The Hymns of Ann Griffiths: 'In Thy Blood we see salvation''

Ann Thomas was born in April 1776, near the Welsh village of Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, to devout Anglican parents.

At 18 her mother died and this led her and her brothers further towards Methodism. In 1796 she joined the Calvinistic Methodist movement after a profound spiritual experience during a revival meeting.

These years led to a deepening personal piety and a profound desire to become a poet despite her limited formal education. Griffiths displayed a deep and complex understanding of Christian theology and scripture, often weaving these elements, together with the themes of sin, redemption, and eternal life, into her lyrical poems.

She wrote little of her works down but would recite her poems to Ruth Hughes, a local maid, who memorised them and this helped lead to their eventual publication. To this day many of her hymns remain popular and are sung in churches and chapels throughout the Christian world.

Ann married Thomas Griffiths in 1804, who was also a devout Christian, and supported her spiritual and literary pursuits.

Tragically, a year after her marriage, she died shortly after giving birth to a daughter who also shortly thereafter died.

Ann Griffiths was buried on 12th August, 1805 at St Michael's in the Welsh village of her birth. She was 29.

© 2024 Portable Poetry (Rafbók): 9781835475966

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Rafbók: 1 juni 2024