Churchyard Games in Wales.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 214, 7 September 1895, Page 11

Churchyard Games in Wales.

Recreation grounds for the people are now the order of the day; in former times in many places the residenbs bad bo enjoy their sports and pastimes in the churchyards. In an interesting arbicle in the latest number of the ' Reliquary' (Bernrose), Mr Eliae Owou tolls bhab in connection with the games in Waloa there was usually a small recess in the church wall, large enough to contain a quart jug, which was always kepb replenished wibh the publican's home-brewed ale for the players. But thac these games were nob universally popular is shown by the fact that on some of the church walla have been found lines, written or printed, to this effecb :— Whoever here on Sunday Will practise playing ball, It may be before Monday The Devil will have them all. The Parson and the Games. Ib" is nob so very long ago since these games were practised. T.wenty years since, Mr Owen says, he often mebwith aged mpn who in their younger days had played handball in bheir churchyards. The game was frequently the cause of much bett.ing. The parish clerk of Llanelidan, in the Vale of Clwyd, said that his grandfabher, a freeholder, loab his property three times over by ball-playing, and ultimately died a poof man. Iβ was customary ib seems, for bhe parson to act a3 scorer in important matches, and when the time for Divine ser« vice had arrived he would say, ' Come, lads, ib is time to go to church, , and immediately fche game was suspended—bo be resumed again as soon as service was over.