LEWIS, DAVID ('Ap Ceredigion '; 1870 - 1948), cleric, poet, and hymn-writer
Pseudonym: ap Ceredigion
Date of birth: 1870
Date of death: 1948
Spouse: Sarah Jane Lewis (née Ellis)
Parent: Jane Lewis
Parent: David Lewis
Gender: Male
Occupation: cleric, poet, and hymn-writer
Area of activity: Literature and Writing; Music; Poetry; Religion
Author: Thomas Iorwerth Ellis
Born at Llaethdy, Cilcennin, Cardiganshire, 24 August 1870, son of David Lewis, farmer, and Jane his wife. He was educated first at a private school at Llan-non, Cardiganshire, kept by J. Davies (afterwards vicar of Clynnog Fawr, Caernarfonshire) and subsequently at St. David's College, Lampeter. There he won the Eldon Scholarship, for excellence in Welsh, and a Greek prize, and took the degree of B.A. in 1896. In December of the same year he was made deacon by Bishop Richard Lewis of Llandaff, and licensed to the curacy of Ynys-hir, Rhondda. He received priest's orders in 1897, and in the same year went as curate to Cwm-parc and Treorchy. From there he went to Llanbryn-mair in 1900, and thence to Mallwyd in 1905. In 1906 he obtained a curacy at Llanllechid, and in 1915 he was appointed rector of Llansadwrn in Anglesey. He was appointed rural dean of Tindaethwy in 1937. He remained at Llansadwrn till his death on 19 October 1948, and was buried there. There is a sanctuary lamp in the church there in memory of him.
Lewis was a frequent contributor to Welsh periodicals from the beginning of the century onwards, and for many years was the editor of the poetry column of Y Llan. His work also appeared in other Church publications, such as Yr Haul, Y Cyfaill Eglwysig and Perl y plant, and also in Cymru and Y Geninen. He was one of the literary editors of Emynau'r Eglwys, which appeared in 1942, and in that collection there are a number of his hymns, original and translated, and some carols. His work does not bear obvious marks of distinction, but it is fluent and pleasant, and characteristic of his period. His services were frequently in demand at local literary meetings; he was a pleasant and acceptable preacher, and a most likeable man. He married Sarah Jane Ellis, of Llanllechid, Caernarfonshire, and they had a son and a daughter.
Author
- Thomas Iorwerth Ellis, (1899 - 1970)
- Hugh J. Williams, Hanes Eglwys Llanllechid (Bangor 1910)
- Y Llan, 5 November 1948
- Yr Haul, January 1949
- Llandaff diocesan papers in N.L.W.
- information from his relatives, and from D. J. Mihangel Williams, rector of Llansadwrn
Sources
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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