John Bodvan Anwyl

John Bodvan Anwyl (1875 - 1949) was a Congregational minister, lexicographer, and author. His parents were John Anwyl (lay preacher) of the Anwyl family of Caerwys, Flintshire, and Ellen Anwyl (née Williams), whose family came from the Llangwnnadl area. He joined the Congregational Church and in his twenties decided to enter the ministry, acquiring a position in Elim, Carmarthen in 1899. Unfortunately, his deafness proved a problem, and in 1904 he vacated his post to take charge of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Pontypridd.

In 1914 he was responsible for the sixth edition of Spurrell's English-Welsh Dictionary, and two years later, the seventh edition (both ran to several further editions). In 1921 he was appointed secretary of the projected Welsh dictionary project sponsored by the Board of Celtic Studies of the University of Wales.

His writings include 'Y Pulpud Bach' (1924), Fy Hanes i fy Hunan (1933), Englynion (1933), and 'Yr Arian Mawr' (1934). He also prepared translations (into Welsh) of a number of books published by the London Missionary Society.

He died (by drowning) on 23 July 1949 and was buried in Penllech, Gwynedd.^[1]

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