Morris Williams's gravestone at St Rhuddlad's Church, Anglesey
Morris Williams (20 August 1809 – 3 January 1874), was a Welsh clergyman and writer, commonly known by his bardic nameNicander.[1] He worked on the Welsh Prayer Book of 1841 and himself produced a metrical Welsh Psalms of David.
Williams was born at Caernarfon, the son of William Morris. His mother, Sarah, was the sister of Peter Jones (Pedr Fardd). The family moved to Coed Cae Bach, Llangybi and he went to school at Llanystumdwy. He was then apprenticed to a carpenter.[1]
Williams in his theological beliefs was a follower of the Oxford Movement. Whilst serving at Holywell, he was one of four commissioners who prepared the revised edition of the Welsh Prayer Book of 1841. Later, while pastor at Amlwch on Anglesey, he translated the Book of Psalms into Welsh metre, entitling it Y Psallwyr, neu Psalmau Dafydd (The Psalter, or the Psalms of David).[2]
He wanted to make psalm singing more popular by using a wider variety of metres than Prys had done. He completed his psalter in 1850 and dedicated it to the Marquis of Lansdowne. In 1851 he began editing the new folio edition of the Welsh Bible for SPCK.