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Re opening Services at Eglwys- Cummin. The re-opening services in connection with the renovation or E^lwyscumiuin Church were cele brated on Fridav of week. Tne Lord Bishop of St David's WHS present, and delivered a very interesting address at the morning sor'vice, and among others uf the cU.Vi:y we noticed The Rev Owen Evans, M. vicar of St Peter's, Car- marthen Rev Joseph Lloyd, Llanp-mpsamt Rev T. Joue>, rector of L'.anddovrvor Rev D. A. • Jenkins, Bishop a chapUin Rev W. Panes. vicar of Llanfihaugei-Abercowm Rev T. Davies. vicar of Llaugan Rev E. Davies, curate-m-charge of Hecllan Rev F A Thongs, Lanyharne Rev Thos .Jenkins, rector of Peiium* Rev D..Jone-, Kiffiu Rev Thomas David, LUuddew. elfrey Rev J. TilomJ.6, Llav.dyssiiio J. E..Jones, Amroath Rev O. F. Thomas, Martletwy Rev Jason Thomas, Pembroke Rev Johu Thotnas, Laughame the Rev Henry Jones, Eglwys- curumiu e:c. There ..a3 also a h.qe assembly of ladies and gentlemen from the surrounding districts generally among whom were the Mayor. Mayoress and Miss Colby Evans, Carmarthen Dr Lawrence, Narberth Mr J. H. Thomas, Derry, etc. Some historic and general details of this little mountain church of Eglwys-cummin (the church of Cummin) which has been literally set down in a secluded spot of the world, or as Kipllng would have it at the back of the beyond cannot fail to be interesting. This Church, which claims kinship with so many noble and beautiful build- ings associated with her under the patronage of St. Margaret, is perhaps, in respect of its founda- tion, the most ancient of all. It is situated some seven miles distant by hilly roads from St. Clears, and, notwithstanding the fac^ that it stands' on high prominence it cannot be said to form any distinct landmark, inasmuch as it is completely surrounded by tree, which, wearing their beautiful green dress of summer, gave an added touch of solemn beauty to the graveyard. Looking east in the direction of Laugharne and Pendine no particular or prominent feature be- sides a vast expanse of country is noticeable. Miles and miles of flat-lying land is stretched out in a somewhat monotonous panorama to the naked eye. When gazing north much of the same view greets the observer, but a wooded valley adds relief to the wild expanse of typical Welsh scenery. Carmarthen lies far away in the dis- tance, and the hills of Cardiganshire and Pem- brokeshire form a suitable background, promin- ent among them being Breninfawr and Preceley. In a western direction whence lie hitland and Narberth, a wild common completely covered with picturesque heather and gorse gives an added and appreciative touch of romantic beauty to the scene. This common also extends to the south, but a few green fields with the tall grass waving in the breeze form a pleasant foreground. Standing on this spot amid the silent dead, far, far away from the din and turmoil of town and city, one seems mysteriously brought nearer to one's Maker. No one can adequately describe the awful beauty of this enchanting spot—a spot where the sweet-toned notes of the cuckoo reach the ear, and the twittering and singing of numerous birds come wafted on the refreshing breeze. One littie feathered beauty had built its home in a cosy nook in the church wall, no doubt) being comforted by some strange instinct that it and its nest were perfectly secure so near to the house of God. Attached to the church is a very extensive grave- yard, niany of the graves showing evident signs of antiquity, and proving that the deceased persons who there have found their rest, were laid to their last long sleep as far back as the seventeenth cen- tury. A recent tombstone bears the inscrip- tion of the Rev John Lloyd Jones, rector of the parish, who was born in the year 1825, and died 1890. The population of the parish is 240, con- sisting of umall farmers and their dependents, scattered over 3,724 acres of poor upland. There are no resident gentry in the parish. Originally the church that now bears the name of Eglwys- cummin appears to have been one of a series of missionary stations established on the line of an ancient road by S. Cyninin the fifth century. The church stands in the centre of an earth- work of Rath, of which the greater part may still be traced. It preserves as a valuable record one of the earliest and most important of the Welsh bilingual Ogam stones, commemorating the daughter of Cunignus, or Cynin, an Abbot-Bishop of the fifth century, whose daughter may have been Abbess of a society of recluses living within the circle of the Rath. The foundations of the church are laid in part upon the water-worn ninepin stones, and several of the same kind lie about in the churchyard. Taken in connection with the Ogam stones, these seem to denote an early barial place (akin to the Irish "killeens"). The fact that the church possesses an Ogam stone isjdoubly interesting, first, in that having been found some years since in the churchyard, it may be taken as having a very early connexion with the church itself and secondly, because in the Ogam rendering of the bilingual inscription the word inigena" is used in place of the word filia," which appears in the Latin version, this being the only instance of the use of this Romano- Celtic word out of Ireland. The church, in common with most of all early British churches, was known only by the name of its founder, Ecclesia Cunigni (Eglwys Cynin, and later, Cummin), until it was rebuilt, probably en- larged, and dedicated in honour of St Margaret Marios. This rebuilding was apparently under- taken in the fourteenth century by the then Lord Marcher, of the Lordship of Laugharne (of which j the manor and parish of Eglwyscuramin form part), Sir Guy de Brian, or de Brienne. He was j a famous soldier, statesman, and church builder of the reign of Edward III., and could claim descent from the Sainted Queen Margaret of Scotland, great-niece of Edward the Confessor. He bad, therefore, special reason for reverencing her name. The family of Sir Guy de Bryan held the superior lordship of Laughame, and inhabited the now ruined castle, which stands in the immediate neighbourhood, from the reign of King John to that of Richard II., and the most distinguished member of the family was the fifty-seventh Knight of the Garter, and was twice sent as Am- bassador to the Court of France and Holland, and he and his wife, the widow of Hugh le Despenser, were eminent for their piety and de- votion to church work. It was to them that the Abbey of Tewkesbury was indebted for much of its magnificence. De Bryan himself erected the beautiful and stately tomb which still stands in the chapel, also built by him, and dedicated to St Margaret of Scotland, from whom he, and his wife, and the Despensers were descended. He and his wife took upon themselves, as would be natural on the part of such eminent church build- ers and benefactors, to do something towards the beautifying and completion of this simple Welsh church. This they did, at the same time dedica- ting it, as haa been before stated, to their favourite saint, St Margaret, adding the name Marlos in affectionate remembrance of a near relative. This remote church ef Eglwyscummin and another small neighbouring church, Llandawke, which is situated between the Castle and the church, are, with one exception, the only known instances of a Margaret dedication in Wales, the other being the church at Roath, Cardiff, Glamor- ganshire, which is dedicated to St Margaret in common with S.S. Columba and Clement. In the church of Llandawke there is a stone coffin slab, on which is a recumbent female figure of the fourteenth century in the garb of a Reli- gions, said by tradition to be the effigy of St Margaret Marios. Sir Guy's aiater, Margery, married Sir Robert de Marlos, who held lands in the Manor of Eglwys-cummin. They had a daughter, Margaret, and it was seemingly out of regatd and affection for his niece that Sir Guy added her name to that of his patron saint. Thus it came aboat that these two Welsh churches passed into the large group of English and Scotch churches which bear testimony to the universal affection for the name of Margaret. It ia singula that in all Wales only one other church bears the name of a saint, who (Bible saints apart) i, with two exton., the most popular in EDCfbsh church dedication. On the north wall of the nave of Eglwys-cum- min church are traces of polychromatic decorative painting with two inscriptions painted over at suocessive dates, one of red, the other of black lettering The church is so devoid of ornamental detail that it is difficult to fix any date for its erection. There is little to guide except the rudely-shaped small lancet window at the eastern end of the north wall of the nave, which would appear to 00 original and of the thirteenth o fourteenth century. Possibly the unusual thicken¡lg of tb t()t., waJl of the II/we at its west extremity, itt is found a peculiar and at present unintelligible 1'J,Ül squats headed xternal op-ininy, and also the rude-p; arch of the northern doorway, may point to at. earlier date, while the half underground arch in the south wall to the west of the porch indicates ao even earlier church cus"e:ea by the present structure. Most of the foregoing facts relating to the history of the little m^oncain church of Egjwys- cummin appeared in a printed appeal from the rector and parishioners of that parish, and addressed to all whu worshipped in churches dedicated in honour of St Margaret. The work was specially by the Bishop of the Diocese, and the Archdeacoo «'f Carmar- then. The Lord Bishop of St David's in the course of h, very inte.-es.ting addre-s at the morning service, referred tl! w of the particu- lars that appear .hove. The printed appeal went on to t-ay that" after the re-building and dedication, che Church of St. Margaret Marios fell upon less prosperous times, ,efly days of neglect and de-cay. The parish left to WiL, 0 po")r CLO itself was too poor to do anything but destroy. Artompts at restoration appear to have oeeu made from time to time, but these have had to be classed among the misfortunes of the bui'ding. The chancel was rebuilt but r.ot completed in 1877. The present work pretends to no restora- tion,' it is undertaken in quite a different spirit, and it will be in the strictest sense conservative. The utmost the parish can do, or that it can reasonably hope to be assisted in doing, is to put the church into a sound and healthy condition, and to complete the furnishing of the chancel, including such simple adorumc-us as are seemly and proper in God's service. "In addressing himself to achieve this now imperative duty, the Rector has the support of a hard-worktng committee, but unfortunately, though fully conscious of iti responsibilities, the pariah is not less poor than it was, and the work is wholiy beyond its means. The total cost uf the repairs and the necessary new fittings is estimated n,t jE500, and of this but 2300 (the result of a year's hard work) has been obtained. The work must therefore stand still unless this appeal bring the help on which the progress and completion of it depend. At this critical moment in the history of a church—a history extending over 1,500 years- the Rector turns to those other churches which also bear the name of Margaret, hoping they will look compassionately on their poor and remote sister, and that all will contribute something, in her necessity, according to their ability. Christian charity, respect for antiquity, the reverence for a beloved name, all plead on behalf of this little church with its tradition of missionary work in days when Britain was still pagan." Since the above appeal waa issued the church haa been completely renovated. Among other things provided is a much-needed vestry, formed by means of a screen and woodwork at the west end of the nave, and also steps have been taken for the reverent custody of the Ogam stone, which, up to the present time, has been wholly unprotected. The church will seat 120 persons, I and the repairs have been carried out under the direction of an architect who was one of the founders of the Society for protecting ancient buildings, and were completed under the personal superintendence of Mr William Weir, experienced in the repair of old buildings. Every ancient feature has been carefully preserved, and thus a Aery remarkable monument will be safeguarded for many generations to come. The following gifts have been made to the church :—Hanging brocaded altar frontal and pulpit fall, super-frontal of point lace, brass altar desk, and office book, book-markers, and white embroidered stole, and silver-mounted mother-of- pearl christening shell, given by Mr and Mrs Treherne kneelers, Mrs Pugh Evans grant of prayer-books by the S.P.C.K. and a grant of hymn books (Ancient and Modern) by the com- mittee. The collection at the morning service amounted to zC18 19 5id, which was made up as follows:- Five sovereigns, twelve half-sovereigns, £7 6s 6d in silver, and 2s Illd in copper. 2 At the afternoon service the Rev Owen Evans took his text from the 25th ch. of Exodus, According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the Tabernacle, of the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." Nothing was more clear than that God attached the greatest possible importance to having among His people a house in which He might dwell and give them a sense of His nearness to them and of His interest in them. God in order to keep con- stantly before the minds and hearts of His people that the Lord their God was one Lord, and that there was no other God but He, wished to have one dwelling place only for the whole nation, the Tuber: acle during their nomad life in the wilder- ness and the Temple on Mount Zion after their settlement in the Land of Promise, and at stated times all the people gathered together to worship the one true God in his one dwelling place. After relating the part which the people took in pro- viding materials for the building of the Taber- nacle and the Temple, the Rev Owen Evans ob- served tlitt the churches of to-day were mostly J modelled on the Temple. As the Temple had its Holy of Holies, its Holy Place, and its courts for worshippers, so had our churches their sanctuaries, their chancels, and their naves. They saw that places of Worship of some kind or other were absolutely essential and accordingly we had among us churches and chapels, and there was not one religious sect in the country which had not its place of meeting. The pity was that there should be churches and chapels-that in every locaiitv Christians should Liot be goint; to pray and to praise the one Father through the one Saviour by the one Holy Spirit in one and the same place of worship. As God meant man to live a perfect life, but sin marred it so Christ prayed most earnestly that His Church might be one, but sin had divided it. And let us all most earnestly pray that the time might soon come when we should have again the fold under one Shepherd, one united and strong church. Now, inasmuch, as these must be places of worship, what kind of a house should God's House be, a cheap, plain building, or a costly one ? Cheapness was not the principle on which that church was built. Let them look at its roof of solid masonry. Of its kind it was a most expensive style of architec- ture. During periods of religious depression and ind;fferei. ce the cburhe8 were always allowed to fall into decay with no signs of thoughtful care, full of dust, and untidine3s. But as soon as a period of religious earnestness and revival came, we at once saw the churches being restored again and beautified, carefully kept and attended to as places that were really valued. It was our wisdom to see that we did not leave God's House mean and poor and neglected in order to have our money to waste on unworthy objects of selfishness and worldliness. In conclu- sion the rev. gentleman said You, the church- people of Eglwyscuramin, are assembled here to- day to thank God and to praise Him for the care- ful and wise restoration of your own ancient church, and I am very glad to find that you have all been taking such an active interest in the work, doing what God so desired from His people Israel. If you are really to love your church, and to appreciate it duly as God's House, if it is to occupy the place in your minds and hearts that it should occupy, you must continue to make some sacrifice for it, and I hope you will resolve to-day that the debt which still remains shall not be long before it is wiped off."—At the evening service the pulpit was occupied by the Rev J. Lloyd, Llanpumpsaint.

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