DESPITE local objection, the PCC of St Mary’s, East Molesey, within the diocese of Guildford, has been granted a school permitting headstones in its churchyard, a few of that are greater than 200 years old, to be relocated to the boundary partitions in order that a central space might be created for community activities.
St Mary’s is on a Norman site, but the current church dates from 1865, and is Grade II listed. The churchyard was closed to latest burials in 1861, except family vaults.
There are about 111 headstones, box tombs, and tablets within the churchyard surrounding the church. Two are listed tombs: a mid-18th-century chest tomb of red brick on a plinth, and a chest tomb dating from the 1780s dedicated to R. Woods.
The churchyard is well maintained, but there may be a haphazard placement of many headstones, which implies that the churchyard can’t be used as a communal space. There was also concern about a number of the headstones that had grow to be unstable and posed risks to visitors.
The proposal was to retain all of the box tombs, including the 2 listed tombs, of their present positions, and to relocate 64 of the headstones to the perimeter of the churchyard, preserving their historical significance, while creating “a secure and welcoming outdoor space for events, activities and quiet reflection” within the centre of the churchyard.
A community consultation process was conducted in late 2024, and an internal public notice was posted locally with a summary of the proposals. That resulted in some opposition to the proposals.
A neighborhood resident said that the proposals were “completely outrageous”, on the premise that folks who had died had paid for the proper to be buried there. Another said that the proposals would “publicly visually erase this community historic resource, to the detriment of the visual character and history of the place” as East Molesey’s only graveyard.
Another identified the churchyard as “a sexy little graveyard that has an evocative atmosphere about it of times past because it weathers each of the seasons through the yr, representing a really English traditional scene”, and said that “its erasure might be a loss also in that sense to the community visually in addition to culturally.” He suggested that the church would get a “small lawn”, but could use a “substantial park area inside ten minutes’ easy walk”.
Those who favoured the proposals responded that the close proximity to the church constructing was what made it such a useful space for church and community life, with lavatories and a kitchen readily available.
On 22 January, the DAC, including the Archdeacon of Dorking, carried out a site visit with the Vicar, the Revd Nathaniel Kurz. They considered the setting of the churchyard and examined the proposals, before recommending them to the Consistory Court.
The Diocesan Chancellor, the Worshipful Andrew Burns KC, said that the proposals wouldn’t end in harm to the importance of the church as a constructing of special architectural or historic interest. The churchyard would retain its essential spiritual atmosphere, with the headstones on the perimeter and the box tombs remaining of their present situation.
The missional benefits of the proposed changes, which might improve the usability of the churchyard, overcame the unusual presumption in faculty proceedings in favour of things as they stood, the Chancellor ruled.
There was “clear and convincing justification for the proposals, with significant community and public profit”, which can be “advantageous for pastoral wellbeing and improve the opportunities for mission, particularly for youth and youngsters”, the Chancellor said.
It was, he said, “acceptable to make use of a churchyard where people were buried 200 years ago for activities within the service of the Gospel and it [was] not correct that a one who was buried within the churchyard had an absolute right to that grave and a memorial in perpetuity”.
The Chancellor identified that it was common for graves to be reused after 100 years, and the Law Commission of England and Wales had published a consultation paper (News, 4 October 2024) with proposals to reform the law on burial and cremation and using burial space.
The proposals would retain the attractive and traditional atmosphere of the churchyard, “with the headstones reverently relocated . . . enabling more people to enjoy and use this small and useful community space”, the Chancellor said. The proposals wouldn’t “erase the history of the churchyard or disrespect the memorials”, which can be retained in a safer location.
