As one of Watcyn Wyn's ‘boys’ he became interested in poetry writing, and one of his chaired poems‘Tyred, Canlyn Fi’ was published in 1912. He won the crown at the national eisteddfod in Ammanford in 1922 for his pryddest, ‘Tannau Coll’. Some of his children's hymns were included in Llyfr Emynau a Thonau'r Plant (1947). His essays, which were published in 1931 under the title Dydd Calan ac ysgrifau eraill (2nd. ed. 1950), show considerable literary skill; and his genius as an essayist became evident again when he was editor of Y Drysorfa (1939-43). His selections from the Book of Psalms (1936) also revealed his artistry as a polished writer. He and Rhys Davies (one of the elders of the church) were co-authors of a history of Carmel (1921).

He was a very popular preacher throughout Wales, and the congregations doted upon the beauty of his turn of phrase and his terse, brilliant sayings. No doubt it was because of this that he was chosen to deliver the (unpublished) Davies Lecture on ‘Y ffordd dra rhagorol’ in 1948. He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly (1952), but d. during his year of office. He d. 12 Feb. 1953, and was buried in Carmel graveyard, Aber-craf.