in the Anglican Church; but in 1794, when she was eighteen, her mother died, and about this time or perhaps earlier she followed her brothers John and Edward in becoming drawn to the Methodist movement. In 1796 she joined the Calvinistic Methodist movement after hearing the preaching of Rev. Benjamin Jones of Pwllheli
.
After the deaths of both her parents she married Thomas Griffiths, a farmer from the parish of Meifod
and an elder of the Calvinistic Methodist church.
She died following childbirth aged 29, and was buried on 12 August 1805 at Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa.
She left behind a handful of stanzas in the Welsh language
. These were preserved and published by her mentor, the Calvinistic
Methodist minister, John Hughes of Pontrobert
, and his wife, Ruth, who had been maid at Ann Griffiths' farm and was a close confidante.
, and her longest poem was described by the dramatist and literary critic, Saunders Lewis
, as 'one of the majestic songs in the religious poetry of Europe'.
The service of enthronement of Rowan Williams
as Archbishop of Canterbury in February 2003 included Archbishop Rowan's own translation of one of her hymns: "Yr Arglwydd Iesu" ("The Lord Jesus").
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writer of Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
Christian hymns.
Biography
Ann was born in April 1776 near the village of Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, six miles from the market town of LlanfyllinLlanfyllin
Llanfyllin is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales, United Kingdom.- Location, history and amenities :Llanfyllin's population at the date of the 2001 Census was 1,407. The town lies on the River Cain by the Berwyn Mountains in Montgomeryshire. It is known for its holy well, dedicated to Saint Myllin....
(in the former county of Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
) in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. She was the daughter of John Evan Thomas, a tenant farmer and churchwarden, and his wife, Jane. She had two older sisters, an older brother, John, and a younger brother, Edward. Her parents' house, Dolwar Fechan, was an isolated farm-house some two-and-a-half miles south of Llanfihangel and one mile north of Dolanog, set among hills and streams. Not far away lay Pennant Melangell, where Saint Melangell had lived as a hermit in the 8th century.
Ann was brought up in the Anglican Church; but in 1794, when she was eighteen, her mother died, and about this time or perhaps earlier she followed her brothers John and Edward in becoming drawn to the Methodist movement. In 1796 she joined the Calvinistic Methodist movement after hearing the preaching of Rev. Benjamin Jones of Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
.
After the deaths of both her parents she married Thomas Griffiths, a farmer from the parish of Meifod
Meifod
Meifod is a small village 7 miles north-west of Welshpool in Powys, mid Wales, on the A495 road and located in the valley of the River Vyrnwy. The River Banwy has a confluence with the Vyrnwy approximately two miles to the west of the village....
and an elder of the Calvinistic Methodist church.
She died following childbirth aged 29, and was buried on 12 August 1805 at Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa.
She left behind a handful of stanzas in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. These were preserved and published by her mentor, the Calvinistic
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
Methodist minister, John Hughes of Pontrobert
Pontrobert
Pontrobert is a village in Powys, Mid Wales.The bridge that gives the village its name is over the River Vyrnwy.- External links :**...
, and his wife, Ruth, who had been maid at Ann Griffiths' farm and was a close confidante.
Poetry
Ann's poems are an expression of her fervent evangelical Christian faith, and reflect her incisive intellect and thorough scriptural knowledge. She is the most prominent female hymn-writer in Welsh. Her work is regarded as a highlight of Welsh literatureLiterature of Wales (Welsh language)
After literature written in the classical languages literature in the Welsh language is the oldest surviving literature in Europe. The Welsh literary tradition stretches from the 6th century to the twenty-first. Its fortunes have fluctuated over the centuries, in line with those of the Welsh...
, and her longest poem was described by the dramatist and literary critic, Saunders Lewis
Saunders Lewis
Saunders Lewis was a Welsh poet, dramatist, historian, literary critic, and political activist. He was a prominent Welsh nationalist and a founder of the Welsh National Party...
, as 'one of the majestic songs in the religious poetry of Europe'.
The service of enthronement of Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
as Archbishop of Canterbury in February 2003 included Archbishop Rowan's own translation of one of her hymns: "Yr Arglwydd Iesu" ("The Lord Jesus").
Further reading
- A. Griffiths, Cofio Ann Griffiths, ed. G. M. Roberts (1965)
- A. M. Allchin, Ann Griffiths (1976) (in 'Writers of Wales' series)