''Seren Gomer'' was the first

Welsh-language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has als ...

weekly newspaper. The first number was published in 1814 in

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 ...

by the local

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

minister and writer

Joseph Harris (Gomer) Joseph Harris (1773 – 10 August 1825) was a Welsh Baptist minister, author, and journal editor. A Welsh language poet, he took the Biblical name of Gomer as his bardic name. On 1 January 1814 he launched the first Welsh-language weekly ''Seren G ...

Publishing history

The weekly was intended to cover news from the whole of Wales and from overseas, as well as literary material. Its success was limited: it went out of business in 1815 after 85 editions, partly due to the heavy tax on newspapers and a shortfall in advertising revenue.BBC News, "Plaque unveiled for 200th anniversary of Seren Gomer". 12 April 2014
Accessed 23 February 2016 In 1818 Harris revived the publication, which became associated with the Baptist denomination. In 1820 it became a monthly. The writer and poet

Evan Owen Allen Evan Owen Allen (1805–1852) was a Welsh writer and poet born at Pant-y-llin, near Llanrwst, Caernarfonshire, the son of a farmer. Writings Allen contributed to ''Seren Gomer'', which had been the first Welsh-language weekly newspaper, and to o ...

was among its contributors. When Harris died in 1825, the paper was purchased by a

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, ...

publisher and became a quarterly Baptist magazine. This continued until 1983.

Editors

:1951–1975:

Lewis Valentine Lewis Edward Valentine M.A. (1 June 1893 – March 1986) was a Welsh politician, Baptist pastor, author, editor, and Welsh-language activist. He was the first leader of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru. Early life Valentine was born in ...

:1975–1977:

David Eirwyn Morgan David Eirwyn Morgan ( ; 23 April 1918 – 30 August 1982) was a minister, journalist and Welsh nationalist politician. Born in Pen-y-groes in Carmarthenshire, Morgan began preaching at an early age in the Baptist church in nearby Llandybie. He ...

References

External links

''Seren Gomer – the first Welsh weekly'' at the National Library of Wales
Welsh-language newspapers Newspapers published in Wales Publications established in 1814 1814 establishments in Wales Monthly newspapers {{Wales-newspaper-stub