Archdruid

The Archdruid (Welsh: Archdderwydd) is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.^[1] The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the Eisteddfod Crown or Chair could become Archdruid. By the beginning of the twenty-first century Prose Medal winners were included in this élite band and the first to be elected under this ruling was Robyn Llŷn (Robyn Léwis) (2002–05)^[2]

List of Archdruids of Wales

The following is a list of Archdruids.^[3]

• David Griffith (Clwydfardd) ???–1894
• Rowland Williams 1895–1905
• Evan Rees (Dyfed) 1905-–1923
• John Cadvan Davies, 1923
• Howell Elvet Lewis, 1924–1928
• John Owen Williams (Pedrog) 1928–1932
• John Jenkins 1932–1936
• John James Williams ("J. J.") 1936–1939
• William Williams, 1939–1947
• William Evans (Wil Ifan), 1947–1950
• Albert Evans-Jones, 1950–1953
• John Dyfnallt Owen, 1954–1957
• William Morris, 1957–1960
• Edgar Phillips, 1960–1962
• Albert Evans-Jones, 1963–1966
• E. Gwyndaf Evans, 1966–1969
• Gwilym Tilsley, 1969–1972
• Brinley Richards, 1972–1975
• R. Bryn Williams, 1975–1978
• Geraint Bowen, 1978–1981
• James Nicholas, 1981–1984
• W. J. Gruffydd (Elerydd), 1984–1987
• Emrys Roberts, 1987–1990
• William George, 1990–1993
• John Gwilym Jones, 1993–1996
• Dafydd Rowlands, 1996-1999
• Meirion Evans, 1999-2002
• Robyn Léwis, 2002–2005
• Selwyn Griffith (Selwyn Iolen), 2005–2008
• Dic Jones 2008–2009
• T. James Jones (Jim Parc Nest) 2009-2012
• Christine James 2013- ; the first female archdruid, and the first Welsh learner archdruid ^[4]

References

See also

• Druid
• David R. Brower, a conservationist nicknamed "the Archdruid"