Griffith W. Griffith facts for kids
Griffith Wynne Griffith (born February 4, 1883 – died February 2, 1967) was an important Welsh minister. He belonged to a Christian group called the Presbyterians. He became one of their main leaders. Griffith also worked as an editor for two magazines. He helped translate the Bible into the Welsh language. He was also part of the team that ran Bangor University. Plus, he wrote and translated many church songs, called hymns.
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Early Life and Education
Griffith was born on February 4, 1883. His family lived in a place called Brynteci, in Llandyfrydog, Anglesey, Wales. His father, John Griffith, was a farmer, and his mother was Judith.
He worked on the family farm until he was 18 years old. Then, he went to a special school in Menai Bridge. This school helped young people get ready to become ministers.
In 1903, the Anglesey Presbytery, a church group, accepted him to become a minister. He continued his studies at University College, Bangor. There, he earned a degree in philosophy. After that, he went to the Theological College in Bala to study theology, which is about religious beliefs. He also spent some time studying at Jesus College, Oxford starting in 1909.
Becoming a Minister
Griffith became an ordained minister in 1911. An ordained minister is someone officially recognized to lead church services. He worked in several places during his career.
He served in Bryn-du, Anglesey, from 1910 to 1913. Then he moved to Liverpool and worked there from 1913 to 1923. After that, he was in Porthmadog from 1923 to 1929. Finally, he served in Bangor from 1929 to 1946. People thought he was a very "elegant and powerful preacher."
National Church Work
Besides his local church duties, Griffith was very active in his church group at a national level. In 1952, he became the Moderator of the Association in the North. This is a high leadership position. In 1959, he was the Moderator of the General Assembly, which is the highest leadership role in the Presbyterian Church.
He helped create a short statement of faith and a book of services in Welsh. He was the secretary for the committee that worked on these important documents. Griffith was also part of the team that made a new Welsh translation of the Bible. This was a huge project. He also served on the Council and Court of Governors for University College, Bangor.
Writings and Publications
Griffith was a talented writer and editor. He wrote several books, including:
- Datblygiad a Datguddiad (1946)
- Two novels: Helynt Coed y Gell (1928) and Helynt Ynys Gain (1939)
- A biography about the Welsh teacher and missionary Helen Rowlands (1961)
- Theological books like Paul y cenhadwr (1925), Rhai o gymeriadau'r Hen Destament (1927), Y Groes (1943), The Wonderful Life (1941), and Ffynnon Bethlehem (1948).
He also helped write for Y Geiriadur Beiblaidd (1926) and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography.
Griffith was an editor for important journals. He edited Y Cyfarwyddwr from 1929 to 1930 and was an assistant editor from 1931 to 1944. He also edited Y Goleuad from 1949 to 1957. Parts of his own life story were published in this journal. These stories were later put together into a book called Cofio'r blynyddoedd in 1967.
Later Years and Legacy
After he retired, Griffith lived in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll with his wife, Grace. They got married in 1914. They had two sons and one daughter. One of their sons, Huw Wynne Griffith, also became a Presbyterian minister.
Even in retirement, Griffith continued to write and translate hymns. Hymns are religious songs. Some of his hymns were collected and published in a book called Odlau'r Efengyl in 1959.
Griffith Wynne Griffith passed away on February 2, 1967, at his son's home in Aberystwyth. He was buried in the chapel graveyard in Dwyran, Anglesey.
