order of the Gorsedd in 1888 and enthroned as its Archdruid in 1924, a position which he held until 1928. Elfed's greatest contribution to Welsh literature was in the field of hymnody and hymnology. He published his first hymn, O Dywysog Pob Daioni, in 1881 during the first year of his ministry; he went on to write a large number of original hymns in Welsh and in English and to translate hymns between the two languages, many of which are still popular with congregations today. Among his best-known original Welsh-language hymns is the patriotic hymn Cofia'n gwlad Benllywydd tirion (described as "a kind of second national anthem"); while his original English hymn Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining is widely used in hymn books on both sides of the Atlantic. A number of Welsh hymns translated into English appeared in a series of articles published in the magazine Sunday at Home, and were republished in book form in 1889 by the Religious Tract Society as Sweet Singers of Wales. Awards The University of Wales awarded Elfed three honorary degrees: Master of Arts (1906), Doctor of Divinity (1937), and Doctor of Laws (1949). He was the first person to achieve such an honour from the university. He was created a Companion of Honour in 1948. Personal life Elfed married three times. His first wife was Mary Taylor from Buckley. He married her in Stratford in 1887, and had seven children by her, of whom two died young. She died in 1918. His second wife was Elizabeth Lloyd whom he married in 1923, but her health was fragile and she died in 1927 after barely four years of marriage. His third wife was Mary Davies, one of the chapel members at Tabernacl Kings Cross, whom he married in 1930. Death Elfed died on 10 December 1953. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in Blaenycoed. Principal publications Welsh Caniadau (2 vols, 1895–1901) English My Christ and other Poems (1891) Israel and other Poems (1930) Songs of Assisi (1938) References Sources External links Welsh Biography Online: Lewis, Howell Elvet ('Elfed'; 1860-1953) Eisteddfod Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour Welsh Eisteddfod archdruids Welsh Congregationalist ministers Welsh-language poets Welsh-speaking clergy 1953 deaths 1860 births