John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri)
Encyclopedia
John Jenkins (8 April 1770 – 20 November 1829) was a Welsh priest in the Church of England
and an antiquarian. He played a leading role in the establishment of eisteddfodau in Wales in the nineteenth century.
, Wales
on 8 April 1770, studied at the school in Llangoemor and Carmarthen Academy before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Oxford
in 1793. He was initially a member of Jesus College, Oxford
before transferring to Merton College
. He was ordained in 1793 and his first post was at Whippingham
, Isle of Wight
, where he acted as curate
to the rector
, who was his uncle. From 1799 onwards, he was chaplain of HMS Agincourt
, then of HMS Theseus
, in the West Indies. After illness, he returned to Wales to become rector of Manordeifi
in Pembrokeshire
, before Thomas Burgess (the Bishop of St David's
) appointed him as vicar
of Ceri
in Montgomeryshire
in 1807. The name of the village gave him the name by which he was known as an antiquarian, Ifor Ceri. ("Ifor" was after Ifor ap Llywelyn, patron of the medieval Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym
– Jenkins was very hospitable towards poets and musicians at his house in Ceri.)
On one visit in 1818, Thomas Burgess and Jenkins decided "to rekindle the bardic skill and ingenuity of the principality ... by holding eisteddfodau in different places in the four provinces". Jenkins carried on directing eisteddfodau until 1829 when he decided that the English influence was too strong. His work paved the way for the National Eisteddfods beginning later in the century. He also collected folk songs, hymn tunes and psalm tunes, and wrote local histories and other articles, some in Welsh. He helped to reform the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
. Jenkins died in Ceri on 20 November 1829.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and an antiquarian. He played a leading role in the establishment of eisteddfodau in Wales in the nineteenth century.
Life
Jenkins, who was born in a farmhouse in Llangoemor in CeredigionCeredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
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...
on 8 April 1770, studied at the school in Llangoemor and Carmarthen Academy before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1793. He was initially a member of 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...
before transferring to Merton College
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
. He was ordained in 1793 and his first post was at Whippingham
Whippingham
Whippingham is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It is located two kilometres south of East Cowes in the north of the Island.Whippingham is best known for its connections with Queen Victoria, especially its church, redesigned by Prince Albert. The church has a tower reminiscent of a...
, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, where he acted as curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
to the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, who was his uncle. From 1799 onwards, he was chaplain of HMS Agincourt
HMS Agincourt (1796)
HMS Agincourt was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 23 July 1796 at Blackwall Yard, London. She was bought from the East India Company in 1796, where she had been called Earl Talbot....
, then of HMS Theseus
HMS Theseus (1786)
HMS Theseus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy.One of the eight Culloden class ships designed by Thomas Slade, she was built at Perry, Blackwall Yard, London and launched on 25 September 1786.-Service:...
, in the West Indies. After illness, he returned to Wales to become rector of Manordeifi
Manordeifi
Manordeifi is a parish and community in the hundred of Kilgerran, in the northeast corner of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The population of the community was 478. Together with the community of Cilgerran, it makes up Cilgerran electoral ward....
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, before Thomas Burgess (the Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
) appointed him as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Ceri
Kerry, Powys
Kerry is a small village in Powys, Mid Wales. The area around the village was the Welsh Commote and Lordship of Ceri, part of the region of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, and it was originally ruled by the Princes of Maelienydd and their descendants....
in 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 1807. The name of the village gave him the name by which he was known as an antiquarian, Ifor Ceri. ("Ifor" was after Ifor ap Llywelyn, patron of the medieval Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym
Dafydd ap Gwilym
Dafydd ap Gwilym , is regarded as one of the leading Welsh poets and amongst the great poets of Europe in the Middle Ages. Dafydd ap Gwilym (c. 1315/1320 – c. 1350/1370), is regarded as one of the leading Welsh poets and amongst the great poets of Europe in the Middle Ages. Dafydd ap Gwilym...
– Jenkins was very hospitable towards poets and musicians at his house in Ceri.)
On one visit in 1818, Thomas Burgess and Jenkins decided "to rekindle the bardic skill and ingenuity of the principality ... by holding eisteddfodau in different places in the four provinces". Jenkins carried on directing eisteddfodau until 1829 when he decided that the English influence was too strong. His work paved the way for the National Eisteddfods beginning later in the century. He also collected folk songs, hymn tunes and psalm tunes, and wrote local histories and other articles, some in Welsh. He helped to reform the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
. Jenkins died in Ceri on 20 November 1829.