The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography

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ROWLANDS , WILLIAM ( 1807 - 1866 ), author, editor, minister, and principal founder of the Calvinistic Methodist connexion in the U.S.A. ; b. 10 Oct. 1807 , in Calico Building , London , the son of parents who were natives of Tregaron, Cards. He was educated at Ystradmeurig school , at a school at Tregaron , and at the grammar school kept by John Jones ( Llanbadarn ) at Llangeitho . In 1824 he went to the Merthyr Tydfil district to teach in a school ; he also taught at Nant-y-glo, Mon. He began to preach with the Calvinistic Methodists in 1826 and spent some time in missionary work on the borders of Herefordshire and Monmouthshire . On 20 March 1829 he bought the printing press of Richard Jones , Pontypool ; the same year he began to edit and to publish Yr Athraw , a monthly Sunday schools journal. In 1832 he bought a share in a colliery at Blackwood ; he also opened a shop there to serve the workmen. He was ordained to the ministry of the Calvinistic Methodists on 9 Aug. 1832 . He lost money, sold his business, and, in 1835 , became schoolmaster again.

Rowlands went to New York in 1836 , living afterwards at various places, including Utica , Scranton , etc., and continuing to preach . It was he who incorporated the first General Assembly of the Calvinistic Methodist churches in the U.S.A. ; he also edited the first Welsh monthly journal in that country. He published the following: Angau yn y Crochan ( Denbigh , 1834 ); Dechreuad y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd yn America ( Utica , 1842 ); Y Gyffes Ffydd , 1842 ; Yr Hyfforddwr , 1842 ; Y Durtur … Emynau a Chaniadau Dirwestol , 1842 ; Yr Arweinydd esmwyth i ddysgu darllen Cymraeg ( 1859 , and other editions), The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists: A Sketch of their History , 1854 ; Casgliad Newydd o Salmau a Hymnau … Eglwysi y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd yn America ( 1845 , and other editions); Darlith ar y Greadigaeth , 1858 ; and Dammeg y Mab Afradlon , 1860 . He edited Y Cyfaill o'r Hen Wlad from Jan. 1838 until 1866 , and he also published Y Dyddiadur Americanaidd for 1856 , and each year afterwards until 1865 . He d. 27 Oct. 1866 , and was buried in Forest Hill cemetery.

Bibliography:

H. Powell , Cofiant y diweddar Barch. William Rowlands, D.D., Utica, Efrog Newydd, yr hwn a fu yn pregethu yr Efengyl yn nghyfundeb y Trefnuddion Calfinaidd am yn agos i 41 o flynyddoedd, ac yn olygydd y 'Cyfaill' am 29 o flynyddoedd. Bu farw Hydref 27, 1866, yn 59 mlwydd oed , Utica, New York, 1873 (Utica, 1873 )

Author:

Robert (Bob) Owen, O.B.E., M.A., (1885-1962), Croesor