The composers of one of the greatest Welsh rugby anthems have had their contribution to the country’s culture immortalised with blue plaques in their home city of Swansea.
Calon Lan (Welsh for ‘A Pure Heart’) was published in 1892 written by Daniel James in the 1890s and set to the music of John Hughes, both of whom lived in Swansea.
Now two local chapels associated with the pair have had blue plaques placed on them to commemorate a hymn that regularly rings out around at Wales rugby internationals as well as in churches, schools and other locations around the country.
More recently it’s been adopted as an anthem by supporters of the Wales football team, who are due to play for a place in the World Cup early next month.
The first unveiling took place at the Caersalem Newydd Welsh Baptist Chapel, Treboeth, to commemorate its connection with John Hughes, who is buried in the graveyard there. The second blue plaque was placed on the former Mynyddbach Chapel, now the Calon Lan Centre, to commemorate Daniel James, who is buried in the nearby graveyard.
Following the second unveiling, children from nearby Gwyrosydd Primary School sang Calon Lan at the Calon Lan centre in hour of the event.
Swansea Councillor, Robert Francis Davies, carried out the unveilings and said it was a tremendous honour.
He said: “Calon Lan is one of the great Welsh hymns and anthems, recognised around the world wherever you find Welsh people. Arguably, only the national anthem is better known.
“It’s a work of genius and when we sing it, it’s one of those anthems that binds us together as a nation. So it’s only right that the two Swansea people who created it should be commemorated with blue plaques close to their final resting places.”
John Hughes, born 150 years ago in 1872, worked his entire career for Dyffryn Steel Works in Morriston, starting as an office boy and rising through the ranks to become marketing manager. He travelled internationally in the course of his work, teaching himself six languages in addition to his native Welsh.
Hughes, who died of a brain haemorrhage in 1914, also served as an organist at Caersalem Newydd Welsh Baptist Chapel.
Daniel James, born in 1848, worked at both Morriston’s ironworks and Landore’s tinplate works.
Swansea Council’s blue plaque scheme celebrates the political, sporting, cultural and scientific heritage of the City and County of Swansea by placing plaques on buildings associated with the lives of prominent deceased citizens.
Both men are now part of a select Swansea blue plaque club that already also includes anti-slavery campaigner Jessie Donaldson, painter Ceri Richards, rock singer Pete Ham, suffragette Emily Phipps, missionary Griffith John, gothic novelist Ann of Swansea, poet Vernon Watkins, radar pioneer Edward Bowen, and polar explorer Edgar Evans.
(Lead image: Swansea Council)
