HAVARD, WILLIAM THOMAS (1889 - 1956), bishop

Born 23 October 1889 at Neuadd Defynnog, Brecknockshire, 3rd son of William Havard, a deacon of Tabernacl (Congl.) chapel, Defynnog, and Gwen his wife. He was educated at Brecon county school; University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (graduated B.A. 3rd-class honours in history, 1912); St. Michael's College, Llandaff; Jesus College, Oxford (M.A., 1921). He was ordained deacon by John Owen, Bishop of St. Davids in 1913, and a priest in 1914. He was curate of Llanelli, 1913-15. Between 1915 and 1919 he was chaplain to the armed forces. He was mentioned in despatches, 1916, and awarded the Military Cross, 1917. He was chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford, 1919-21, curate of Brecon, 1921-22, vicar of St. Paul-at-Hook, 1922-24, vicar of St. Luke, Battersea, 1924-28, vicar of St. Mary's, Swansea, 1928-34, canon in Brecon Cathedral, of East Gower, 1930-34. He was consecrated Bishop of St. Asaph, September 1934, on the resignation of A.G. Edwards. After 16 years he was translated to St. David's in 1950. He died 17 August 1956 and was buried at Brecon.

He was Select Preacher at St. Andrews University, 1943, Canterbury, 1946, and in 1951 he visited Yale University as special preacher and lecturer. He was chairman of the education council of the Church in Wales, visitor to St. David's College, Llandovery College, Trinity College, Carmarthen, and St. John's College, Ystrad Meurig. He was prominent in the religious education in schools movement. He encouraged greater co-operation between the Church in Wales and Nonconformist bodies. He had been brought up a Congregationalist and he was a member of Baker Street (Congl.) church, Aberystwyth, from 1908 to 1911, and after graduating in the University College he was confirmed in the Church in Wales. He was a powerful preacher in Welsh and English and was often invited to preach at the services broadcast on the Sundays previous to the national eisteddfod.

He gained fame as a rugby player at Aberystwyth, and won his cap for Wales against New Zealand in 1919, and he gained his rugby blue whilst at Oxford.

He married in 1922 Florence Aimée Holmes, daughter of Joseph Holmes, Pen-y-fái, Llanelli, and they had 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Author

• Mary Gwendoline Ellis

Sources

• Who was who?
• Yr Haul, October 1956
• The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser , 24 August 1956
• information from the family

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: William Havard

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q8011018

Published date: 2001

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