James Eirian Davies (28 May 1918 – 5 July 1998) was a Welsh poet and Methodist minister. His wife, Jennie, was a well-known journalist and politician. His parents were Rachel and Dafydd Davies, who worked a farm in the

Nantgaredig Nantgaredig is a village in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is about east of the county town of Carmarthen on the A40 in the parish of Llanegwad. the Population was around 524 as of the 2011 census. Notable people The village is most notable for be ...

area of

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...

. He attended

Primary School and then the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...

. Tragedy struck when his brother Emrys was drowned when they were swimming in the

River Tywi The River Towy ( cy, Afon Tywi, ) is one of the longest rivers flowing entirely within Wales. Its total length is . It is noted for its sea trout and salmon fishing. Route The Towy rises within of the source of the River Teifi on the lower sl ...

near Llain. He was much comforted by the local chapel community, and it was they who later influenced his decision to enter the ministry. Following a preparatory year at Trevecka College, he studied for a degree at University College of Wales,

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

. He then sought theological training at the 'United Theological College' in

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...

, and was well known in the area as a popular (and unconventional) student-preacher. In 1949, he was ordained a minister in the

Calvinistic Methodist Church The Presbyterian Church of Wales ( cy, Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru), also known as Calvinistic Methodist Church (), is a denomination of Protestant Christianity in Wales. History The church was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the ...

, ministering in Hirwaun and Penderyn, Cynon Valley (1949-1954). In the same year he married Jennie Howells, and they had two sons, Siôn Eirian (later an actor and writer) and Guto Davies. He later moved to Brynaman (1955-1961), and then to Bethesda, Mold and Nercwys in

Flintshire , settlement_type = County , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , image_flag = , image_shield = Arms of Flint ...

(1962-1981). Jennie died suddenly in 1982 and an open verdict was recorded by the coroner; the sudden loss deeply affected Davies. His published writings include a number of volumes of poetry titled, ''Awen y Wawr''(1947), ''Cân Galed'' (1967), ''Cyfrol o Gerddi'' (1985), ''Awen yr Hwyr'' (1991), and ''Darnau Difyr'' (1989). Towards the end of his life he moved to live in a residential home in Ffairfach, near

Llandeilo Llandeilo () is a town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th-century stone bridge. Its population was 1,795 at the 2011 Census. It is adjacent to the westernmost point of the B ...

. he died there in July 1998. Following the funeral, his ashes were scattered at the site where his brother drowned. A plaque of remembrance is displayed at the chapel in

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, James Eirian 1918 births 1998 deaths 20th-century Welsh poets 20th-century Welsh Baptist ministers