PARRY, RICHARD (1560 - 1623), bishop and biblical translator

Born in 1560, son of John ap Harri, of Pwllhalog, Cwm, Flintshire, and Ruthin, and his wife, Elen ferch Dafydd ap John, of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd. Richard Parry was educated at Westminster School under Camden. In 1579 he entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. 5 February 1584. He was ordained a deacon by bishop Robinson of Bangor, 5 April 1584, and on 4 May was instituted to a comportion of Llanelidan, the endowment of Ruthin free school. While master of Ruthin, he proceeded M.A. 4 June 1586, and later, 4 March 1594, became a B.D. On 24 December 1592 he became chancellor of Bangor; 1 January 1593, vicar of Gresford; in 1596, rector of Cilcain; and 11 April 1599, dean of Bangor. Consecrated bishop of St Asaph, 30 December 1604, he retained in commendam the archdeaconry of St Asaph and his livings of Gresford (until 1609) and Cilcain (until 1622). He also acquired the livings of Rhuddlan (1605-18), Cwm (1610-16), and Llanrwst (1616-23). In 1610, at the earl of Salisbury's request, he intervened, unsuccessfully, in the dispute between Sir John Wynn of Gwydir and his tenants at Dolwyddelan. Parry's report on his diocese in January 1611 shows his deep concern over lay impropriation and the lack of a learned, resident, ministry.

Parry is chiefly remembered for his revised versions of the Welsh Bible and Book of Common Prayer, published in 1620 and 1621. Though Parry received the credit, his brother-in-law, Dr. John Davies of Mallwyd (c. 1567 - 1644), was mainly responsible for the work.

He married, c. 1598, Gwen ferch John ap Rhys Wyn, and had four sons and seven daughters. He died at Diserth, 26 September 1623, leaving a pension of £6 p.a. at Jesus College for a poor scholar of Ruthin.

Author

• Sir Glanmor Williams

Sources

• J. Ballinger and Ifano Jones, The Bible in Wales (London 1906), 25-6
• Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, 1603-18
• Cambrian Bibliography (Llanidloes 1869), 93-7
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• W. J. Gruffydd, Llenyddiaeth Cymru o 1450 hyd 1600 (Lerpwl 1922), 77-9
• Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales, i, 43-9
• History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, v, 208 ff.
• H. B. Thomas. A History of the Diocese of St. Asaph (1874), i, 227, iii, 321-2
• [ J. E. Griffith. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families (1914), 387]

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Richard Parry

Works

• William Morgan, John Davies and Richard Parry (eds.), Y Bibl Cyssegr-lan: sef Yr Hen Destament, a'r Newydd (Llundain 1630)

Additional Links

• VIAF: 49235137
• Wikidata: Q7328286

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/