Evan Evans

Evan Evans (20 April 1795 – 21 January 1855), was a Welsh clergyman, poet, hymnwriter, journalist, translator and devotional writer, who was three times chaired at the National Eisteddfod. His works were almost all written in the Welsh language, the poems being published under his bardic name, Ieuan Glan Geirionydd. Seven of his poems are included in The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse. His best-known poems are perhaps Ysgoldy Rhad Llanrwst, Glan Geirionydd and Cyflafan Morfa Rhuddlan, and his hymns include Rwy'n sefyll ar dymhestlog lan and Mae 'nghyfeillion adre'n myned. Youth Evan Evans was born at Tan-y-Celyn, a farmhouse near the village of Trefriw, (then Caernarfonshire). His parents were educated people, and indeed his father was a poet; they were among the first Calvinist Methodists in their village. Young Evan received his education at the village church school, then at the free grammar school in Llanrwst. He then began working on his parents' farm, but the family fell into poverty when their landlord raised the rent. In 1816 Evan, though he had never had any higher education, was taken on as schoolmaster at a day-school in Tal-y-Bont. Moving to Chester he became an elder of the Methodist Church, though not yet 26 years of age. Around this time he published several books on theological subjects, some original and some translations into Welsh, but they have today no great reputation. Clerical career