Llanpumpsaint Church today
In 1876, the Rev Henry William Powell was 80 years old. Citing health reasons, he resigned after more than 40 years in the Carmarthenshire village of Llanpumpsaint. The village name - in Welsh - means, in effect, the "Parish of the Five Saints," recalling the five brothers who established the first Christian church there in the fifth century: by name, Sts Celynin, Ceitho, Gwyn, Gwyno and Gwynoro.
Rev. Powell had arrived as the Perpetual Curate in the delightful Gwyli valley in 1833. He was well-liked and rated a “truly pious” young clergyman. He married and raised a family in Llanpumpsaint, building for them a large stone home on the other side of the river. He called it Pantycelyn.
In January 1877, only days before the new clergyman was named to replace Mr. Powell at Llanpumpsaint church, a scandal arose. 25 year old Margaret Evans went to the police court in Carmarthen accusing the venerable Rev. Powell of being the father of her little girl, not three months old. She sought an affiliation order, requiring the putative father pay support for the care of his illegitimate offspring. Margaret, who spoke only Welsh, told the magistrates she had worked in the widowed clergyman's home at Pantycelyn for seven years. For how long she and Rev Powell were been lovers, she would not say but she insisted the infant was her first child. Normally in such cases, some corroboration would be required. But Margaret boldly stated, no one but God Almighty and Rev. Powell knew what happened at Pantycelyn.
Pantycelyn House today
A summons was issued for Rev. Powell to appear before the magistrates and answer the woman's claim. At the next session, however, his physician showed up to report the aged clergyman was too feeble. Mr. Powell also had a serious case of bronchitis and could not make the demanding journey to Carmarthen in a Welsh winter. After all, there were six rough miles between Llanpumpsaint and the police court. A week passed, allowing perhaps for some better health, but Rev. Powell still ignored the summons. Captain Phillips, who chaired this inquiry, said the accused's conduct was unfair to Miss Evans and disrespectful to the court. It was also futile. If need be, they would interrogate the churchman at his bedside. Thus, the doughty Inspector Scurry was sent forth with instructions: “We want to know whether the man has ever taken liberties with this woman. If he says he has, there is an end of it.” The inspector returned with Powell's signed "cognovit," admitting Margaret's claim and permitting judgment to be entered without trial.
The confession was read in court in February and the magistrates ordered Rev. Powell to pay Margaret Evans the sum of 3s. per week. For Margaret, her support was welcome but, as might have been predicted, it could not be long-lasting. The Rev. Mr. Powell died, still at Pantycelyn, not three years later. The support also stopped. British courts long held that the liability of the putative father is purely personal and ceases with his life.
Photographs from llanpumpsaintwalk.org.uk
HOW THE VICAR CAME AND WENT, a collection of Victorian clerical scandals, is now available from Amazon.
