Peter Williams (15 January 1723 – 8 August 1796) was a prominent leader of Welsh Methodism in the eighteenth century, best known for publishing Welsh-language bibles and bible commentary.

Personal life

Williams was born on 15 January 1723 at West Marsh Farm in

Laugharne Laugharne ( cy, Talacharn) is a town on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tâf. The ancient borough of Laugharne Township ( cy, Treflan Lacharn) with its Corporation and Charter is a unique survival i ...

in Carmarthenshire, the son of Owen and Elizabeth Williams. While a student at

Carmarthen Grammar School Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Carmarthen was a selective secondary school in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire. It closed in 1978. Former students Among the school's former pupils were the educationalist Griffith Jones; the early Methodist leader an ...

in 1743, he was converted to Methodism after hearing a sermon by

George Whitefield George Whitefield (; 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College at th ...

. For a short time, he was the schoolmaster at Cynwyl Elfed. He was ordained a deacon in 1745. In 1748, he married Mary Jenkins. He had two children Eliezer Williams (1754-1820) and Peter Bailey Williams (1763-1836).

Career

He was refused ordination as a priest due to his Methodist beliefs and became associated with Water Street Chapel Carmarthen. He joined the Methodists in 1747 and began to tour the country preaching. He began to publish copies of Welsh language bibles at an affordable price. The first edition was published and sold out in 1770 and there was a demand for many more editions. In due course Williams produced thousands of copies of Welsh language bibles which remained popular for several generations. His was the first translation in 1771, of 'Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah' from the original Welsh version. Williams produced commentaries on biblical chapters. However, his commentary on John 1 led to suggestions that he sympathized with

Sabellianism In Christianity, Sabellianism is the Western Church equivalent to Patripassianism in the Eastern Church, which are both forms of theological modalism. Condemned as heresy, Modalism is the belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three diff ...

. In 1791, the matter came to a head at a Methodist Association at

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 ...

and Williams was expelled.

Death

His last years were spent in conflict with the Methodists. At this time Williams denied them use of the chapel in Water Street. Williams died at

Llandyfaelog Llandyfaelog () is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 census the community has a population of 1,272, of which 71.88 percent are Welsh speaking. The population at the 2011 Census had increased to 1,304. The commu ...

on 8 August 1796.

Careers of his sons

Eliezer Williams and

Peter Bailey Williams Peter Bayley Williams (August 1763 – 22 November 1836) was a Welsh Anglican priest and amateur antiquarian. It is also claimed that he led the first rock climb recorded in the United Kingdom. Life Williams was the son of Peter Williams, one o ...

were educated at Carmarthen grammar school and

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship St ...

. Both became clergymen in the Established Church. Eliezer Williams was Vicar of

Lampeter Lampeter (; cy, Llanbedr Pont Steffan (formal); ''Llambed'' (colloquial)) is a town, community and electoral ward in Ceredigion, Wales, at the confluence of the Afon Dulas with the River Teifi. It is the third largest urban area in Ceredigion, ...

(1805 to 1820). Peter Bailey Williams was Rector of

Llanberis (; ) is a village, community and electoral ward in Gwynedd, northwest Wales, on the southern bank of the lake and at the foot of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. It is a centre for outdoor activities in Snowdonia, including walking, mo ...

and

Llanrug Llanrug (or Llanfihangel-yn-y-grug) is a medium-sized village and community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It lies about to the east of Caernarfon, south of Bangor and northwest of Llanberis. It is the largest populated village in the Arfon ...

(1792-1836). In 1798 he led the first recorded rock climb in Britain.Williams, Peter Bailey (1763-1836)
G.T. Roberts and I.B. Rees (1959) ''Dictionary of Welsh Biography'' / ''Welsh Biography Online''

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Peter Calvinistic Methodists 1723 births 1796 deaths People from Laugharne