The Dafydd ap Gwilym Society is the Welsh society at the University of Oxford. It is a Welsh language student society which is named after the Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym and was founded in 1886. It is the second oldest student society in the university.
History Jones (1967) documented that in 1885 W. Llewelyn Williams 'was assisting in founding the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society at Oxford, with important consequences for the Welsh national movement.' The society, which was named after the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, was founded in the following year by Williams and six other undergraduate students: Edward Anwyl, O.M. Edwards, T.E. Ellis, John Puleston Jones, John Morris-Jones and Daniel Lleufer Thomas. It is the second oldest student society in the university, the Oxford Union having been established in 1823. Löffler (2020) documented that in the year in which the society was founded it collaborated with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) in a resumption of its work to produce a standard Welsh orthography. Morgan (1982) observed:
The society is informally known by its members as Y Dafydd (The Dafydd). It began accepting female members in the academic year 1966–1967. In the 1990s, several of the society's magazine editions (Yr Aradr), feature articles on the creative work of its members, as well as some of its guest speakers.
Traditions It was the tradition for every meeting of the society to begin with a reading of his work by the Chaplain, followed by discussion. Also the society had some formal rituals and prestigious-sounding positions. However, they were intended to be ironic. Today the chairman keeps the title of Chaplain, and the prestigious job of Headquarters remains. Traditionally members and alumni of the society meet annually at the National Eisteddfod.
Constitution It is not known whether there existed an original constitution for the society or, if so, whether it was lost. However the Co-Caplaniaid of Y Dafydd felt that a constitution was necessary for the continuance of the society. Consequently in 2025 an official constitution was drafted for it.
Chaplains +YearCaplan2026/27Charlie Evans (Jesus College) & Taryn Purchase (Jesus College)2025/26David Ingham (Jesus College) & Maia Williams (Jesus College)2024/25Ffion Wood (Hertford College) & Ethan Carmichael (St Hilda’s College)2023/24 Alaw Owen (St Anne's College) & Eigra Williams (Jesus College)2022/23Efan Owen (Balliol College) & Manon Hammond (Lincoln College)2021/22Daniel Rolles (Jesus College)2020/21Carys Bill (St Anne's College)2019/20Adam Wilkinson-Hill (Jesus College)2018/19Osian Prys Elis (Jesus College)2017/18Lois Llywelyn Williams (Jesus College)2016/17Elin Havard (Jesus College)2015/16Llewelyn Rhys Hopwood (Jesus College)2014/15Benjamin Sadler (Jesus College)2013/14Cai Wilshaw (St Anne's College)2012/13Carwyn Graves (Worcester College)2011/12Laura Davies (Jesus College)2010/11Tomos David (Jesus College)2009/10Emrys Evans (New College)2008/09Dafydd Green (Pembroke College)2007/08Delyth Jewell (St. Hugh's College)2006/07Rhys ab Owen (Regent's Park College)2005/06Manon Mathias (Trinity College)
Presidents Some former fellows of the university who have served, or now serve as honorary presidents of the society:
Sir John Rhys (1886–1919) Goronwy Edwards, (1919–1948) Sir Idris Foster, (1948–1978) Sir Robert Rees Davies, (1938-2005) Robert Evans Rosalind Temple David Willis
Alumni
O. M. Edwards, educationalist and writer Ifan ab Owen Edwards, founder of Urdd Gobaith Cymru Gwynfor Evans, politician , lexicographer W. J. Gruffydd, scholar and politician Guto Harri, newsreader R. Tudur Jones, scholar , theologian Rhodri Morgan, politician John Morris-Jones, writer Huw Thomas, politician D. J. Williams, writer and nationalist Gwilym Owen Williams, archbishop J. E. Meredith, writer and minister Ben Lake, politician Delyth Jewell, politician Rhys ab Owen, politician
Footnotes
Notes
References
Further reading
External links Merched Dafydd https://cymdeithas-dafydd.org