Lyn Lewis Dafis
Ganwyd Lyn Lewis Dafis yn Llain, Mynachlog-ddu, Sir Benfro, ym 1960. Astudiodd Iaith a Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. O 1989 ymlaen bu’n gweithio fel llyfrgellydd am 25 mlynedd yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth.
Roedd yn ddiwinnydd rhagorol, â dawn arbennig i gyfleu gair Duw i bobl o bob oed mewn modd ystyrlon, clir ac hygyrch. Arferai ddarlledu ar Radio Cymru, ac ysgrifennu erthyglau i amryw o gylchgronau Cymraeg. Yn aml, byddai’n ysgrifennu dan ei enw barddol Dogfael. Cafodd ei arwisgo yn y Wisg Wen yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Tyddewi, 2002.
O 2005 ymlaen, ysgrifennai flog dan yr enw Dogfael. Bu’n chwarae rhan hollbwysig ym mywyd Eglwys y Santes Fair, Aberystwyth, am flynyddoedd lawer. Gwasanaethodd fel darllenydd lleyg cyn cael ei ordeinio’n ddiacon yn 2015, ac yn offeiriad yn 2016. Bu’n gurad ac yna’n ficer Eglwys Sant Ioan, Penrhyn-coch, yn Ardal Weinidogaeth Leol Bro Padarn, Aberystwyth.
Yn 2021, daeth yn Swyddog Iaith Gymraeg Esgobaeth Tyddewi, ac yn aelod o Bwyllgor Iaith Gymraeg yr Eglwys yng Nghymru. Bu farw yn 2022, yn 61 oed.
‘Y Beder Ifengyl’ yn nhafodiaith Sir Benfro
Cyfieithodd Lyn Lewis Dafis y pedair Efengyl i’w dafodiaith ei hun, gan addasu’r testun o Feibl Cymraeg Newydd (1988). Mae’r cyfieithiad yn dystiolaeth o’i gariad at Sir Benfro, ei ddiddordeb dwfn mewn ieithoedd (yn enwedig ieithoedd lleiafrifol), a’i ymrwymiad diwyro i’r Efengyl.
Cwblhaodd y gwaith tua’r flwyddyn 2000, ond ni chyhoeddodd y cyfieithiadau erioed.
Mae argraffiad digidol Y Beder Ifengyl yn iaith Sir Benfro gan Lyn Lewis Dafis bellach ar gael ar-lein, gyda chaniatâd ei deulu. Mewnosodwyd ychydig adnodau a chymalau coll nad oedd yn rhan o’r gwreiddiol, gan eu nodi drwy ddefnyddio [cromfachau sgwâr].
Yn 2026, recordiwyd y pedair Efengyl i Gymdeithas y Beibl ar fformat sain gan Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg, mewn partneriaeth â Llyfrau Llafar Cymru, gan ddefnyddio lleisiau gwirfoddolwyr o bob cwr o Sir Benfro. Fe’u lansiwyd fel rhan o’r Ap Beibl yn Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, Sir Benfro, ar 6 Awst 2026.
English:
Lyn Lewis Dafis
Lyn Lewis Dafis was born at Llain, Mynachlog-ddu, Pembrokeshire, in 1960. He studied Welsh Language and Literature at Aberystwyth University. From 1989 onwards, he worked as a librarian for 25 years at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
He was an outstanding theologian, gifted at conveying the word of God to people of all ages in a meaningful, accessible way. He regularly broadcast on BBC Radio Cymru and wrote articles for various Welsh-language magazines. He often wrote under his bardic name, Dogfael. He was admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards in the National Eisteddfod at St Davids in 2002.
From 2005 onwards, he wrote a blog under the name Dogfael. He played a central role in the life of Eglwys y Santes Fair (St Mary’s Church), Aberystwyth, for many years. He served as a lay reader before being ordained deacon in 2015 and priest in 2016. He served as curate and later as vicar of St John’s Church, Penrhyn-coch, within the Bro Padarn Local Ministry Area, Aberystwyth.
In 2021, he became Welsh Language Officer for the Diocese of St Davids, and a member of the Church in Wales Welsh Language Committee. He died in 2022 at the age of 61.
‘Y Beder Ifengyl’ (‘The Four Gospels’ in the Pembrokeshire Dialect)
Lyn Lewis Dafis translated the four Gospels into his own local dialect, adapting the 1988 text of the Beibl Cymraeg Newydd (New Welsh Bible). The translation is a testament to his love for Pembrokeshire, his deep interest in languages (especially minority languages), and his lifelong engagement with the Bible, rooted in his profound commitment to the Gospel.
He completed the translation around the year 2000, but never published it.
A digital edition of Y Beder Ifengyl yn iaith Sir Benfro (The Four Gospels in the Pembrokeshire Dialect) by Lyn Lewis Dafis is now available online with the permission of his family. A small number of missing verses and clauses not present in the original have been inserted, marked clearly using [square brackets].
In 2026, the four Gospels were recorded in audio format for Bible Society by the Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg (Union of Welsh Independents), in partnership with Llyfrau Llafar Cymru (Talking Books Wales), using volunteer voices from across Pembrokeshire. They were launched as part of Ap Beibl (the Welsh Bible App) at the Garreg Las Eisteddfod, Pembrokeshire, on 6 August 2026.
