Finding the Lucky Spots

Today, on St. David's Day ( Dydd Gŵyl Dewi!) - by wonderful coincidence - my dad's cousin emailed me with some new family information she discovered that takes us right back to that little parish church in Llanfoist we visited a couple of years ago.

It reminded me of the "lucky" spots we were directed to in the church by our volunteer guide.

Standing on one of the lucky spots. Saint Faith's Parish Church, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire

Maggie had heard us in the churchyard from across the street. She came over and was a wonderful help to tie down the unmarked grave site of John Vaughan (1789-1851) from the schematic of burials we had. And she talked non-stop about the church and her life and family. If only we could have gotten it all down. We didn't even get her last name! We have a few notes and these pictures.

Maggie, my Aunt, and Cousin in the Llanfoist churchyard identifying the unmarked grave

When we got inside the church, Maggie pointed out the "lucky" spots and said something about her friend being "carried off by fairies." I wish we had been braver to inquire further, but it's not the sort of thing you want to be rude about - especially where the fairies might hear you.

Church, Family, Death, Luck, and even Fairies all seemed to fuse into a beautiful whole in Wales.

Another of the lucky spots in Llanfoist. Note how this tile is more worn than the one to the left.