William Penfro Rowlands was a Welsh schoolteacher and composer.

Rowlands was born at Llys y Frân, Maenclochog

Maenclochog

Maenclochog is a small village in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. It lies at the south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile southeast of the village of Rosebush.Researchers believe to have found the remains of a 13th Century castle at Maenclochog...

, Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro in the Welsh language

Welsh language

Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...

, hence his middle name). Probably his best-known composition is the hymn-tune "Blaenwern

Blaenwern

Blaenwern is a Welsh Christian hymn tune composed by William Penfro Rowlands , during the Welsh revival of 1904-1905. 'Blaenwern' was first published in Henry H. Jones' Cân a Moliant ....

", composed in 1905. As well as being a church musician, Rowlands also taught in several schools. He was also the conductor of the Morriston United Choral Society.

He died in Swansea. A memorial stone to the composer was unveiled in March 1998, close to his birthplace.