William Evans (Wil Ifan)
Encyclopedia
William Evans better known by his bardic name
of Wil Ifan, was a Welsh
poet who served as Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
from 1947 to 1950.
He was the son of Dan Evans, a Congregationalist minister, and Mary (née Davies). He was born in Cwmbach, Llanwinio Carmarthenshire
, and was educated at University of Wales, Bangor and Mansfield College, Oxford
.
Wil Ifan followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a Congregationalist Minister. He was ordained in the English Congregationalist Chapel in Dolgellau
, Merionethshire
, in 1906 and served as the chapel minister for three years.
Whilst in Dolgellau he met his future wife Nesta Wyn Edwards whom he married on December 28, 1910 in Dolgellau. They had four children.
In 1909 he became the minister of the English Congregationalist church in Bridgend
Glamorganshire. Apart from time spent in the Richmond Road English Congregational Church, Cardiff, between 1916 and 1925, Evans spent the rest of his life in Bridgend.
Like all Archdruids, he was a winner of a major poetry
prize at the National Eisteddfod, winning the Crown at Abergavenny
in 1913, at Birkenhead
in 1917 (when Hedd Wyn
was posthumously awarded the Chair) and at Pwllheli
in 1925.
He died in Bridgend
and is buried at Rhydymain in Merionethshire
.
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 Wil Ifan, 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 who 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 1947 to 1950.
He was the son of Dan Evans, a Congregationalist minister, and Mary (née Davies). He was born in Cwmbach, Llanwinio 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...
, and was educated at University of Wales, Bangor and Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
.
Wil Ifan followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a Congregationalist Minister. He was ordained in the English Congregationalist Chapel in Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
, Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
, in 1906 and served as the chapel minister for three years.
Whilst in Dolgellau he met his future wife Nesta Wyn Edwards whom he married on December 28, 1910 in Dolgellau. They had four children.
In 1909 he became the minister of the English Congregationalist church in Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
Glamorganshire. Apart from time spent in the Richmond Road English Congregational Church, Cardiff, between 1916 and 1925, Evans spent the rest of his life in Bridgend.
Like all Archdruids, he was a winner of a major poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
prize at the National Eisteddfod, winning the Crown at Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
in 1913, at Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
in 1917 (when Hedd Wyn
Hedd Wyn
Hedd Wyn was a Welsh language poet who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. He was posthumously awarded the bard's chair at the 1917 National Eisteddfod...
was posthumously awarded the Chair) and at Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
in 1925.
He died in Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
and is buried at Rhydymain in Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
.
Works
- Dros y Nyth (1915)
- Dail Iorwg (1919)
- Plant y Babell (1922)
- O Ddydd i Ddydd (1927)
- Y Winllan Las (1936)
- Unwaith Eto (1946)
- Y Filltir Deg (1954)
- Colofnau Wil Ifan (1962)