William Havard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Portrait byEvan Walters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | William Thomas Havard (1889-10-23)23 October 1889 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 17 August 1956(1956-08-17) (aged 66) Gwbert-on-Sea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Brecon Secondary School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University College, Aberystwyth Jesus College, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bishop of St David's | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Church | Church in Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diocese | Diocese of St Davids | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Installed | 1950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term ended | 1956 (died) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | David Prosser | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | John Richards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bishop of St Asaph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Church | Church in Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diocese | Diocese of St Asaph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Installed | 1934 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term ended | 1950 (translated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | A. G. Edwards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | David Bartlett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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William Thomas HavardMC (23 October 1889 – 17 August 1956) was a Welsh clergyman andrugby union international player. He served as a military chaplain during theFirst World War, and later asBishop of St Asaph and thenBishop of St David's in theChurch in Wales.
Havard was born inDefynnog,Brecknockshire, the third son of William Havard, adeacon of the localcongregational chapel, and his wife Gwen. He attendedBrecon county school before studying atUniversity College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he graduated with a 3rd-classBA degree in history in 1912. Having been raised in the congregationalist Christian tradition, he wasconfirmed as a member of theChurch in Wales after graduating. He then trained for ordination atSt Michael's College, Llandaff and was ordained deacon in 1913 andpriest in 1914. He wascurate ofLlanelli from 1913 to 1915.[2]
During theFirst World War, Havard served aschaplain to the 10th Battalion,South Wales Borderers, which formed part of the115th Brigade in the38th (Welsh) Division,[3] serving from 1915 to 1919. He retained an honorary commission as chaplain to the forces, 4th class.[4][5] He wasMentioned in Despatches in 1917 (Haig's despatch of 9 April),[6] and was awarded theMilitary Cross in the1918 New Year Honours.[7]
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 ofJesus College, Oxford, from 1919 to 1921. While there, he took a degree in modern history, graduating in 1921.
A keen sportsman, Havard played rugby at all levels, representing Brecon Secondary School while a schoolboy, and continuing through university and finally joiningLlanelli and laterLondon Welsh at club level.
On 21 April 1919, Havard played forWales in a tour match against theNew Zealand Army. This was Havard's only match for Wales;[9] New Zealand won the match 6–3.[10]
Havard was anOxford blue, playing forOxford inThe Varsity Match of 1919.[2] He was also part of the Jesus College rugby team that won the inter-collegiate cup in 1920.[11]
Havard also playedfootball to a high standard, playing forSwansea Town. In September 1912, two days before the Swansea Town's firstSouthern League match, Havard was in the reserve team in a match againstMerthyr and scored Swansea's first goal in their first competitive season.[12] In January 1914, Havard had recently played football forLlanelli, 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]
After leaving Oxford, Havard became curate of Brecon (1921–22),vicar ofHook (1922–24),[15] vicar of St Luke's,Battersea (1924–28) and vicar ofSt Mary's, Swansea (1928–34). He was acanon ofBrecon Cathedral from 1930 to 1934. He succeededA. G. Edwards asBishop of St Asaph in September 1934 when Edwards retired. He had in 1923 he returned to a more active army role, joining theTerritorials 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 theVenerable Order of Saint John.[20] He wastranslated toSt David's in succession toDavid Prosser in 1950.[2]
He was regarded as a powerful preacher in both Welsh and in English, with his sermon on the Sunday before theNational Eisteddfod often being broadcast. He was Select Preacher atSt. Andrew's University (1943) andCanterbury (1946), and travelled toYale 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 asVisitor toSt 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 ofBrecon Cathedral.[3]
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.
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.
| Church in Wales titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of St Asaph 1934–1950 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of St David's 1950–1956 | Succeeded by |
