regularly in a new building put up at Llangeitho for his accommodation. His influence as a preacher and leader was in no way diminished; for a quarter of a century the services at the ‘new church’ of Llangeitho were attended, in addition to the ordinary congregation, by pilgrims from all parts of Wales, and he continued supreme in the association. He died on 16 Oct. 1790, and was buried in Llangeitho, where his statue was recently erected by public subscription.
Rowlands married Eleanor, daughter of John Davies of Cefngarllyges, by whom he had three sons—John, rector of Llangeitho (d. 1815), father of Daniel Rowland [q. v.]; Nathaniel (d. 1831); and David—and four daughters. His portrait was painted by Robert Bowyer [q. v.], at the request of Lady Huntingdon, shortly before his death; many engravings of the picture have appeared. His sermons were marked by sublimity and force, and probably as a preacher he had in his own time no rival in Wales. His voice was penetrating, but not powerful. In disposition he was hot-tempered, but generous and indulgent; it was characteristic of his restless energy that he always rode at a gallop.
Besides various volumes, including in all twelve sermons, which have been frequently issued both in Welsh and in English translations, Rowlands published:
- ‘Llaeth Ysbrydol,’ Carmarthen, 1739.
- ‘Rules for the Societies,’ Bristol, 1742.
- ‘Traethawd ar farw i'r ddeddf’ (a translation), Bristol, 1743.
- ‘Dialogue between an Orthodox and a Mistaken Methodist,’ 1749?; 2nd edit., 1750; 3rd, Carmarthen, 1792.
- ‘Aceldama’ (a translation), Carmarthen, 1759.
- ‘Llais y Durtur,’ Carmarthen, 1762; 2nd edit., London, 1764; 3rd, Dolgelly, 1803.
- ‘Pymtheg Araith’ (a translation), Carmarthen, 1763.
- ‘Camni yn y Goelbren’ (a translation), Carmarthen, 1769.
Rowlands published hymns at various times, but none of them have won much favour. Elegies to his memory were composed by various methodists, the best-known being that by William Williams (Pantycelyn).
[It was intended that a memoir of Rowlands should be written shortly after his death, and materials were collected for the purpose. The death of Lady Huntingdon, however, interfered with the project, and the materials went astray. Thus the earliest life is that by the Rev. John Owen, curate of Thrussington, Leicestershire, and a native of Llangeitho, which appeared in Welsh (Chester, 1839) and English (London, 1840). The memoir (in Welsh) by Morris Davies, Bangor, prefixed to the 1876 edition of the sermons, gives the fullest and most careful account of what is known of Rowlands from all sources. Some particulars in the article have been taken from Ashton's Llenyddiaeth Gymreig (pp. 209–220), and Rees's History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales, 2nd edit., p. 349.]
ROWLANDS, HENRY (1551–1616), bishop of Bangor, born in 1551 in the parish of Meyllteyrn or Bottwnog, Carnarvonshire, was son of Rolant ap Robert of Meyllteyrn and of Elizabeth, daughter of Griffith ap Robert Vaughan (Wood, Fasti, ii. 584). After being educated at Penllech school, he studied at Oxford, and graduated B. A. from New College on 17 Feb. 1573-4. He then migrated to St. Mary Hall, and graduated M.A. 27 June 1577, B.D. 27 March 1591, D.D. 28 June 1605 (Clark, Oxford Reg.; Foster, Alumni Oxon.) He took holy orders on 14 Sept. 1572, and was rector of Meyllteyrn from 1572 to 1581, and of Langton, Oxfordshire, from 1581 to 1600. From 4 Aug. 1584 to August 1594 he was prebendary of Penmynyd, Bangor Cathedral, from 3 Sept. 1588 rector of Aberdaron, becoming in the same year archdeacon of Anglesey, and on 29 Aug. 1593 dean of Bangor. On 16 Sept. 1598 he was elected bishop of Bangor, and installed on 19 Jan. 1598-9 (Le Neve, Fasti; Strype, Whitgift, ii. 405; Hist. MSS. Comm. 6th Rep. p. 254).
He subsequently became rector of Trefdaeth, Anglesey, in 1601, vicar of Llanrhaiadr-inKimmerch 1602, a member of Gray's Inn 1606, and rector of Llanrhaiadr, Denbigh, 1612. He died on 6 July 1616, and was buried in the cathedral in the choir, before the high altar. His will is in the prerogative court. He was careful of the revenues of his cathedral, and gave to it four bells, to replace those sold by his predecessor. He also in 1609 gave lands to Jesus College, Oxford, for the maintenance of two scholars or fellows (Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, ii. 3166; Fuller, Church Hist. iv. 370), and in his will he left lands for the erection of a school at Meyllteyrn. Rowlands married, at Langton, Frances Hutchins or Pope of Oxford, relict of one Cotesford.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Gutch, i. 57; Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Lansd. MSS. 983 f. 285, 984 f. 34; Camden's Annales. K. Jac. I, sub anno 1616.]
ROWLANDS, HENRY (1655–1723), divine and antiquary, son of William Rowlands, of Plas Gwyn, Llanedwen, Anglesey, by his wife Maud, daughter of Edward Wynne of Penhesgyn, was born in 1655 at Plas Gwyn, the seat of the Rowlands family, which was purchased in 1600 by the antiquary's great-great-granduncle, Henry Rowlands [q. v.], bishop of Bangor.
Henry received a good classical education,
