HUGHES
,
JOHN
(
1873
-
1932
),
composer of the hymn-tune ‘Cwm Rhondda’
;
b.
22 Nov. 1873
at
Dowlais
; eldest son of
Evan
Hughes
. His parents removed to
Holly Bush
,
Llantwit Fardre
(
Llanilltud Faerdref
) in
1874
; the father was
deacon
and
precentor
at
Salem Baptist church
there.
John
Hughes
started
work in a mine
at 12 years of age, later became
clerk
, and finally was an
official in the traffic department
of the
Great Western Railway
. He m. (
1905
)
Hannah Maria
David
, and had a son and a daughter. Like his father, he became
deacon
and
precentor
at
Salem church
; it was for the
1907
anniversary services at
Capel Rhondda
,
Pontypridd
, that he composed his very wellknown hymn-tune which, however, was only one of his many hymn-tunes, anthems, and songs. He d. at
Ton-teg
,
Llantwit Fardre
,
14 May 1932
.
Bibliography:
-
Information from his son,
Mr. Gwyn D. Hughes
, Llanharry.
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D.,
F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor
