William Morgan
Translated the Bible into Welsh, preserving the language.
- Born:
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1545
- Died:
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1604
- Place of Birth:
- Penmachno, Nant Conwy
- Biography:
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Morgan was born at Ty Mawr, near Penmachno, Nant Conwy. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1568 and was ordained the same year.
He was vicar of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llanarmon from 1578, became Bishop of Llandaf in 1595 and of St Asaph in 1601. In 1563 an act of Parliament was passed allowing the translation of the Bible into Welsh. It is thought that this was done not in an attempt to preserve or encourage the language but in the hope that Welsh people would find it easier to learn English if they had copies of the Bible in both languages. In fact the Act is said to have led to the preservation of the language and William Morgan's 1588 Bible was to become the most important publication in the history of the Welsh language. The New Testament and Book of Common Prayer had previously been translated by William Salesbury, who wrote in a very scholarly style. William Morgan's translation was more accessible to ordinary people. His work became an inspiration to Welsh writers and marked the beginning of modern Welsh literature. Morgan died in 1604 and was buried in St Asaph. There is a copy of his Bible in the city's cathedral and a monument to the translators of the Bible stands in its grounds.
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