WILLIAMS, WILLIAM: Welsh Calvinistic Methodist and hymn-writer; b. at Cefn-y-Coed (a hamlet near Llandovery), Carmarthenshire, Wales, 1717; d. at Pant y Celyn (near the same city) Jan. 11, 1791. His father was a Calvinist, who intended his son for the medical profession, but the young man, chancing to hear Howel Harris (q.v.) preach, determined to devote his life to religion. He was ordained to the deaconate in 1740 and appointed curate of the Established parishes of Llan Wrtyd and Llan Ddewi Aber Gwesin, but his interest became centered in Methodism, and in three years, without having been priested, he ceased to hold any position in the Church of England, though he still alleged himself one of her clergy. From 1749 his home was at Pant y Celyn, though he preached regularly at several small stations and devoted some weeks each year to evangelistic tours in Wales.
Williams wrote some 800 hymns, both in English and in Welsh, and was one of the greatest hymnwriters that his country has ever produced. Among the more noteworthy of his collections, hymns from which still form the staple of Welsh hymnals, may be mentioned Aleluia (Carmarthen, 1744; complete ed., Bristol, 1758), Golwg or Deyrnas Crist (" A Prospect of Christ's Kingdom," a long religious poem, Bristol, 1756; 6th ed., Newcastle Emlyn, 1845), Hosanna to the Son of David (Bristol, 1759), Caniadau y rhai sydd ar y m6r o wydr (" Songs of those who are on the Sea of Glass," Carmarthen, 1762; repeatedly reprinted), Aleluia Drachefn (1785[?J; a collection of three former hymnals), Gloria in Excelsis (Llandovery and Carmarthen, 1771-72; Eng. ed., Carmarthen, 1772), and Rhai Hymnau Newyddion (3 parts, Breton, 1871-87). Of his hymns by far the best known are his " Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah "and" O'er those gloomy hills of darkness," while some others still in use are " Jesus, my Saviour is enough," " My God, my God, Who art my all," " Beneath Thy Cross I lay me down," and "Jesus, lead us with Thy power."
Among the other writings of Williams the more noteworthy are Pantheologia (a Welsh dialogue history of the religions of the world; Carmarthen and Brecon, 1762-74), "Life and Death of Theomemphus" (a Welsh allegorical poem in dialogue, somewhat analogous to Pilgrim's Progress; Carmarthen, 1774; 7th ed., Newcastle Emlyn, 1845), Crocodil Afon yr Aipht (Carmarthen, 1767), Hanes Bywyd a
Martvolaeth y Tri Wyr o Sodom (1768; 3d ed.,
Swansea, 1852; dialogues on envy and the use of
riches respectively), Aurora Borealis (Breton, 1774;
3d ed., Ruthin, 1832; a Welsh letter on
the revivals in the north of Wales), Templum Ezperienti
A complete edition of Williams' hymns was edited by his son John at Carmarthen in 1811; and editions of his collected writings have been prepared by J. R. Jones (Glasgow, 1867) and by N. C. Jones (Holywell and Newport, 1887-91).
Bibliography: E. Morgan, Ministerial Record; . . Account of the Progress of Religion under . . . the Rev. W. Williams, London, 1847; S. W. Duffield, English Hymns, pp. 197-199, New York, 1886; DNB, Ixi. 462-464; Julian, Hymnology, pp. 1284-1285, 1251.
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