William Havard

For the London actor and dramatist, see William Havard (actor).

The Right Reverend
William Havard
MC
Portrait by Evan Walters
Born
William Thomas Havard

(1889-10-23)23 October 1889
Defynnog, Powys, Wales
Died17 August 1956(1956-08-17) (aged 66)
Gwbert-on-Sea, Wales
EducationBrecon Secondary School
Alma materUniversity College, Aberystwyth
Jesus College, Oxford
Spouse
Florence Aimée Holmes
​
​
(m. 1922)​
Bishop of St David's
ChurchChurch in Wales
DioceseDiocese of St Davids
Installed1950
Term ended1956 (died)
PredecessorDavid Prosser
SuccessorJohn Richards
Bishop of St Asaph
ChurchChurch in Wales
DioceseDiocese of St Asaph
Installed1934
Term ended1950 (translated)
PredecessorA. G. Edwards
SuccessorDavid Bartlett
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1913–20 Llanelli RFC[1] 5 (5)
– London Welsh RFC ()
1919–20 Oxford University RFC ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1919 Wales Wales 1 (0)

William Thomas Havard MC (23 October 1889 – 17 August 1956) was a Welsh clergyman and rugby union international player. He served as a military chaplain during the First World War, and later as Bishop of St Asaph and then Bishop of St David's in the Church in Wales.

Early life

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Havard was born in Defynnog, Brecknockshire, the third son of William Havard, a deacon of the local congregational chapel, and his wife Gwen. He attended Brecon county school before studying at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he graduated with a 3rd-class BA degree in history in 1912. Having been raised in the congregationalist Christian tradition, he was confirmed as a member of the Church in Wales after graduating. He then trained for ordination at St Michael's College, Llandaff and was ordained deacon in 1913 and priest in 1914. He was curate of Llanelli from 1913 to 1915.[2]

First World War

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During the First World War, Havard served as chaplain to the 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which formed part of the 115th Brigade in the 38th (Welsh) Division,[3] serving from 1915 to 1919. He retained an honorary commission as chaplain to the forces, 4th class.[4][5] He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1917 (Haig's despatch of 9 April),[6] and was awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Year Honours.[7]

Oxford

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After the war, Havard returned to St Albans Church, Llanelli Where he was now Revd to the newly finished church 1919-1920 (he had previously served there between 1913 and 1915 while it was just the crypt) [8] Havard was chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford, from 1919 to 1921. While there, he took a degree in modern history, graduating in 1921.

Sports

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Rugby

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A keen sportsman, Havard played rugby at all levels, representing Brecon Secondary School while a schoolboy, and continuing through university and finally joining Llanelli and later London Welsh at club level.

On 21 April 1919, Havard played for Wales in a tour match against the New Zealand Army. This was Havard's only match for Wales;[9] New Zealand won the match 6–3.[10]

Havard was an Oxford blue, playing for Oxford in The Varsity Match of 1919.[2] He was also part of the Jesus College rugby team that won the inter-collegiate cup in 1920.[11]

Football

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Havard also played football to a high standard, playing for Swansea Town. In September 1912, two days before the Swansea Town's first Southern League match, Havard was in the reserve team in a match against Merthyr and scored Swansea's first goal in their first competitive season.[12] In January 1914, Havard had recently played football for Llanelli, prompting objections that this should debar him from playing rugby for Llanelli as an amateur: he was allowed to play one match,[13] but not another.[14]

Church career

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After leaving Oxford, Havard became curate of Brecon (1921–22), vicar of Hook (1922–24),[15] vicar of St Luke's, Battersea (1924–28) and vicar of St Mary's, Swansea (1928–34). He was a canon of Brecon Cathedral from 1930 to 1934. He succeeded A. G. Edwards as Bishop of St Asaph in September 1934 when Edwards retired. He had in 1923 he returned to a more active army role, joining the Territorials in his previous grade on 8 May 1923,[16] he was then promoted to Chaplain, 3rd class on 21 February 1925[17][18] before being appointed to a reserve commission on 6 January 1934, which he retained until reaching the age-limit for the position in 1949, when he was again granted an honorary commission.[19] On 18 June 1940, he was appointed a Chaplain and Sub-Prelate of the Venerable Order of Saint John.[20] He was translated to St David's in succession to David Prosser in 1950.[2]

He was regarded as a powerful preacher in both Welsh and in English, with his sermon on the Sunday before the National Eisteddfod often being broadcast. He was Select Preacher at St. Andrew's University (1943) and Canterbury (1946), and travelled to Yale University in 1951 as a special lecturer and preacher. He was prominent in educational activities, chairing the education council of the Church in Wales, and acting as Visitor to St David's College, Llandovery College, Trinity College, Carmarthen and St John's College, Ystrad Meurig.

Havard died on 17 August 1956, and was buried in Brecon.[2] His memorial is in the Havard Chapel of Brecon Cathedral.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Player: Bill Havard - Prop". Llanelli RFC. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Ellis, Mary Gwendoline. "HAVARD, WILLIAM THOMAS (1889–1956), bishop". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  3. ^ a b "The Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist, Brecon. The Havard Chapel" (PDF). coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ Chaplains of this grade wear rank insignia identical to that of captains in the rest of the army
  5. ^ "No. 32492". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 October 1921. pp. 8270–8271.
  6. ^ "No. 30101". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 May 1917. pp. 5315–5324.
  7. ^ "No. 30450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1917. pp. 30–37.
  8. ^ Saint Alban's Church Llanelli Jubilee 1915-1965
  9. ^ "Bill Havard". scrum.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  10. ^ "NEW ZEALAND ARMY TOUR - Swansea, 21 April 1919". scrum.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  11. ^ Baker, J. N. L. (1971). Jesus College Oxford 1571–1971. Oxonian Press Ltd, Oxford. p. 120. ISBN 0-9502164-0-2.
  12. ^ Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. p. 70. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
  13. ^ "Rugby Team's Triumph at Llanelly". The Cambria Daily Leader. 12 January 1914. p. 5. Retrieved 3 January 2022. A peculiar point cropped up before play commenced, and the subject is certain to be revived. Llanelly had included the Rev. W. T. Havard among the forwards. The latter had recently helped the Llanelly Association side and the prevailing impression was that this debarred him from playing for an amateur Rugby team, the Welsh Union having passed a resolution to that effect. When spoken to the Llanelly officials contended that they had no power to debar the rev. gentleman. He was, therefore, permitted to take part.
  14. ^ "Whites Win". The South Wales Weekly Post. 17 January 1914. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2022. On the way down to Llanelly it became known that the Llanelly Committee had picked the Rev. W. T. Havard to fill the vacancy in the Llanelly forwards, and they were probably unaware of the new rules of the Welsh Football Union, which debarred this player from playing in Rugby matches under Rugby rules. It will be remembered that the rev. gentleman played centre forward for the Llanelly Association team three weeks ago, and under the Welsh Rugby Union rules the Swansea players, if they knew this and allowed him to play, would be liable to suspension. In these circumstances there was no course open but to object to the Rev. W. T. Havard.
  15. ^ "No. 32609". The London Gazette. 14 February 1922. p. 1292.
  16. ^ "No. 32841". The London Gazette. 3 July 1923. p. 4620.
  17. ^ (equivalent rank insignia to a Major)
  18. ^ "No. 33027". The London Gazette. 6 March 1925. pp. 1609–1610.
  19. ^ "No. 38754". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 November 1949. p. 5304.
  20. ^ "No. 34878". The London Gazette. 21 June 1940. p. 3777.
Church in Wales titles
Preceded by Bishop of St Asaph
1934–1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of St David's
1950–1956 		Succeeded by
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