AS STORM Eunice swept across the country last week, it left a trail of devastated infrastructure and nature in its wake.
One place to feel the wrath of the storm was the church grounds at the former Llangelynnin New Church in Rowen, Conwy.
Despite the church closing in the 1980s and is now operating as an Ancient Arts Studio, the grounds remain a Church in Wales churchyard which is still used for burials (and is of course visited by bereaved families).
Prior to Storm Eunice, falling trees had already caused damage to gravestones, with one of the belonging to the father of Scot Williams.
Mr Williams said: “My father was a WWII evacuee to Rowen between 1940 and 1945, through ages five to ten.
“When he died in 2020 during the first lockdown, we got permission to bury him beside his Welsh guardian who looked after him during the war – it was his final wish.
“Less than two years later my sister died of Covid and we wanted to put her ashes with his.
“However, we have just discovered that his grave is now covered by fallen trees and cables and the vicar David has said that it is a no-go area for the public until the ground is made safe.”
Due to the storm exacerbating existing problems, the damage to the grounds is widespread, with minor repairs to the building already been undertaken, with work on many trees required before the site can be reopened.
Reverend David Parry, leader of the combined parish Bro Celynnin Ministry Area, added: “Our parish, Bro Celynnin, has to raise £15,720 to carry out work to 30 trees before the churchyard can be reopened safely.
“Only two trees need to be felled, which along with the large beech which blew down, will be replaced by planting beech saplings.
“However, many of the others urgently need extensive tree surgery so that they will no longer be a hazard.”
Now faced with the task of raising the necessary funds, Mr Williams and Reverend Parry have set up a GoFundMe page for the public to contribute to returning the graveyard to its former glory.
To donate to the page, visit https://t.co/EWvU7ApBfU.
The distress caused in Rowen was also felt across Conwy, with rocks being thrown from the sea onto coastal roads in Llandudno, while Conwy schools were closed on Friday, February 18 ahead of disruption caused by the storm.
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