James Goronwy Mathias (1842–1895), also known under the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

Goronwy Ddu, was a Baptist minister and writer.

Religious life

Mathias was born in Manchester but moved to

Penrhyn-Coch Penrhyn-coch is a small Welsh village, in the community of Trefeurig, Ceredigion, located between the Afon Stewi and Nant Seilo rivers, close to where they merge into the Afon Clarach. The village is approximately north-east of Aberystwyth. ...

when he was young. In 1873, he moved to

Aberdare Aberdare ( ; cy, Aberdâr) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tyd ...

and joined Ynys-lwyd chapel, before moving to

Rhymney Valley The Rhymney Valley () is one of the South Wales valleys, with the Rhymney River forming the border between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. Between 1974 and 1996 a Rhymney Valley local government district also existed (one ...

in 1874 to become

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

of Bethania chapel, Troedrhiw'r-fuwch. In 1875, he took pastoral charge of Ramah and

Erwood Erwood ( cy, Erwyd) is a village and community lying beside the River Wye, on the A470 road some 6 miles south-east of Builth Wells in Powys, Wales. The population of the community taken at the 2011 census was 429. It is in the historic county ...

Brecknock Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the count ...

and later (in 1881) Llansantffraid and

Glyndyfrdwy Glyndyfrdwy (), or sometimes Glyn Dyfrdwy, is a village in the modern county of Denbighshire, Wales. It is situated on the A5 road halfway between Corwen and Llangollen in the Dee Valley (the river Dee is ''Afon Dyfrdwy'' in Welsh). History A ...

. From 1887 he retired to

Corwen Corwen is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire in Wales. Historically, Corwen is part of the county of Merionethshire. Corwen stands on the banks of the River Dee beneath the Berwyn mountains. The town is situated west of Llango ...

but resumed the role of pastor in 1893 at

Pontlottyn Pontlottyn ( cy, Pontlotyn) is a village located in the county borough of Caerphilly, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It is sited just to the south of Rhymney, and to the west of the Rhymney River. History Pontlottyn, ...

until his death.

Literary activities

Mathias made his breakthrough as a writer while living in Corwen. He founded, and was editor of, ''Y Llenor Cymreig'' published in Corwen between January 1882 and October 1883. He also edited and helped co-write ''Hanes Bywyd C. H. Spurgeon,'' 1892. Writing under the pseudonym Goronwy Ddu, his works include: *''Yr Ystorgell'', 1872 *''Y Gorsen'', 1872 *''Yr Eginyn'', 1874 *''Y Dywysen'', 1874 *''Y Dywysen Aeddfed'', 1875

Death

James Goronwy Mathias died on 18 February 1895 aged 53. He is buried at Erwood.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mathias, James Goronwy Welsh writers 1842 births 1895 deaths

Religious life

Literary activities

Death

See also

References