The forces of nature destroy many of man’s attempts to leave his mark on the world. During the 100 years that “Allen Raine’s” memorial has stood at the high point of the churchyard at St. Michael’s, Penbryn, it too suffered damage.
The grave after 100 years. (Photo: Barry Evans)
Through the generous undertaking of the ‘Allen Raine Celebration Society’ (ARCS), the grave and memorial cross have just been restored to sound condition by G. W. Williams (Monumental Masons) with replacement of a missing corner finial by Barry Evans Metalwork.
The grave following restoration.
As one of the earliest churches in Wales still in use for regular worship, and with a thriving and welcoming congregation, St. Michael’s is set in an idyllic part of Cardiganshire’s beautiful coastline. Here “Allen Raine” was married and there could be no more appropriate place for her to rest in peace.
St. Michael’s Church, Penbryn
The entrancing stories told by the Newcastle Emlyn born Victorian novelist sold in their millions in the late C19th and early C20th. The last years of her life were spent chiefly only a mile from St. Michael’s, at Bronmor, her home at Traethsaith, where she wrote her romantic novels set amongst the people and places of this part of Wales. She often wandered the shoreline between her house and Penbryn and drew from here, from dawn and dusk and from storm and calm, much of the descriptive colour in her writings. Her husband, Beynon Puddicombe, a talented miniaturist and sometime foreign correspondent of Smith Payne’s Bank (London) died following mental illness in 1906 and was buried at St. Michael’s. It was only two years later on 21st June 1908 that “Allen Raine” died of breast cancer and she was laid to rest with him under the shadow of the grave’s simple red granite cross, from where one can look down on the bays of Traethsaith and Penbryn. In this beautiful and peaceful place, open to the elements and surrounded in season by wild flowers and the scent of the sea borne on the wind with the mew of gulls, one can sense the elemental spirit and acute powers of observation and human understanding which compelled this musically and linguistically talented and much loved author to write as she did.
At her death she was mourned not only by her family but by her many readers and admirers. The sentiment was touched by “IDRIS” in the first and last lines of his elegy:
Ah, cruel death, why hast thou dealt this blow
And laid old Cymru’s gifted daughter low? …………..
Ah Wales, thou art the poorer on the day
That tells thee “Allen Raine” has passed away.
and A. O. Vaughan (Owen Rhoscomyl) left these lines on her grave with flowers:
“Flowers of the field, soft glories of God’s sending,
Delights of the road, the road we all are wending,
Dear wildings sweet the exile’s memory aches for’
Scents o’the waste one’s heart was like to break for;
Now strew them o’er her, all their fragrance shed,
What she gave, living; give me back now, dead.
ARCS exists to commemorate and celebrate the life of “Allen Raine” by promoting literary and other arts based competitions and varied events across all age groups focused on Newcastle Emlyn where she was born and lived for much of her life. Competition prizes and activities are funded by donations to the society and anyone wishing to make a donation should address their contribution to: The Treasurer, ARCS, c/o Lloyds Bank Ltd, Newcastle Emlyn, SA38 9AT.
The current Officers of the Society are:
- Hon President: Professor Sally Roberts Jones
- Chairman: County Councillor Haydn Jones
- Secretary: Carol Byrne Jones
- Treasurer: Michael Beckingsale
Thanks are tendered to Carmarthen County Council and Antur Teifi for their help and support during 2008, the society’s inaugural year.
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