Hymn Story: Blaenwern

Blaenwern is a Welsh hymn. The song was composed by William Penfro Rowlands during the 1904-1905 Welsh revival.

Rowlands was born on April 19, 1860. He was a Welsh schoolteacher, composer, and conductor of the Morriston United Choral Society. He died on October 22, 1937.

The song was first published in the 1915 Cân a Moliant by Henry H. Jones.

This tune is often the same tune used for the English version of the hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. In the United States we may known the tune better for the tune to What a Friend We Have In Jesus.

This song is a popular selection for Ennglish Weddings and was performed at the ceremonies for Prince William and Catherine Middleton, as well as his cousin Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.

The hymn has also been performed at the funerals of Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II.