Church of St Margaret Marloes, Eglwyscummin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Margaret Marloes |
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| Location | Eglwyscummin, Carmarthenshire |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Founded | Medieval |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 30 November 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
The Church of St Margaret Marloes is a historic church located in Eglwyscummin, a village in southwestern Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is part of the Church in Wales. The main parts of the church building you see today were built a long time ago, in the 1300s and 1400s. It also had important repair work done in 1878 and again in 1900.
The churchyard around the building is round, which is a clue that this spot might have been used by people even before the church was built, possibly thousands of years ago! A very old tombstone from the 400s was found here. People believe that a saint named Cynin started a church on this very spot in the 400s as part of his missionary work.
Contents
Discovering Ancient History
The Ogham Stone
Before the year 1900, a special stone called an Ogham stone was found in the churchyard. Ogham is an ancient alphabet that was used mainly in Ireland and parts of Britain. This stone had writing on it in both Latin and an old Celtic language.
What made this Ogham stone so unique was a specific word used in its inscription. It used "ingenia" instead of the Latin word "filia," which means "daughter." This way of writing was very common in Ireland. When this stone was found at St Margaret Marloes, it was the only example of this type of Ogham inscription found outside of Ireland.
Who Was Margaret Marloes?
The church is named after Margaret Marloes. She was the niece of a powerful lord named Guy de Brian, who lived in Laugharne during the 1300s. Inside the church, you can see a stone statue, called an effigy, of Margaret. This statue was originally outside in the churchyard. However, it was moved inside in 1902 to protect it because the weather was causing it to wear away.
The Church Building
The Church of St Margaret Marloes is a small building nestled in a low area of land. In the early 1700s, it was said to be in poor condition. It has a unique roof from the 1700s that slopes outwards at the bottom.
Inside, the church has beautiful stained glass windows. There is also a large altar made of carved oak wood and other church fittings that were added in 1882. These fittings are special because they show the style of the Arts and Crafts movement, which was popular for its focus on handmade items and traditional skills.
Restoring the Church
Needed Repairs
Around 1900, the area around the church was mostly countryside, and about 240 people lived there. At that time, the church needed urgent repairs, but there wasn't enough money to fix it.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, a group that helps save old buildings, looked at the church. They figured out how much the repairs would cost. People asked for donations to help fix the church through a journal called Archaeologica Cambrensis. The local bishop agreed to this fundraising effort.
Uncovering Secrets
During the examination of the church, experts believed that parts of the building dated back to at least the 1200s. It was hard to figure out the exact age because the church didn't have many fancy decorations.
While looking closely, they found some interesting things. There was a small square opening on the north wall of the main part of the church. They also found a partly underground arch in the south wall. These discoveries suggest that there might have been an even older church building underneath the current one. The necessary repairs were finished in 1901.
A Protected Landmark
The Church of St Margaret Marloes is considered a very important historical building. On November 30, 1966, it was given a special status as a Grade I-listed building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in Wales.
It earned this status because it is an excellent example of a small medieval church. It has a special vaulted ceiling in its main area and porch. It is also notable for its "Arts and Crafts" restoration, which was connected to a famous architect named Philip Webb. The church's interior fittings and stained glass are also considered exceptional.
The stone cross in the churchyard is also historic. It became a Grade II listed building on December 1, 2001.
