born islwyn ffoulkes ellis in wrexham and raised in glyn ceiriog, elis was educated at the university of wales colleges of bangor and aberystwyth. during world war ii he was a conscientious objector and he began writing poetry and prose, winning the prose medal at the 1951 national eisteddfod. he became a presbyterian minister in 1950, and his first pastorate was at moreia chapel in llanfair caereinion. he translated the gospel of matthew into welsh as "efengyl mathew - trosiad i gymraeg diweddar", which was published in caernarfon in 1961.