William Harris (priest)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Harris was a Welsh priest and academic. He was Professor of Theology, then Professor of Welsh, at St David's College, Lampeter, and was also a canon
of St David's Cathedral
.
, Glamorgan
in south Wales. He studied at Merthyr Tydfil
County School and St David's College, Lampeter (obtaining a first-class BA
degree in Welsh in 1910). He won an Meyrick
scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford
where he obtained a BLitt in 1913 and a BA in Theology in 1914. He was ordained deacon in 1913 and priested in 1914. After initially being curate
of Ystradgynlais
, he moved to Christ Church, Swansea
in 1917 and then to All Saints, Oystermouth
in the following year. He was appointed Lecturer (1919) and then Professor (1940) of Theology at St David's College, Lampeter, becoming Professor of Welsh in 1941. He was also Precentor
of St David's Cathedral
(1933), becoming canon
of the cathedral in 1937 and Treasurer in 1948. He died in London on 23 January 1956.
Harris was a supporter of the catholicity of the Church in Wales
, and was a founder member of the St. David's Society which was set up to promote this. He wrote on this and on other theological topics, and served on committees for the Welsh Church Hymnary (translating some of the hymns himself) and the Book of Common Prayer. He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, with his bardic name
being "Arthan". He also translated the office of Compline
into Welsh in 1941.
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
.
Life
Harris was born on 28 April 1884 at Pantysgallog, DowlaisDowlais
Dowlais is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6646.Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, roughly 5,000 people, the works...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
in south Wales. He studied 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...
County School and St David's College, Lampeter (obtaining a first-class BA
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 in Welsh in 1910). He won an Meyrick
Edmund Meyrick
Edmund Meyrick was a Welsh cleric and benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford, where scholarships are still awarded in his name.-Life:...
scholarship to 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...
where he obtained a BLitt in 1913 and a BA in Theology in 1914. He was ordained deacon in 1913 and priested in 1914. After initially being 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 Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais is a town on the River Tawe in south west Powys; it is the second largest town in Powys, Wales. The town grew around the iron-making, coal-mining and watch-making industries....
, he moved to Christ Church, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
in 1917 and then to All Saints, Oystermouth
Oystermouth
Oystermouth is an electoral ward and a village in the Mumbles community and also the City and County of Swansea, Wales...
in the following year. He was appointed Lecturer (1919) and then Professor (1940) of Theology at St David's College, Lampeter, becoming Professor of Welsh in 1941. He was also Precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
(1933), becoming canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the cathedral in 1937 and Treasurer in 1948. He died in London on 23 January 1956.
Harris was a supporter of the catholicity of the Church in Wales
Church in Wales
The Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
, and was a founder member of the St. David's Society which was set up to promote this. He wrote on this and on other theological topics, and served on committees for the Welsh Church Hymnary (translating some of the hymns himself) and the Book of Common Prayer. He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, with his bardic name
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....
being "Arthan". He also translated the office of Compline
Compline
Compline is the final church service of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. The English word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as Compline is the completion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the 6th century by St...
into Welsh in 1941.