MATHIAS, JOHN GORONWY (Goronwy Ddu ; 1842-1895), Baptist minister and littérateur;
b. at Manchester, 1842, but moved at an early age to Penrhyn-coch, Cards., where he was baptized and encouraged to preach. He moved in 1873 to Aberdare, becoming a member at Ynys-lwyd, and thence in 1874 to the Rhymney Valley, taking pastoral charge of the small church of Bethania, Troedrhiw'r-fuwch. He subsequently held the pastorates of Ramah and Erwood, Brecknock (1875-1881), Llansantffraid and Glyndyfrdwy (1881-7), and, after a period of retirement at Corwen until 1893, the English church at Pontlottyn, where he d. 18 Feb. 1895, at the age of 53. He was buried at Erwood.
He is best remembered for his literary activities. He was for some time in partnership with T. Edmunds, printer, at Corwen; he was the founder and editor of the eight numbers of Y Llenor Cymreig which were published at Corwen between Jan. 1882 and Oct. 1883; he also published Yr Ystorgell, Y Gorsen, 1872; Yr Eginyn, 1874; Y Dywysen, 1874; and Y Dywysen Aeddfed, 1875, probably for the use of Sunday schools and temperance meetings; and was editor and part-author of Hanes Bywyd C. H. Spurgeon, 1892. He wrote under the pseudonym Goronwy Ddu.
Bibliography:
- Ser. Cymru, 29 March 1895;
- Llawlyfr Bed., 1896;
- Not. W.;
- Asaph (Em. W.);
- Byr-Hanes Cymry Manceinion;
- Cardiff Catalogue.
Author:
Benjamin George Owens, M.A., Aberystwyth
