Peter Williams

Peter Williams (15 January 1723 – 8 August 1796) was a prominent leader of Welsh Calvinistic Methodism in the eighteenth century, best known for publishing Welsh-language bibles and bible commentary.

Personal life Williams was born on 15 January 1723 at West Marsh Farm in Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, the son of Owen and Elizabeth Williams. In 1748, he married Mary Jenkins and settled at Llandyfaelog in Carmarthenshire.

Career While a student at Carmarthen Grammar School in 1743, Williams was converted after hearing a sermon by George Whitefield.

In 1770 Williams began to publish copies of Welsh language bibles at an affordable price, with commentaries on each chapter. The commentaries assisted in avoiding the claim to a monopoly over the right to publish the Welsh Bible which was asserted by the Royal Printer and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The first edition of Williams' Bible was printed by John Ross and published in Carmarthen in 1770. It was the first ever publication in Wales of the Welsh Bible. It sold out in the same year. There was a demand for many more editions. Williams died at Llandyfaelog on 8 August 1796 and is buried in Llandyfaelog churchyard.

Careers of his sons

During Peter Williams' own life, the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists remained within the Established Church. They did not break formally with the Established Church until 1811.

Two of Peter Williams' sons became clergymen in the Established Church : Eliezer Williams (1754–1820) and Peter Bailey Williams (1763–1836). Both were educated at Carmarthen grammar school and Jesus College, Oxford.

Eliezer Williams was Vicar of Lampeter (1805 to 1820). He founded and supervised for 14 years Lampeter grammar school, which prepared young men for ordination in the Established Church. He was also known as a genealogist and antiquary.

Peter Bailey Williams was Rector of Llanberis and Llanrug (1792–1836). In 1793 he founded in Llanrug one of the first Sunday schools in Caernarvonshire. In 1798 he led the first recorded rock climb in Britain. His son, Henry Bailey Williams (1805–1879) followed his father as rector of Llanberis (1836–43) and of Llanrug (1843–79).