William Ambrose (Emrys)

William Ambrose (1 August 1813 – 31 October 1873), whose bardic name was Emrys, was a 19th-century Welsh-language poet and preacher.[1]

Not to be confused with William Ambrose Bebb.
William Ambrose

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]

Ambrose memorial chapel, Porthmadog, c.1875

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 whose sermons were published[9] and he was a popular preacher.[4] Some of his poems, such as "Ar y Lan Arall" ("On the Other Shore"), became hymns.[10]

Legacy

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

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