Welsh WM minister born at Llandegla, Denbighshire on 31 May 1880. He adopted the middle name Tegla and was widely known by it. After seven years as a pupil teacher, he trained for the ministry at Didsbury College. His service in North Wales provided the background to some of his prose works. He was President of the Welsh Assembly in 1937 and, though he eschewed pulpit rhetoric, was in much demand as a preacher throughout Wales. He retired to Bangor in 1946 because of his wife's health. He regarded himself as primarily a minister of the Gospel, but he was also a leading figure in twentieth century Welsh literature. Much of his earlier work appeared in the denominational journals Y Winllan and Yr Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd, both of which he later edited. His 25 or so published volumes include the most widely read children's books of their day, novels, allegorical fantasies, translations, short stories, essays and radio talks, sermons and an autobiography. Gwr Pen y Bryn (1922), translated as The Master of Pen y Bryn (1975) and into Catalan (1985), has been called the greatest Welsh novel. He was awarded an MA in 1924 and a DLitt in 1958, but declined an OBE. He died at Bangor on 9 October 1967.

Entry written by: GTH
Category: Person
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