Griffith Griffith
Encyclopedia
Griffith Wynne Griffith (4 February 1883 – 2 February 1967) was a Welsh
Presbyterian minister, who became one of the leaders of the denomination. He was also editor of two journals, a member of the committee for a new translation of the Bible into Welsh
and a member of the Council and Court of Governors of University College, Bangor
. He also wrote and translated many hymns.
, Anglesey
, the son of John Griffith (a farmer) and his wife Judith. He worked on the family farm until the age of 18, when he attended a school in Menai Bridge
run by Cynffig Davies to prepare candidates for ordination. He was accepted for ordination by the Anglesey Presbytery in 1903. His education continued at University College, Bangor
, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy) and then at the Theological College in Bala, for training in theology. He also spent some time at Jesus College, Oxford
from 1909. Griffith was ordained in 1911, and served in various locations thereafter: Bryn-du, Anglesey (1910–1913), Liverpool
(1913–1923), Porthmadog
(1923–1929) and Bangor
(1929–1946). He was regarded as an "elegant and powerful preacher."
As well as his local ministry, Griffith was involved in the work of his denomination at a national level. In 1952, he was Moderator of the Association in the North, and was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1959. He was involved in the preparation of a Welsh-language "short confession of faith" and book of services, serving as secretary of the committee responsible. Griffith was also part of the committee that worked on a new Welsh translation of the Bible, and was a member of the Council and Court of Governors of University College, Bangor. His writings included (1946, a version of his Davies Lecture of 1942), two novels ( (1928) and (1939)), and a biography of the Welsh teacher and missionary Helen Rowlands (1961). He also wrote various theological books: (1925), (1927), (1943), The Wonderful Life (1941), and (1948). He also contributed to (1926), and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography
. He edited from 1929 to 1930, serving as assistant editor from 1931 to 1944. He was the editor of from 1949 to 1957. Chapters from his autobiography appeared in this journal, and they were collected together as in 1967.
After his retirement, he lived in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll with his wife, Grace (née Roberts) whom he had married in 1914. They had two sons and a daughter, one of his sons (Huw Wynne Griffith) becoming a Presbyterian minister in Aberystwyth
. During his retirement, Griffith wrote and translated a number of hymns, some being collected for publication under the title in 1959. Griffith died in his son's home in Aberystwyth on 2 February 1967 and was buried in the chapel graveyard in Dwyran
, Anglesey.
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...
Presbyterian minister, who became one of the leaders of the denomination. He was also editor of two journals, a member of the committee for a new translation of the Bible into Welsh
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...
and a member of the Council and Court of Governors of University College, Bangor
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
. He also wrote and translated many hymns.
Life
Griffith was born on 4 February 1883 in Brynteci, LlandyfrydogLlandyfrydog
Llandyfrydog is a village in Anglesey, in north-west Wales....
, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, the son of John Griffith (a farmer) and his wife Judith. He worked on the family farm until the age of 18, when he attended a school in Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge is a small town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas Telford...
run by Cynffig Davies to prepare candidates for ordination. He was accepted for ordination by the Anglesey Presbytery in 1903. His education continued at University College, Bangor
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy) and then at the Theological College in Bala, for training in theology. He also spent some time at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
from 1909. Griffith was ordained in 1911, and served in various locations thereafter: Bryn-du, Anglesey (1910–1913), Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
(1913–1923), Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
(1923–1929) and Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
(1929–1946). He was regarded as an "elegant and powerful preacher."
As well as his local ministry, Griffith was involved in the work of his denomination at a national level. In 1952, he was Moderator of the Association in the North, and was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1959. He was involved in the preparation of a Welsh-language "short confession of faith" and book of services, serving as secretary of the committee responsible. Griffith was also part of the committee that worked on a new Welsh translation of the Bible, and was a member of the Council and Court of Governors of University College, Bangor. His writings included (1946, a version of his Davies Lecture of 1942), two novels ( (1928) and (1939)), and a biography of the Welsh teacher and missionary Helen Rowlands (1961). He also wrote various theological books: (1925), (1927), (1943), The Wonderful Life (1941), and (1948). He also contributed to (1926), and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography
Dictionary of Welsh Biography
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is a dictionary of biographies of Welsh men and women who have made a unique contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries...
. He edited from 1929 to 1930, serving as assistant editor from 1931 to 1944. He was the editor of from 1949 to 1957. Chapters from his autobiography appeared in this journal, and they were collected together as in 1967.
After his retirement, he lived in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll with his wife, Grace (née Roberts) whom he had married in 1914. They had two sons and a daughter, one of his sons (Huw Wynne Griffith) becoming a Presbyterian minister in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. During his retirement, Griffith wrote and translated a number of hymns, some being collected for publication under the title in 1959. Griffith died in his son's home in Aberystwyth on 2 February 1967 and was buried in the chapel graveyard in Dwyran
Dwyran
Dwyran is a village in Anglesey, in north-west Wales....
, Anglesey.