Howell Elvet Lewis
Encyclopedia
Howell Elvet Lewis CH known by his bardic name Elfed (1860–1953 ), independent minister, hymn-writer, and poet served as Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
from 1924 to 1928.
, Carmarthenshire
.
His father was a farm labourer and his mother was a small shopkeeper. He had a very limited early education, but through self study and attendance at a local chapel schoolroom he managed to gain entry to Newcastle Emlyn
Grammar School at the age of 14. Two years later he succeeded in an examination for admission to the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, where he trained for the ministry.
, Flintshire
. In 1884 he moved to minister in a chapel in Hull. He returned to Wales in 1891 as minister of the English Congregational Park Chapel, Llanelli. In 1898 he accepted a calling to Harecourt Chapel in London where he remained until 1904. In 1904 he became minister of Tabernacl Chapel Kings Cross, a Welsh language congregational chapel in London, he remained at Y Tabernacl until his retirement in 1940. He retired to Penarth where he became a member of Ebeneser Chapel, Cardiff.
Apart from serving as a church minister Elfed's ministry included two periods as chair of the London Missionary Board in 1910 and 1922. He was one of three representatives of the Congregational Union invited to visit Madagascar to celebrate the century of the arrival of the first missionaries to the country. He was elected President of the National Free Church Council, 1926–27, President of the Welsh Union of the League of Nations
, 1927–28 and chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales in 1933.
in 1888 and enthroned as its Archdruid
in 1924 a position which he held until 1928.
Elfed's greatest contribution to Welsh literature was in the field of hymnody and hymnology
. He published his first hymn, O Dywysog Pob Daioni in 1881 during the first year of his ministry, he went on to write a large number of original hymns in Welsh and in English and to translate hymns between the two languages, many of which are still popular with congregations today. Amongst his best known original Welsh language hymns is the patriotic hymn Cofia'n gwlad Benllywydd tirion, his original English hymn Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining is widely used in hymn books on both sides of the Atlantic. A number of Welsh hymns translated into English appeared in a series of articles published in the magazine Sunday at Home and then republished in Book form as Sweet Singers of Wales by The Religious Tract Society - London in 1889
(1906) D.D
. (1937) and Ll.D
(1949).
He was created Companion of Honour in 1948.
His first wife was Mary Taylor from Buckley who he married in Stratford in 1887 and by whom he had seven children, Mary died in 1918
His second wife was Elizabeth Lloyd who he married in 1923, but her health was fragile and she died in 1927 after barely 4 years of marriage.
His third wife was Mary Davies, one of the chapel members at Tabernacl Kings Cross who he married in 1930
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 1924 to 1928.
Early life
Elfed was born on April 14, 1860, eldest son of twelve children of James and Anna Lewis, of Y Gangell, near Blaen-y-CoedBlaenycoed
Blaenycoed, or Blaen-y-coed is a village situated between Carmarthen and Newcastle Emlyn in the West of Wales.-General information:The small village contains a chapel, a postbox, a phonebox and a few small farms...
, 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...
.
His father was a farm labourer and his mother was a small shopkeeper. He had a very limited early education, but through self study and attendance at a local chapel schoolroom he managed to gain entry to Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
Grammar School at the age of 14. Two years later he succeeded in an examination for admission to the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, where he trained for the ministry.
Ministry
Elfed was ordained in 1880 and was made pastor of St John’s English Congregational Church in BuckleyBuckley
Buckley is a town and community in Flintshire, located in north-east Wales. It is situated 2 miles from the county town of Mold and is contiguous with the nearby villages of Ewloe, Alltami and Mynydd Isa...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
. In 1884 he moved to minister in a chapel in Hull. He returned to Wales in 1891 as minister of the English Congregational Park Chapel, Llanelli. In 1898 he accepted a calling to Harecourt Chapel in London where he remained until 1904. In 1904 he became minister of Tabernacl Chapel Kings Cross, a Welsh language congregational chapel in London, he remained at Y Tabernacl until his retirement in 1940. He retired to Penarth where he became a member of Ebeneser Chapel, Cardiff.
Apart from serving as a church minister Elfed's ministry included two periods as chair of the London Missionary Board in 1910 and 1922. He was one of three representatives of the Congregational Union invited to visit Madagascar to celebrate the century of the arrival of the first missionaries to the country. He was elected President of the National Free Church Council, 1926–27, President of the Welsh Union of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, 1927–28 and chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales in 1933.
Literary legacy
Elfed's literary output was prolific, he wrote essays, historical treaties, obituaries, devotional works and poetry. He won the National Eisteddfod Crown consecutively in 1888 (Wrexham) and 1889 (Brecon) and the Chair in 1894 (Caernarfon). He was inaugurated into the bardic order of the GorseddGorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
in 1888 and enthroned as its 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...
in 1924 a position which he held until 1928.
Elfed's greatest contribution to Welsh literature was in the field of hymnody and hymnology
Hymnology
Hymnology is the scholarly study of religious song, or the hymn, in its many aspects, with particular focus on choral and congregational song. It may be more or less clearly distinguished from hymnody, the creation and practice of such song...
. He published his first hymn, O Dywysog Pob Daioni in 1881 during the first year of his ministry, he went on to write a large number of original hymns in Welsh and in English and to translate hymns between the two languages, many of which are still popular with congregations today. Amongst his best known original Welsh language hymns is the patriotic hymn Cofia'n gwlad Benllywydd tirion, his original English hymn Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining is widely used in hymn books on both sides of the Atlantic. A number of Welsh hymns translated into English appeared in a series of articles published in the magazine Sunday at Home and then republished in Book form as Sweet Singers of Wales by The Religious Tract Society - London in 1889
Awards
The University of Wales awarded Elfed three degrees honoris causa, the first person to achieve such an honour from the University, MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(1906) D.D
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
. (1937) and Ll.D
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
(1949).
He was created Companion of Honour in 1948.
Marriage and family
Elfed married three times.His first wife was Mary Taylor from Buckley who he married in Stratford in 1887 and by whom he had seven children, Mary died in 1918
His second wife was Elizabeth Lloyd who he married in 1923, but her health was fragile and she died in 1927 after barely 4 years of marriage.
His third wife was Mary Davies, one of the chapel members at Tabernacl Kings Cross who he married in 1930