Hugh Williams (cleric)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Williams was a Welsh
Anglican priest
and writer.
, on the Llŷn peninsula
of north-west Wales
, was christened on 18 January 1722. He attended the Friars School in Bangor
before studying at Jesus College, Oxford
between 1740 and 1744. After his ordination as a priest in the Church of England
, he was made curate
of Llanengan in 1745, leaving in 1751 to become rector
of Llanfrothen and perpetual curate of Beddgelert
. In 1754, he moved again to be rector of Aberffraw
, a position he held until his death in 1779. He was a friend of the Welsh poet Goronwy Owen
, a contemporary at both the Friars School and Jesus College. Williams himself was a poet, although very little of what he wrote has survived; he was also a respected preacher. He published a translation into Welsh
of a sermon in English in 1773, and later wrote (1776).
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
Anglican priest
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 writer.
Life
Williams, from LlanenganLlanengan
Llanengan is a small village and community south west of Abersoch in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 2,024.In its centre is the parish church of St...
, on the Llŷn peninsula
Llyn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
of north-west 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...
, was christened on 18 January 1722. He attended the Friars School 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...
before studying 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...
between 1740 and 1744. After his ordination as a priest in the Church of England
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...
, he was made 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...
of Llanengan in 1745, leaving in 1751 to become rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Llanfrothen and perpetual curate of Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
. In 1754, he moved again to be rector of Aberffraw
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was the...
, a position he held until his death in 1779. He was a friend of the Welsh poet Goronwy Owen
Goronwy Owen (poet)
Goronwy Owen was one of the 18th century's greatest Welsh poets. He mastered the traditional bardic metres and, although forced by circumstances to be an exile, played an important role in the literary and antiquarian movement in Wales often described as the Welsh Eighteenth Century Renaissance...
, a contemporary at both the Friars School and Jesus College. Williams himself was a poet, although very little of what he wrote has survived; he was also a respected preacher. He published a translation 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...
of a sermon in English in 1773, and later wrote (1776).