Welsh Journals

MISCELLANEA MEMORIAL WINDOW IN LLANSANTFFRAID YM MECHAIN CHURCH Visitors to the parish church of St. Ffraid may have noticed the interesting four panelled stained glass window in the south wall of the chancel. The window was inserted in 1921 in memory of Jane Hughes, daughter of Peter Morris, farmer, who lived at Winllan in the parish. Jane Morris married William Hughes, probably a native of Dyffryn Clwyd in London. There is uncertainty as to whether their son William Morris Hughes was born in London or in Llandudno where the father had family links. However, William Morris Hughes was born on September 25, 1864. Five years later Mrs Hughes died at Glasbury near Hay on Wye while travelling by train to visit her parents at Llansantffraid. She was buried in the churchyard at the east end of the church near the graves of her family, the Morrises of Winllan. Unfortunately the gravestone which recorded that she was 'on her way to visit her affectionate parents', was removed and destroyed in recent years. The son, William Morris Hughes, spent his boyhood in London and in Llandudno with an aunt, Miss Mary Hughes, in Abbey Road. During the winter he attended St. Stephen's School, Rochester Row, London but spent the summer terms at John Bright's School, Llandudno. His summer holidays were usually spent with his grandparents at Llansant- ffraid. In 1884 he emigrated to Australia and became a prominent figure in the Trade Union movement there. Later he became a member of the parliament of New South Wales and later still of the Australian Federal Parliament. In 1915 he became Prime Minister of Australia leading a labour government. During the First World War he visited Britain in 1916 and was given the freedom of the City of Manchester and also paid a private visit to Llansantffraid to meet members of his mother's family. The same year he was made a Privy Councillor. After the war ended, he paid another visit to Llansantffraid in August 1921 to be present at the unveiling ceremony of his mother's memorial window. A service in the church was led by the Bishop of Fordsham, former chaplain to the Australian Forces in the 1914-18 War. Mrs. Lloyd George gave the address and unveiled the window. An address was also given by the Prime Minister, W. M. Hughes. The four handsome panels of the window depict the coats of arms of the Australian provinces-West Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and S. Australia. The two centre panels bear the figures of Hannah and her son Samuel-two Old Testament characters, portraying apparently the good mother and the faithful and obedient son. W. M. Hughes headed Labour and Coalition governments from 1916 to 1923. In the '30s he formed the United Australia Party. He died in Australia in 1952. Assertions that Hughes was born in Llansantffraid are quite incorrect but throughout his distinguished career he had a strong attachment to his mother's native village. Editor.