Rhydwen Williams
Encyclopedia
Robert Rhydwenfro Williams, known as Rhydwen Williams (29 August 1916 - 2 August 1997), was a Welsh
poet, novelist and Baptist
minister. His work is mainly written in his native Welsh language
, and is noted for adapting the established style and context of Welsh poetry from a rural and bygone age to that of a modern industrial landscape, while retaining traditional prosody and metre.
, Rhondda
, in 1916 into a miner's family, Williams spent his childhood in the industrial community of the valley before his family moved to Christleton
, Cheshire
, in 1931 to escape the economic depression. Williams was very unhappy in England and returned to live in the Rhondda in 1941.
Before his return to Wales, Williams worked mainly in menial jobs, and later studied intermittently at both the University College of Swansea and Bangor
. A conscientious objector
on Welsh nationalist grounds, he served in a Quaker relief unit during the bombing of Liverpool
. Williams was given his first pastorate in 1941 in a Baptist chapel in Ynyshir
, where he developed his style of poetry. A controversial figure due to his pacifism
and nationalism, he was nevertheless a popular minister, with a wonderful voice, comparable with that of Richard Burton
. A gifted reader of poetry, he often read for the Welsh Home Service
on the BBC
.
As a member of the Cadwgan Circle, he mixed with fellow members J. Gwyn Griffiths
, Pennar Davies
and Gareth Alban Davies
, and was especially close to J. Kitchener Davies
. From this informal group of like-minded intellectuals, Williams developed a style of writing and literal ethic opposed to eisteddfodic tradition. Amongst his heroes were writers Aldous Huxley
, W H Auden and George Orwell
.
Although Williams' poetry was not in keeping with the tradition of the National Eisteddfod, he was still embraced by it. In 1946, at Mountain Ash, he won the Crown competition for the poem Yr Arloeswr (The Pioneer) and again in 1964 for Yr Ffynhonnau (The Springs)
Leaving Ynyshir in 1946 he travelled Wales, holding pastorates at Resolven
and Pont-Ilew in the Swansea Valley
until 1959, before spending a year at Rhyl
. Williams later moved from his ministry to accept a post at Granada Television
in Manchester
, presenting Welsh language programmes, in which his skills as a communicator came to the fore. He wrote television scripts; one about Dietrich Bonhoeffer
was the first Welsh-language television play to be broadcast on a foreign network.
Of all Williams' work, his trilogy Cwm Hiraith is seen by many as his finest achievement; semi-autobiographical, the three books form a prose epic of life in the depression hit Rhondda through the eyes of the author's Uncle Sion, a poet and thinker.
During the 1970s, Williams and his family lived in a council house at Coed yr Haf, Ystrad Mynach where he continued his membership of Plaid Cymru. Williams suffered a stroke in 1981, the physical effects of which he suffered for the rest of his life. Between 1980 and 1985 he edited the current affairs magazine Barn
. He died at Merthyr Tydfil
in 1997.
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, novelist and 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...
minister. His work is mainly written in his native 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...
, and is noted for adapting the established style and context of Welsh poetry from a rural and bygone age to that of a modern industrial landscape, while retaining traditional prosody and metre.
Life
Born in PentrePentre
Pentre is a village and community, near Treorchy in Rhondda valley, falling within the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The village's name is taken from the Welsh word Pentref, which translates as homestead, though Pentre is named after a large farm that dominated the area before the...
, Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
, in 1916 into a miner's family, Williams spent his childhood in the industrial community of the valley before his family moved to Christleton
Christleton
Christleton is a small village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a population for the entire civil parish of 2,112....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, in 1931 to escape the economic depression. Williams was very unhappy in England and returned to live in the Rhondda in 1941.
Before his return to Wales, Williams worked mainly in menial jobs, and later studied intermittently at both the University College of Swansea and 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...
. A conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
on Welsh nationalist grounds, he served in a Quaker relief unit during the bombing of 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...
. Williams was given his first pastorate in 1941 in a Baptist chapel in Ynyshir
Ynyshir
Ynyshir , meaning "Long Island" in English, is a village and a community located in the Rhondda Valley, within Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The village takes its name from a farm in the area, falling within the historic parishes of Ystradyfodwg and Llanwynno . The community of Ynyshir also...
, where he developed his style of poetry. A controversial figure due to his pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
and nationalism, he was nevertheless a popular minister, with a wonderful voice, comparable with that of Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
. A gifted reader of poetry, he often read for the Welsh Home Service
Home Service
Home Service are a British folk rock group, formed in late 1980 from a nucleus of musicians who had been playing in Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band. Their career is generally agreed to have peaked with the album Alright Jack, which is usually considered one of the finest products of the electric folk...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
As a member of the Cadwgan Circle, he mixed with fellow members J. Gwyn Griffiths
J. Gwyn Griffiths
John Gwyn Griffiths , was a Welsh poet, Egyptologist and nationalist political activist who spent the largest span of his career lecturing at Swansea University.-Early history:...
, Pennar Davies
Pennar Davies
William Thomas Pennar Davies was a Welsh clergyman and author.Born simply William Thomas Davies, in Mountain Ash , the son of a miner, he took the name "Pennar" "as a sign of his identification with the native culture of Wales"...
and Gareth Alban Davies
Gareth Alban Davies
Gareth Alban Davies , was a Welsh poet, educator and Hispanist who spent the largest span of his academic career lecturing at the University of Leeds...
, and was especially close to J. Kitchener Davies
James Kitchener Davies
James Kitchener Davies , also known as J. Kitchener Davies, was a Welsh poet and playwright who wrote mostly in the Welsh language...
. From this informal group of like-minded intellectuals, Williams developed a style of writing and literal ethic opposed to eisteddfodic tradition. Amongst his heroes were writers Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
, W H Auden and George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
.
Although Williams' poetry was not in keeping with the tradition of the National Eisteddfod, he was still embraced by it. In 1946, at Mountain Ash, he won the Crown competition for the poem Yr Arloeswr (The Pioneer) and again in 1964 for Yr Ffynhonnau (The Springs)
Leaving Ynyshir in 1946 he travelled Wales, holding pastorates at Resolven
Resolven
Resolven is a small village in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. It is located in the heart of the Vale of Neath.- Location :The village is situated in the Vale of Neath, next to the A465 Heads of Valleys Road, and is the main settlement in the community of Resolven...
and Pont-Ilew in the Swansea Valley
Swansea Valley
The Swansea Valley , one of the South Wales Valleys is the name often given to the valley of the River Tawe area in South Wales, UK. It reaches southwest and south from the Brecon Beacons National Park down to the city of Swansea. Today, administration of the area is divided between the City and...
until 1959, before spending a year at Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
. Williams later moved from his ministry to accept a post at Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, presenting Welsh language programmes, in which his skills as a communicator came to the fore. He wrote television scripts; one about Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and martyr. He was a participant in the German resistance movement against Nazism and a founding member of the Confessing Church. He was involved in plans by members of the Abwehr to assassinate Adolf Hitler...
was the first Welsh-language television play to be broadcast on a foreign network.
Of all Williams' work, his trilogy Cwm Hiraith is seen by many as his finest achievement; semi-autobiographical, the three books form a prose epic of life in the depression hit Rhondda through the eyes of the author's Uncle Sion, a poet and thinker.
During the 1970s, Williams and his family lived in a council house at Coed yr Haf, Ystrad Mynach where he continued his membership of Plaid Cymru. Williams suffered a stroke in 1981, the physical effects of which he suffered for the rest of his life. Between 1980 and 1985 he edited the current affairs magazine Barn
Barn (Welsh magazine)
Barn is a monthly Welsh language current affairs magazine. It was established in 1962 and over 500 issues have been published. Its first editor was Emlyn Evans and it was published by Llyfrau'r Dryw, Llandybie...
. He died at Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
in 1997.
Novels
- Y Briodas (1969)
- Y Siol Wen (1970)
- Dyddiau Dyn (1973)
- The Angry Vineyard (1975)
- Amser i Wylo: Senghennydd 1913 (1986)