Ann Griffiths facts for kids
Ann Griffiths (born Ann Thomas, 1776–1805) was a famous Welsh poet. She wrote Christian hymns in the Welsh language. Her poems show her strong Christian faith and how well she knew the Bible.
Who Was Ann Griffiths?
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Ann was born in April 1776. Her home was near the village of Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa. This was about 6 miles from the town of Llanfyllin in Wales. Her parents were John Evan Thomas and Jane. Her father was a farmer and also helped run the local church.
Ann had two older sisters and two brothers. Her family lived in an isolated farmhouse called Dolwar Fechan. It was surrounded by hills and streams. Not far from her home was Pennant Melangell. A saint named Melangell lived there long ago.
Ann grew up in the Anglican church. When she was 18, her mother passed away in 1794. Around that time, Ann and her brothers became interested in the Methodists. Methodists are a group of Christians who focus on personal faith. In 1796, she joined the Calvinistic Methodist movement. She was inspired by the preaching of Benjamin Jones.
After both her parents died, Ann married Thomas Griffiths. He was a farmer and a leader in the Calvinistic Methodist church. Sadly, Ann died in August 1805, at the age of 29. This happened after she gave birth to her child. She was buried on August 12, 1805, in Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa.
Ann Griffiths left behind only a few poems in Welsh. Her mentor, John Hughes, and his wife, Ruth, saved and published them. Ruth had been a maid at Ann's farm and was a close friend.
Her Amazing Poetry
Ann's poems show her deep Christian faith. They also show her sharp mind and how much she knew about the Bible. She is one of the most important female hymn writers in Wales. Her work is seen as very important in Welsh writing.
Her longest poem is called Rhyfedd, rhyfedd gan angylion.... This means "Wondrous, wondrous to angels...". A famous writer named Saunders Lewis said it was "one of the majestic songs in the religious poetry of Europe."
One of her hymns, Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd, is still sung often in Wales. It is usually sung to the tune Cwm Rhondda.
In 2003, a special church service took place. It was for Rowan Williams becoming the Archbishop of Canterbury. During this service, his own translation of one of Ann's hymns was sung. It was called "Yr Arglwydd Iesu" (The Lord Jesus).
Ann Griffiths' Legacy
By the late 1800s, Ann Griffiths became a national hero in Wales. She was seen as very important in Welsh nonconformism. This refers to Protestant groups who did not follow the main Church of England. She is often remembered alongside Mary Jones. Mary was a poor Welsh girl who walked far to buy a Bible.
The Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel in Dolanog, Powys, is named after her. It has a carved stone head that looks like her. There are also beautiful stained glass windows made in her memory. You can find them in churches in Cardiff, Llandovery, and Glyn Ceiriog.
The Welsh TV channel S4C created a musical about Ann Griffiths' life. It was called Ann!. It was performed at the 2003 National Eisteddfod, a big Welsh festival. Later, it was shown on TV and released as a CD.
See Also
- List of Welsh-language poets
