William Owen, also known by his Welsh name Prysgol, (December 1813 – 20 July 1893) was a Welsh hymn writer. Born at Bangor, he composed the Welsh hymn tune ''Bryn Calfaria'' and other works, among his best known being the anthem ''Ffynnon Ddisglair'' and the hymns ''Alma'' and ''Deemster''.

Life and career

William Owen, widely known in Wales as William Owen Prysgol, was the son of William and Ellen Owen. His father was a stone mason in a quarry. Owen grew up in

Bethesda, Gwynedd Bethesda (; ) is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales. It is on the banks of Afon Ogwen and on the edge of Snowdonia. It is about south-west of Bangor. It is a predominantly Welsh-speaking town. History The settlement's ancient name w ...

, where at ten years of age he entered his father's profession. He had music instruction in classes run by Robert Williams at Carneddi, and from William Roberts. He was one of several Welsh hymn writers who had been a member of The Society of Religious Singers in Bethesda during his formative years. He later worked at the Dorothea Slate Quarry, and is said to have composed his most famous work, the hymn ''Bryn Calfaria (Calvary Hill)'', on slate at his place of work. Owen was involved with the

temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting Temperance (virtue), temperance or total abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and ...

, composing several temperance pieces, some of which were performed at events at

Caernarfon Castle Caernarfon Castle (; ) is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The first fortification on the site was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century, which King Edward I of England began to replace with the current st ...

. Among his best known works, after ''Bryn Calfaria'', are the anthem ''Ffynnon Ddisglair (Bright Well)'' and the hymns ''Alma'' and ''Deemster''. He married a woman from Prysgol, a farmhouse near Caeathro, a few kilometers inland from

Caernarfon Caernarfon (; ) is a List of place names with royal patronage in the United Kingdom, royal town, Community (Wales), community and port in Gwynedd, Wales. It has a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the easter ...

, where he lived thereafter. He died on 20 July 1893, aged 79, and is buried in Caeathro chapel burial ground.

Footnotes

References

External links

* Bryn Calfaria (The National Library of Wales

Coflein entry for Prysgol

RCAHMW The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW; ; ), established in 1908, is a Welsh Government sponsored body concerned with some aspects of the archaeological, architectural and historic environment of Wales. ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Owen, Wilson 1813 births 1893 deaths Welsh Christian hymnwriters Welsh male composers