William Williams, writer of Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer

The council want to erect a three-metre statue of William Williams in the town centre, with the statue - if approved – made by award-winning artist Gideon Peterson who created the stainless steel statue of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan by Llandovery Castle with his brother Toby in 2001.

Here we take a look at the life and work of William Williams who is often referred to as William Williams Pantycelyn.

William was born on February 11, 1717, at Cefn-coed Farm in Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn near Llandovery to parents John and Dorothy Williams. He was educated locally and then at a non-conformist academy close to Talgarth. The Williams family were all non-conformists.

William wanted to study medicine but changed his mind following conversion to Evangelism by preacher Howell Harris in Talgarth in 1737 or 1738.

In 1940, he turned his back on his non-conformist upbringing and took deacons orders in the Established Anglican Church (now known as the Church in Wales since disestablishment in 1920) to become a priest.

He was appointed as curate to Theophilus Evans and worked in the parishes of Llanwrtyd, Llanfihangel Abergwesyn and Llandewi Abergwesyn.

Following the death of her husband in 1742, Mrs Williams moved to Pantycelyn farm, where the family would spend the remainder of their lives.

William was refused ordination as a priest in 1743 due to the links he had with the Methodist movement. He was reported to the Archdeacon’s Court in Brecon in June the previous year by his disapproving parishioners as Methodism was seen as a threat to the Anglican establishment.

William then changed tack and went for a career as a Methodist preacher. He chose to follow the Welsh Methodists into Calvinism, of which he was a firm advocate of the Calvinist Reformation doctrine and frequently warned against the other Methodist teachings including Arminianism, Arianism, Socinianism and Sandemanianism.

In 1748, he married Mary Francis of Llansawel and the couple had two children – William, who also became a curate in Cornwall, and John.

He would travel throughout Wales preaching the Calvinistic Methodism doctrine and is believed to have supported this by selling tea. He converted a number of people who would meet in fellowship meetings – known as seiadau – across the country, which were organised by William himself.

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He is acknowledged as one of the leaders of the Methodist Revival in Wales alongside Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland.

Alongside his Methodist preaching, William was known as a poet and hymnist, with his work being influential not only in his time but in the following centuries.

He wrote some hymns in English but the majority were written in Welsh. His first collection was published in 1744, which was the first part of the Aleluia. He also published the collections Hosanna i Fab Dafydd (Hosannah to the Son of David) in 1751, Rhai hymnau a chaniadau duwiol (Some hymns and divine songs) in 1759, Caniadau y rhai sydd ar y môr o wydr (The songs of those on the crystal sea) in 1762, Ffarwel weledig, groesaw anweledig bethau (Farewell seen, and welcome unseen things) in 1763, Gloria in excelsis in 1771, O’er the Gloomy Hills of Darkness in 1772, Ychydig hymnau (A few hymns) in 1774 and Rhai hymnau newyddion (Some new hymns) in 1782.

In 1759, he published the English collection of Hosannah to the Son of David and the English collection of Gloria to Excelsis in 1772.

The William Williams Memorial Chapel

He also wrote Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch which translated into English is “Lord, lead thou through the wilderness.” This hymn was later translated into English by fellow Welsh Methodist Peter Williams which is now the popular hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.”

He also wrote two long poems with theological and religious themes. The poems were Golwg ar deyrnas Crist (A view of Christ’s kingdom) in 1756 which details the history of salvation and God’s grace in Christ, and Bywyd a marwolaeth Theomemphus (Life and death of Theomemphus) in 1764 which details the religious experience of conversion and Christian living.

William also wrote elegies in memory of Methodist and other Christian leaders including Griffith Jones, Howel Davies, George Whitefield and Daniel Rowland.

He also wrote some proses about the 1762 Revival called Llythyr Martha Philopur at y Parchedig Philo Evangelius eu hathro (Martha Philopur's letter to the Reverend Philo Evangelius her teacher) in 1762 and the following year wrote Atteb Philo-Evangelius i Martha Philopur (Philo-Evangelius's reply to Martha Philopur).

He also wrote: Pantheologia, Neu Hanes Holl Grefyddau'r Byd (Pantheologia, or a History of all the World's Religions) between 1762 to 1779, Crocodil Afon yr Aifft (Crocodile of the River of Egypt) in 1767, Hanes Bywyd a Marwolaeth Tri Wyr o Sodom a’r Aifft (A history of the life and death of three men of Sodom and Egypt) in 1768 and Aurora Borealis: neu, Y Goleuni yn y Gogledd (Aurora Borealis: The Northern Lights) in 1774.

He also translated a number of works from English into Welsh and wrote two practical guides for Christian life for the converts who were members of his seiadau. These were Doctor Nuptarum neu gyfarwyddr priodas (Teacher of the Nuptials or the marriage guide) and Drws y society profiad (A gateway to the experience meeting), both published in 1777.

William spent most of his life in his birth parish of Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn and at the family’s Pantycelyn farm where he died at the age of 74 on January 11, 1791. He is buried in Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn churchyard and is commemorated by a memorial chapel in Llandovery.