Background
Owen was born in Llangiwg, Glamorgan, and was brought up by his grandparents because of the death of his mother when he was an infant.
Owen was born in Llangiwg, Glamorgan, and was brought up by his grandparents because of the death of his mother when he was an infant.
He was often known simply by his bardic name, "Dyfnallt". He worked for a short period as a coal miner, then obtained an education at Parcyfelfed Academy and Bala Bangor College. Having been ordained as a Congregational minister, he took over Sardis Chapel at Pontypridd in 1905.
During World War I, he served as a chaplain in France.
In 1927, he became editor of the Welsh-language journal Y Tyst.