John Jenkins (Gwili)
Encyclopedia
John Jenkins known by his bardic name
of Gwili, was a Welsh
poet and theologian, and served as Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
from 1932 to 1936.
in Carmarthenshire
, the fifth child of John Jenkins a metal refiner and Elizabeth his wife. Both of his parents were fervent adherents to the Baptist
cause, so he received much of his primary education in the Baptist Sunday School
movement. He attended Hendy Primary school where he served as a pupil teacher between 1885 and 1890.
In the late nineteenth century and early 20th century in England and Wales a 13 year old pupil who had showed promise in his or her schooling could stay on at school as a probationer to help with the teaching of younger pupils. After two years as probationers, they would then spend another three years, learning the job before taking a final exam. If they passed, they would be paid to go to training college to become a qualified teacher. Gwili didn't go on to become a qualified teacher.
In 1891 he became a pupil at the Athenaeum School in Llanelli
but stayed for just one term because the school closed shortly after his enrolment. He moved on to the Gwynfryn School in Ammanford, where he stayed for a year studying Greek and Latin before moving on to the Baptists Theological College in Bangor
. In Bangor he studied for the external Intermediate examination of the University of London, which he failed in 1896, the reason given for his failure is that he spent too much time on his poetic and literary pursuits rather than on his studies. Because he failed his examinations he also failed to be accepted into the Baptist ministry.
In October 1896 he enrolled for a course in The University of Wales, Cardiff, but he withdrew from the course in March 1897.
In 1905, aged 33, Gwili entered Jesus College, Oxford
as a student of the Greats, i.e. Latin, Greek, Ancient Philosophy and History, and passed the first year examinations in these subjects. However, he changed his course in mid-stream and obtained a second class honours degree in Theology in 1908 According to the University regulations of the time, he would have been awarded an MA degree automatically after a period of seven years, in his case 1915.
In 1918 he wrote a thesis on “The Study of the Gospels in Mediaeval Welsh” for which he obtained a B.Litt. from Oxford University. He also received an honorary degree
D.Litt. from Oxford University in 1932.
was on active service in the Royal Navy. In 1919 he became Librarian of the Salisbury Library at Cardiff University. In 1923 he was appointed Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the Baptist College and University of North Wales Bangor, where he remained until his retirement.
Gwili spent two periods as editor of the Baptist periodical Seren Cymru, his first period from 1914-1927 was one of great influence where he used the paper to promote the works of the Fabian Society and the Independent Labour Party, giving the paper "an importance that no other denominational publication attained in later times".. The paper went into decline after Gwili's departure so he was invited back to the editorial chair in an attempt to revive the paper's fortune in 1933 and remained as editor until his death. He was also the editor of another Baptist periodical Seren Gomer
from 1930-1933.
Gwili had knowledge of Cynghanedd
the strict meter of Welsh poetry, but he never had much succes in the art, all of his provincial eisteddfodic honours were for poems in free meter. He did however adjudicate the competition for the chair (offered for a poem in cynghanedd) on at least two occasions.
He was elected Archdruid in 1931 and served his term in the post from 1932 until his death in 1936.
He died on 16 May 1936. The children of Hendy were given a half-day holiday to line the streets before his funeral at Hen Gapel, Llanedi
where he was buried on May 19.There were over seven hundred letters and telegrams of condolence sent to the family.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of Gwili, was a Welsh
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 and theologian, and served as Archdruid
Archdruid
The Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
from 1932 to 1936.
Early life and education
Gwili was born at HendyHendy
Yr Hendy is a village in the community of Llanedi, Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated on the border between Carmarthenshire and Swansea. Yr Hendy lies on the Afon Gwili just across the River Loughor from the town of Pontarddulais and, together with Fforest to its north, forms part of the continuous...
in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, the fifth child of John Jenkins a metal refiner and Elizabeth his wife. Both of his parents were fervent adherents to the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
cause, so he received much of his primary education in the Baptist Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
movement. He attended Hendy Primary school where he served as a pupil teacher between 1885 and 1890.
In the late nineteenth century and early 20th century in England and Wales a 13 year old pupil who had showed promise in his or her schooling could stay on at school as a probationer to help with the teaching of younger pupils. After two years as probationers, they would then spend another three years, learning the job before taking a final exam. If they passed, they would be paid to go to training college to become a qualified teacher. Gwili didn't go on to become a qualified teacher.
In 1891 he became a pupil at the Athenaeum School in Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
but stayed for just one term because the school closed shortly after his enrolment. He moved on to the Gwynfryn School in Ammanford, where he stayed for a year studying Greek and Latin before moving on to the Baptists Theological College in 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...
. In Bangor he studied for the external Intermediate examination of the University of London, which he failed in 1896, the reason given for his failure is that he spent too much time on his poetic and literary pursuits rather than on his studies. Because he failed his examinations he also failed to be accepted into the Baptist ministry.
In October 1896 he enrolled for a course in The University of Wales, Cardiff, but he withdrew from the course in March 1897.
In 1905, aged 33, Gwili entered 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...
as a student of the Greats, i.e. Latin, Greek, Ancient Philosophy and History, and passed the first year examinations in these subjects. However, he changed his course in mid-stream and obtained a second class honours degree in Theology in 1908 According to the University regulations of the time, he would have been awarded an MA degree automatically after a period of seven years, in his case 1915.
In 1918 he wrote a thesis on “The Study of the Gospels in Mediaeval Welsh” for which he obtained a B.Litt. from Oxford University. He also received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
D.Litt. from Oxford University in 1932.
Professional Life
Despite being an ordained minister Gwili never took up pastoral duities, he spent most of his working life in different teaching role. Between his studies in Cardiff and Oxford he worked as assistant master at Gwynfryn School Ammanford. After graduating in Oxford he returned to Gwynfryn as its head. The school closed during the First World War. In 1917 Gwili was appointed as Lecturer in Welsh in the Department of Celtic Studies at Cardiff University, spending some months as acting professor whilst Professor W. J. GruffyddWilliam John Gruffydd
Professor William John Gruffydd was a Welsh academic, poet, writer, and politician.-Family and Education:...
was on active service in the Royal Navy. In 1919 he became Librarian of the Salisbury Library at Cardiff University. In 1923 he was appointed Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the Baptist College and University of North Wales Bangor, where he remained until his retirement.
Gwili spent two periods as editor of the Baptist periodical Seren Cymru, his first period from 1914-1927 was one of great influence where he used the paper to promote the works of the Fabian Society and the Independent Labour Party, giving the paper "an importance that no other denominational publication attained in later times".. The paper went into decline after Gwili's departure so he was invited back to the editorial chair in an attempt to revive the paper's fortune in 1933 and remained as editor until his death. He was also the editor of another Baptist periodical Seren Gomer
Seren Gomer
Seren Gomer was a Welsh language periodical founded in 1814 by the clergyman and writer Joseph Harris . The title means "star of Gomer".The weekly was intended to cover news from the whole of Wales, and had a religious flavour...
from 1930-1933.
Gwili the Poet
Gwili started writing and publishing poet at an early age. He had a poem published in the Llanelly and County Guardian in 1887 when he was only 14 years old. He competed in regional and local bardic competitions thorough Wales with a fair degree of success, winning competition in Llanelli and Cwrt Henri in his own part of Wales as well as in places further away such as Dolgellau, Corwen and Caernarfon. He was not as successful on the national level, having tried but failed to win a major prize on at least 7 occasions before eventually gaining the Crown at the Merthyr Tydfil National Eisteddfod in 1901 for his poem Tywysog Tangnefedd (Prince of Peace).Gwili had knowledge of Cynghanedd
Cynghanedd
In Welsh language poetry, Cynghanedd is the basic concept of sound-arrangement within one line, using stress, alliteration and rhyme. The various forms of cynghanedd show up in the definitions of all formal Welsh verse forms, such as the awdl. Though of ancient origin, cynghanedd and variations of...
the strict meter of Welsh poetry, but he never had much succes in the art, all of his provincial eisteddfodic honours were for poems in free meter. He did however adjudicate the competition for the chair (offered for a poem in cynghanedd) on at least two occasions.
He was elected Archdruid in 1931 and served his term in the post from 1932 until his death in 1936.
Personal life
In 1910 Gwili married Ms Mary E Lewis of Ammanford by whom he had two daughters Nest born in 1912 and Gwen born in 1914.He died on 16 May 1936. The children of Hendy were given a half-day holiday to line the streets before his funeral at Hen Gapel, Llanedi
Llanedi
Llanedi is a village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales."LLANEDY , a parish, in the union of Llanelly, county of Carmarthen, South Wales, 10 miles from Llandilo-Vawr; containing 1098 inhabitants...
where he was buried on May 19.There were over seven hundred letters and telegrams of condolence sent to the family.
Works
- Poems (1920)
- Arweiniad i'r Testament Newydd (1929)
- Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist (1931)
- Caniadau (1934)
Further reading
- E. Cefni Jones - Gwili : Cofiant a Phregethau (1937)