Cwm Rhondda

Cwm Rhondda, the Welsh name for the Rhondda Valley, is a popular hymn tune written by John Hughes (1873–1932) and first performed in 1907. It is often erroneously called Bread Of Heaven and is usually used in English as a setting for William Williams's text Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (or, in some traditions, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer),John Richard Watson, Published 2002, Oxford University Press p. 228. "Hymns Ancient and Modern and the English Hymnal have always printed Guide me, O thou great redeemer, as the first line." originally Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch in Welsh, translated by Peter Williams in the 1771 hymnal Hymns on Various Subjects. In Welsh it is usually a setting for a hymn by Ann Griffiths, Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd.

Hymn text

Present-day

History

The hymn has evolved and shortened over time from an original version, written in 1745, with five verses.The following version is taken from the Welsh hymnbook of the Calvinist and Wesleyan Methodists, published by the assemblies of the two churches.

Meanings

The hymn describes the experience of God's people in their travel through the wilderness from the escape from slavery in Egypt, , being guided by a cloud by day and a fire by night, to their final arrival forty years later in the land of Canaan, . During this time their needs were supplied by God, including the daily supply of manna, .

The hymn text forms an allegory for the...
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