John Hughes (1873 – 1932)

A Welsh composer born in Dowlais in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, eldest son of Evan Hughes. His parents removed to Holly Bush, Llantwit Fardre (Llanilltud Faerdref) in 1874; the father was deacon and precentor at Salem Baptist church there. John Hughes started work in a mine at 12 years of age, but later became clerk and evetually an official in the traffic department of the Great Western Railway. He married in 1905 Hannah Maria David, and had a son and a daughter. Like his father Evan, John became deacon and precentor at Salem church and it was for the 1907 anniversary services at Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, that he composed his best known hymn-tune, Cwm Rhondda.