BEYNON, ROBERT (1881 - 1953), minister (Presb.), poet and essayist
Date of birth: 1881
Date of death: 1953
Spouse: Sarah Rebecca Beynon (née Thomas)
Parent: Anne Beynon
Parent: Thomas Beynon
Gender: Male
Occupation: minister (Presb.), poet and essayist
Area of activity: Eisteddfod; Literature and Writing; Poetry; Religion
Author: Gomer Morgan Roberts
Born 8 October 1881 in The Office, Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, son of Thomas and Anne Beynon. He began preaching in Soar chapel, and was educated for the ministry in Watcyn Wyn's school (Watkin Hezekiah Williams) in Ammanford; Pontypridd school; University College, Cardiff (where he graduated B.A.); and the Theological College, Aberystwyth. He was ordained in 1911, and was pastor of Carmel church, Aber-craf, in the upper reaches of the Swansea valley, all his life (1910-53). He married Sarah Rebeca Thomas of Trehopcyn, near Pontypridd, and they had two daughters (one adopted).
As one of Watcyn Wyn's 'boys' he became interested in poetry writing, and one of his chaired poems' Tyred, Canlyn Fi ' was published in 1912. He won the crown at the national eisteddfod in Ammanford in 1922 for his pryddest, ' Tannau Coll '. Some of his children's hymns were included in Llyfr Emynau a Thonau'r Plant (1947). His essays, which were published in 1931 under the title Dydd Calan ac ysgrifau eraill (2nd. ed. 1950), show considerable literary skill; and his genius as an essayist became evident again when he was editor of Y Drysorfa (1939-43). His selections from the Book of Psalms (1936) also revealed his artistry as a polished writer. He and Rhys Davies (one of the elders of the church) were co-authors of a history of Carmel (1921).
He was a very popular preacher throughout Wales, and the congregations doted upon the beauty of his turn of phrase and his terse, brilliant sayings. No doubt it was because of this that he was chosen to deliver the (unpublished) Davies Lecture on ' Y ffordd dra rhagorol ' in 1948. He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly (1952), but died during his year of office. He died 12 February 1953, and was buried in Carmel graveyard, Aber-craf.
Author
- Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)
- Blwyddiadur y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1954, 222
- T. Beynon, Allt Cunedda, Llechdwnni a Mwdlwscwm (Aberystwyth 1955), 129
- information from his relatives in Pontyberem
- personal knowledge
Sources
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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