William Penfro Rowlands

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William "Penfro" Rowlands (19 April 1860 – 22 October 1937)[http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/r/o/rowlands_wp.htm Cyberhymnal: William Penfro Rowlands] was a Welsh schoolteacher and composer.[http://www.hymnswithoutwords.com/hymns/Category:William_Penfro_Rowlands Hymns Without Words]

Rowlands was born at Llys y Frân, Maenclochog, Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro in the Welsh language, hence his middle name). Probably his best-known composition is the hymn-tune "Blaenwern", composed in 1905 and often used as the setting for Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. As well as being a church musician, Rowlands taught in several schools and was conductor of the Morriston United Choral Society.{{cite web | url=http://www.hymnary.org/tune/blaenwern | title=Tunes - Blaenwern | work=hymnary.org | author= | date= | accessdate=29 April 2011}}

He died in Swansea and is buried in Morriston Cemetery, Swansea, plot B11. A memorial stone to the composer was unveiled in March 1998, close to his birthplace.{{cite web|url=http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/11694|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205095037/http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/11694/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-12-05|title=Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project}}