William Ambrose (Emrys) Explained

William Ambrose (Emrys) should not be confused with William Ambrose Bebb.

William Ambrose (1 August 1813 – 31 October 1873), whose bardic name was Emrys, was a 19th-century Welsh-language poet and preacher.^[1] Many sermons of his were published and some of his poems used as hymns.

Ordination

Ambrose was born at a Bangor inn, the Penrhyn Arms,^[2] in Caernarfonshire (now in Gwynedd), north Wales. His father, John, was a leading member of the local Baptist community, and his mother, Elizabeth, a founder member of Bethel Chapel in Bangor. They remained at the Penrhyn Arms for ten years up to 1823. John Ambrose was also tenant of the local shop.^[3] William's cousin was the composer John Ambrose Lloyd. William Ambrose was taught at Holyhead by the Rev. W. Griffiths.^[4]

After school, Ambrose was apprenticed to a draper in Liverpool, where he became a member of the Tabernacle Congregational Church, at which his cousin John became precentor.^[5] He later moved to London.^[6]

However, having gone on a preaching tour led by William Williams (Caledfryn), Ambrose decided against setting up in business in Liverpool and instead become a minister. He was ordained on 7 December 1837. He remained minister of the Independent chapel at Porthmadog until his death, aged 60.^[7]

Writing

Emrys edited the periodical Y Dysgedydd from 1853 to 1873 and narrowly missed the bardic chair at the Aberffraw Eisteddfod of 1849, with his "Awdl ar y greadigaeth".^[8]

Ambrose is not regarded as an outstanding poet, but many of his sermons were published^[9] and he was a popular preacher.^[4] Some poems, such as "Ar y Lan Arall" ("On the Other Shore"), became hymns.^[10]

Legacy

• In 1875, an elegy to Emrys by John Owen Griffith (Ioan Arfon) won first prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Pwllheli.^[11]

Works

• Atgofion fy Ngweinidogaith (1876)^[12]
• Gweithiau y Parch (1975)

Notes and References

1. Book: Roberts . Eminent Welshmen: a short biographical dictionary of Welshmen who have attained distinction from the earliest times to the present, Volume 1 . Thomas Rowland Roberts . Robert Williams . 1908 . Educational Publishing Co . New York Public Library . 9780788437717. 10 .
2. Book: The Cambrian: A Magazine for the Welsh in America . 1887 . D. I. Jones . 252.
3. Book: Transactions . 1949 . 40.
4. Book: Thomas Mardy Rees . Notable Welshmen (1700-1900):... with Brief Notes, in Chronological Order, and Authorities. Also a Complete Alphabetical Index . 1908 . Herald Office . 326.
5. Book: Maggie Humphreys . Robert Evans . Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland . 1997 . A&C Black . 978-0-7201-2330-2 . 211.
6. s-AMBR-WIL-1813 . Ambrose, William (Emrys; 1813-1873), Independent minister, poet, and littérateur . Richard Griffith Owen . 10 March 2020.
7. Book: David Ben Rees . The Life and Work of Owen Thomas, 1812-1891: A Welsh Preacher in Liverpool . 1 January 1991 . E. Mellen Press . 978-0-7734-9710-8 . 293.
8. Book: Thomas Rowland Roberts . Eminent Welshmen: A Short Biographical Dictionary of Welshmen who Have Attained Distinction from the Earliest Times to the Present . 1908 . Educational Publishing Company . 10 . 9780788437717.
9. Book: Meic Stephens . Cydymaith i lenyddiaeth Cymru . 1998 . University of Wales Press . 978-0-7083-1383-1 . 11.
10. Book: Glyn Jones . The Collected Poems of Glyn Jones . 1996 . University of Wales Press . 978-0-7083-1388-6 . 147.
11. Book: Marwnad i'r Parchedig William Ambrose ('Emrys') . 1875.
12. Book: Harvard University. Library . Celtic literatures: classification schedule, classified listing by call number, chronological listing, author and title listing . 1970 . Distributed by the Harvard University Press . 81. 9780674104808 .