Further information on Eglwyscummin Church, recorded in the privately published booklet by D M Price, which is currently unavailable. We have been unable to identify or contact the author – if any reader can provide contact details that will be very gratefully received. In the booklet he names the church as Eglwys Cynin, and gives a lot of information on the stained glass windows that are in the church. The rest of this page is taken from his booklet.
This ancient little church stands some two miles from Pendine and, as the sketch map shows, is on the road to Red Roses and the main A48. It is often referred to as Eglwys Cymmin and Eglwys Gynin, the name being derived from the Latin Cuneghi inscribed on a 5th century stone in the church. It stands within three circular embankments, parts of which can be seen near the car park. Though the present building dates from the 14th century, it retains an earlier solid stone vaulted roof and exhibits, on the exterior, traces of a former doorway at a lower level.
The treasure of the church is the memorial stone to Avitoria, daughter of St Cynin, which is inscribed in Latin on the face and in Irish Ogham (stroke writing) on the sides.
The windows at Eglwys Cynin are of great antiquarian interest and although small, are gems of design, colour and craftsmanship. They were fitted during the period 1906-1915, incorporate parts of the older windows and illustrate the history of the church from the Age of Saints to the time of the local Norman Lord, Sir Guy de Brian. In addition they show three saints with connotations from further afield, namely Saint George, Saint Michael and Saint Nicholas.
The Brychan/Teilo Window
The window adjacent to the lectern at Eglwys Cynin is divided into two lights – the western (right-hand) half depicting Saint Brychan, the other half also showing Saint Teilo.
Brychan, saint king and confessor, was a fourth century pioneer of Christianity in South-West Wales., emanating from Brycheiniog (Brecon). He was probably the father of CYNOG (Parc Cynog) and grandfather of CYNIN. He is reputed to be the father of many children and three are shown seated on his lap. He is wearing an ermine-lined robe of royal crimson: his sword and armour denote a warrior chieftain; the circle over his head herald him as one of ‘The three saintly men of Britain’.
The traditional arms of Brecon appear over his shoulders and the united arms of Wales, Dyfed and Ireland are set below, the latter denoting Brychan’s connections with the Irish missionaries of the period. The words UNITY – PEACE – SUCCESS link a superb heraldic design.
Saint Teilo was Bishop of Llandaff in the 6th century and a contemporary of Saint David. The window shows a model of Llandaff Cathedral resting on his knees with the arms of that see overhead.
The device over his left shoulder records his association with Saints David and Padarn; the stags carried timber for building the first church at Llandaff. He is said to have rescued seven brothers from drowning in the Taf at Llanddowror and this is depicted in the panel at the lower part if the window.
The Cynin Window
The window dedicated to our founder saint is near the font and depicts Cynin in two roles – one as a bishop baptising a boy, the other in the role of warrior king mounted on his charger carrying the cross in his left hand and wielding a sword in his right. Parts of another two horses are shown, one of which belonged to his son Dalldaf, who fought a battle at Pencoed near Llanddowror. The full-length crozier and sword further emphasise his double role, and the words Esgob (bishop), Abat (abbot) Brenin (king) and Sant (Saint) indicate his status and importance in ancient Dyfed.
Two memorial stones bear his name – rare treasures from the fifth century. The one in the chest at Eglwys Cynin was discovered by George Treherne and bears inscriptions in Latin and Ogham reading –
The other was found at Trawsmawr, north of Carmarthen, so we could say that his ‘territory’ extended over the western half of what was Carmarthenshire. He is patron of Llangynin, the river Cynin (or Ginning) bears his name and the place-names Castell Gynin, Llangarth Gynin and Cwm Cynin are obviously contemporary with our saint.
The words CYNIN GOF between the two medallions on the window refer to his apparent good memory – a quality mentioned in the ancient Welsh Triads.
‘Cared doeth yr ENCILION’ is translated ‘the fleeing past is dear to the wise’.
It is noted that small parts of this window are of translucent coloured glass, possibly from an older window. They show small motifs of leaves and fish in red, pink, blue and green.
The Dewi Window
The small but beautiful window near the pulpit shows Dewi, the patron saint of Wales, holding in his right hand, a model of St. David’s Cathedral. He is standing on a hill, illustrating the story of the ground rising at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi; is mitred and robed as a bishop, gripping his crozier in his left hand.
Devoid of much ornamentation, the window typifies the austere life of Dewi-Dyfyrwr (David the Water-drinker). Over his head are the arms of Wales and at the saint’s feet is the globe surrounded with the inscription ‘Unes ex Septem’ – ‘one of the seven’, referring to him as one of the seven contemporary saints of christendom. The dove signifies peace and the leeks are shown on the quarries as the national emblem of Wales. Dewi was revered throughout the Christian world and many churches are dedicated to him, not only in his native land, but also in Cornwall and Brittany. He was descended from Brychan through his mother Non.
The De Bryan Window
This magnificent window gracing the western wall of Eglwys Cynin is divided into two lights with a circular tracery over. On the left (southern side) stands Sir Guy de Bryan, Knight of the Garter, in full chain armour and on the other side his wife Lady Elizabeth appears in the dress of the period. The chivalrous Marcher Lord of Laugharne had a high regard for ecclesiastical buildings and was instrumental in the re-building and extension of St. Martin’s Laugharne, St. Mary’s Tenby, Eglwys Cynin, Pendine and Llandawke. At the last named sanctuary his niece Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Marloes, Tremoilet, led the pious life of a nun and it is that lady who shares the dedication of St. Margaret’s with Margaret of Antioch and Queen Margaret of Scotland.
On Sir Guy’s shield and over the left shoulder are his arms of three blue piles in point, azure and over his right shoulder is the royal standard. His crest of a bugle with the letters G. B. appears in both lights. Lady Elizabeth was the daughter of William Montacute the Earl of Shrewsbury and widow of High Le Dispenser. Over her right shoulder are the arms of her father’s family, three fusils conjoined in fesse (red diamonds) and on her left those of Le Despenser. The tracery light shows the arms of De Bryan and Montacute dimidiated (conjoined) in a very neat design encompassed by the knight’s blue garter inscribed HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE (Honour to those who do no evil).
Lady Elizabeth predeceased Sir Guy and was buried with her first husband at Tewkesbury Abbey.
The Margaret (Altar) Window
The three churches at Eglwys Cynin, Pendine and Llandawke enjoy a common dedication to three Margarets, an unique trinity of saintly ladies linked by historical chance and Christian inspiration. It is fitting that this was the first window to be dedicated (in 1906) during the extensive re-furbishing of Eglwys Cynin under the guidance of George Treherne. A successful appeal was made to all ‘Margarets’ in Wales and elsewhere to contribute one shilling each for the three-light window overlooking the altar.
The regal crowned figure of Queen Margaret of Scotland graces the centre light; she holds her gospel book in one hand with the sceptre of her great-uncle Edward the Confessor in the other, the legend REGUM FILIA, MATER REGNORUM referring to her as the daughter of kings and mother of kingdoms. Above her the Almighty has his right hand raised in benediction, and under this the Holy Spirit is depicted descending like a dove with wings outstretched over the crucified Christ, the black rood being surrounded by a golden crown and halo. Underneath are the Arms of Scotland with thistles as emblems of that country.
Saint Margaret of Antioch (SYRIA) the 4th century protonym of all Margarets is depicted in the northern light killing the dragon of evil at her feet. She is clad in saintly white with borders and circles of marguerite daisies and the legend VITAL CORONA MORTIS PRAEMIUM (A crown of life is the reward for death) overhead.
Joan of Arc kneels in the lower panel listening to the voices of Saint Margaret, Michael and Catherine, with her historic banner resting on her left shoulder.
Completing the trio ‘three in name, one in faith’ (UNA FIDE NOMINE TERTIA) is Margaret Marloes, daughter of Sir Robert Marloes, holding her Gospel Book in her left hand and clad as she appears in her effigy at Llandawke. Her uncle Sir Guy de Bryan , wearing his collar of the Garter, is shown holding a model of that church where Margaret ministered as a nun. In the tracery lights are sown the Arms of Edward the Confessor and the conjoined Arms of the De Bryan and Marloes families.
The Saint Nicholas window
There are two small but lovely windows on the south wall of the Chancel at Eglwys Cynin, the first as one enters beneath the Chancel Arch being to that universal saint of the people – Nicholas. He is the patron of Russia, yet the Santa Claus of the nursery; he is a special friend of sailors and is represented throughout the world as a bishop, both of the Western Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. He was in fact a bishop in Myra in Asia Minor.
In the window he appears seated and robed with mitre and crozier, holding in his right hand a model of the donor’s yacht which sank in Harwich harbour on 1st July 1905. The fortunate sailor who was rescued unharmed was non other than George Treherne, that generous benefactor and antiquarian who arranged the design and dedication of all the windows at Eglwys Cynin.
The donor’s arms appear on the left of the window, with on the right, three balls representing three bags of gold given by Saint Nicholas to three forlorn maidens who would otherwise be condemned to a life of shame. Possibly his close connection with the ‘season of good-will’ stems from this incident. ‘De Profunda’ inscribed over the Saint’s head is the title of the 130th Psalm, the first verse of which reads ‘Out of the deep I have called unto thee O Lord: Lord hear my voice’.
The Saint Michael Window
The second window on the south wall of the chancel is sometimes referred to as The Tylor Memorial Window., for although Mrs Taylor, daughter of the Squire of Llanmiloe unveiled other windows, this is the one in special commemoration of her husband Captain Herbert Wodehouse Taylor ‘who fell fighting for his Queen and Country’ in South Africa on 13th October 1900. Dedications to Saint Michael (MIHANGEL) are the most popular in Wales, surpassing in number those to Mary and Dewi. He is the patron of heavenly and earthly warriors and so the obvious choice for the subject of a window commemorating the death in action of a brave solider.
As captain of the heavenly hosts Michael is in golden armour, his wings tipped with peacocks’ eyes; as conqueror of hell, he pierces the devil with his spear and as Lord of souls, he holds in his left hand the scales of judgement . The Almighty sits in judgment on his brooch. The dragon of wickedness and evil is represented on three occasions in the windows in Eglwys Cynin. Both Saint Margaret and Saint Michael merely touch the dragon with their spears, whilst, in contrast, Saint George thrusts at the open mouth with all his might.
The Saint George Window
The first window on the South wall of Eglwys Cynin as one turns right into the nave is in memory of George Partridge, a long-serving steward of the Llanmiloe Estate. It is appropriately to Saint George, patron Saint of England and shows him as a knight on horse-back killing a monstrous red dragon, his lance thrust deeply into the beast’s open mouth.
This illustrates the Saint’s timely rescue of a princess who is shown in a state of alarm, wither castle home on the upper left. Skulls and bones of the dragon’s former victims are strewn around, and a rose for chivalry and a pansy for remembrance are mounted in the quarries.
The Lectern
The superbly carved lectern in the church depicts the devil dragon of temptation and torture, against which the shepherdess Saint Margaret of Antioch fought so bravely; the sheep of her calling; the Marguerite daisy, emblem of innocence, and the white dove, bringing Christ’s message of purity, love and peace.
It was given by the Lord of the manor and his wife in gratitude for the safe return of their son Morgan Grainger Jones from the South African Campaign in 1902.
The Wall Mural
At the turn of the century, the mural painting on the north wall was uncovered and is worthy of close examination. Portions of the Holy Commandments can be discerned, partly in English and partly in Welsh, overlying a polychromatic painting of pre-Reformation date. It is much damaged with damp and overplastering, but is probably from Elizabethan times.
Chancel Arch Tablet
The stone tablet over the chancel arch commemorates Sir John Perrot, who ‘died of grief’ ibn the Tower of London after conviction for high treason. He was the son of Henry VIII and half brother to Queen Elizabeth.
Peter Williams Tablet
A wooden tablet commemorates Rev. Peter Williams, annotator and publisher of the ‘Welsh Bible’ who was curate at the church in 1744. He was born at West Marsh farm near Pendine and it is thought possible that he translated the hymn ‘Guide me, oh thou great Redeemer’ from Welsh to English for the use of the Anglicised community in the area.
A first-edition of the Bible may be seen in the church. It bears an inscription in the handwriting of Madam Bevan, supporter and benefactor of Gruffydd Jones and his Welsh Charity Schools.
Other items of interest:
Lists of the Lords of the Manor, with their Arms (from the time of Henry III) and the Rectors from 1389 are inscribed on the panels to the left and right of the west window. At most periods the Lord of the Manor of Laugharne also held the subsidiary manor of Eglwys Cynin.
A copy of St Margaret of Scotland’s Gospel Book is kept secure, with the Avitoria Stone, in the locked chest under the west window.
A tablet to the left of the doorway records that Zacharias Thomas left an annuity of one pound, six shillings and eight pence to the poor of the parish.
There are two copies of paintings of St. Margaret from distant sources and a wooden tablet listing the Patrons of the church.
Two stone slabs with 18th century lettering, one the Chapman slab, the other commemorating the Phillips and Shewen families, are set into the chancel wall. A smaller one in memory of George Treherne complements the cross in the churchyard, whilst a small crude stone resting on one of the window sills is simply inscribed ‘RH Aged 57 1765’.
The Churchyard
Gravestones sculptured by local monumental mason Tom Morris abound in the churchyard. They carry motifs of plain scrolls (1828) double scrolls (1840) and myrtle-styled flowers (from 1860).
The Morgan Jones memorial, on the north side, marks the last resting pace of the last squire of Llanmiloe, who died in tragic circumstances after his estate was compulsorily purchased in 1942.
On St Margaret’s Day, 10th June, three flags are flown from the brackets on the church wall –
The Red Dragon of Wales
The Red Lion of Scotland
and The Red Cross of the Church.
Remains of the old churchyard cross lie on the west side of the path. The imposing cross overlooking the roadway is in memory of George Treherne, already mentioned for his wonderful work of restoration in the early years of the century.