William Havard Rt . Rev . William Thomas Havard MC ( 23 October 1889 – 17 August 1956 ) was a Welsh First World War military chaplain , and rugby union international player who was later successively bishop of two diocese s of the Church in Wales : St Asaph and St David ' s . Life . Havard was born in Defynnog , Brecknockshire , the third son of William Havard , a deacon of the local congregational chapel , and his wife Gwen . He attended Brecon county school before studying at University College of Wales , Aberystwyth , where he graduated with a 3rd - class BA degree in history in 1912 . Having been raised in the congregationalist Christian tradition , he was confirmed as a member of the Church in Wales after graduating . He then trained for ordination at St . Michael ' s College , Llandaff and was ordained deacon in 1913 and priest in 1914 . He was curate of Llanelli from 1913 to 1915 . A keen sportsman , Havard played rugby at all levels , representing Brecon Secondary School while a schoolboy , and continuing through university and finally joining Llanelli and later London Welsh at club level . He also played football to a high standard and played for Swansea Town . In September 1912 , two days before the club ' s first Southern League match , Havard was in the reserve team in a match against Merthyr and scored Swansea ' s first goal in their first competitive season . World War I . Havard became a chaplain to the armed forces during the First World War , serving from 1915 to 1919 , retaining an honorary commission as chaplain to the forces , 4th class . He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1916 and was awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Year Honours . After the war , he was chaplain of Jesus College , Oxford from 1919 to 1921 ( obtaining an MA degree in 1921 ) . Whilst at Oxford , he won his " Blue " for playing rugby against Cambridge University . On 21 April 1919 , Havard played for the Wales national rugby union team in a tour match against the New Zealand Services . It was to be the only time that Havard played for Wales . Havard was also part of the Jesus College rugby team that won the inter - collegiate cup in 1920 . After leaving Oxford , Havard became curate of Brecon ( 1921 – 22 ) , vicar of Hook ( 1922 – 24 ) , vicar of St Luke ' s , Battersea ( 1924 – 28 ) and vicar of St Mary ' s , Swansea ( 1928 – 34 ) . He was a canon of Brecon Cathedral from 1930 to 1934 . He succeeded Alfred George Edwards as Bishop of St Asaph in September 1934 when Edwards retired . He had in 1923 he returned to a more active army role , joining the Territorials in his previous grade on 8 May 1923 , he was then promoted to Chaplain , 3rd class on 21 February 1925 before being appointed to a reserve commission on 6 January 1934 , which he retained until reaching the age - limit for the position in 1949 , when he was again granted an honorary commission . On 18 June 1940 he was appointed a Chaplain and Sub - Prelate of the Venerable Order of Saint John . He was translated to St David ' s in succession to David Lewis Prosser in 1950 . He was regarded as a powerful preacher in both Welsh and in English , with his sermon on the Sunday before the National Eisteddfod often being broadcast . He was Select Preacher at St . Andrew ' s University ( 1943 ) and Canterbury ( 1946 ) , and travelled to Yale University in 1951 as a special lecturer and preacher . He was prominent in educational activities , chairing the education council of the Church in Wales , and acting as Visitor to St . David ' s College , Llandovery College , Trinity College , Carmarthen and St John ' s College , Ystrad Meurig . Havard died on 17 August 1956 and was buried in Brecon .