William Williams

February 09, 2005

William Williams was born on 11 February 1717. A man of many great talents, as he came of age he began studying to be a doctor. On his way home one day as an intern, he saw a crowd gathered around the great evangelical Methodist preacher 'Hywel Harris'. He listened to the great words of faith and was converted and felt immediately called to ministry. He began new studies and became a deacon in the Church of England.
After being made deacon, he was refused further entry into the establishment and decided to become an open-air evangelical Methodist preacher. For forty three years he travelled on foot and on horseback over 100,000 miles preaching and teaching. He wrote more than 800 hymns, one of which became the theme song and unofficial national anthem for Wales: 'Guide me O thou great Jehovah'.