Davies, Ben, 1864-1937.

Person

Davies, Ben, 1864-1937.

Ben Davies, Calvinistic Methodist minister, was born in Cwmllynfell and worked as a coalminer after leaving school. His poetic talent very early proved successful in local literary meetings and eisteddfodau as he mastered the art of cynghanedd at the age of thirteen and won a bardic chair at the age of twenty-one. From 1886 to 1888 Davies studied at Bala Theological College, subsequently ministering at Bwlchgwyn and Llandegla (1888-1891) and Ystalyfera (1891-1926), rapidly becoming one of the most respected preachers of his time. He continued his eisteddfodic successes, gaining the crown at Rhyl in 1892, Pontypridd in 1893 and Caernarfon in 1894, and the chair at Llandudno in 1896. In 1897 he published an anthology titled Bore Bywyd and saw many of his articles printed in contemporary periodicals. Davies spent his latter years in London, continuing to preach until the end of his life.