St Martin’s ChurchyardOne of the joys of ministry at St Martin’s is the number of people who visit our churchyard. I have often said that for many people in our community it is the churchyard that makes this a sacred site, rather than the church. This in turn means that many people have views and opinions about the churchyard. Some people feel that the whole churchyard should be managed on ‘hay meadow’ lines. Some feel that the entire sward should never exceed a uniform 3 cm height. Some want to enclose their family grave with kerbs or railings or cover them with ornaments and mementos (which can be really dangerous to our gardeners.) Some feel deeply affronted by the decorations or planting which adorn the graves next to the resting place of their own family. Just as I was pondering how to spell mementos, Susie, who helps to maintain our Regimental graves popped into the office to ask me to ask people to stop putting glass – vases and pint glasses amongst others – on graves because of the danger that they pose to someone who is mowing or strimming.Just at the moment, we have been getting quite a lot of comments about the height of the grass in some sections of the churchyard. I never mind queries or comments which offer a chance to explain what’s happening, but some of these comments have been rude and verged on harassment of Scott our hard-working Sexton. Quite apart from anything else, the time that Scott takes politely dealing with unkind comments is time that he is not mowing. Anyone visiting our churchyard today will see our ‘meadow’ section of older graves looking beautiful and full of native grasses and broadleaved plants. The flower beds tended by dedicated volunteers are blooming. The Regimental plot, which is maintained by a mixture of paid and volunteer staff, including Susie, as well as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is very neat and the poppies and roses in particular are a picture. Most areas of the churchyard are in the tidy condition that visitors have come to expect and some areas have up to about a months growth. Put simply, at this time of year it takes roughly 72 hours to mow (actually to remove obstacles on the graves, strim around the stones, mow between the rows and deal with the cut grass) the entire churchyard. We employ Scott for 15 hours per week, so just now, when growth is most vigorous, it takes 5 weeks to cover the whole area. When unavoidable absence, unpredictable weather and other circumstances are added in, some areas of the churchyard are always going to have a months growth on them – and at this time of year that might mean grass seedheads reaching 50cm or more.The rules about what decorations and monuments are permitted in our churchyard are set by the Diocese and can be found on our website. Please do be careful with vases and other items left on graves – china, glass and plastics can be degraded by the weather and become very hazardous for anyone working around them. Our staff and volunteers should be able to work safely and without harassment as they maintain our grounds. We are always grateful for offers of help and for those families who maintain their own plots. We receive no external financial support for the upkeep of the churchyard, the cost is borne entirely by the church. I am always grateful for constructive comments. I would ask that complaints are directed to me, preferable by email at rector@stmartinshereford.org.uk Compliments – of which there are many – can go directly to Scott who can be found working in the churchyard several days each week. Many thanks AnneFor more information on management of the meadow area: https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/ For diocesan regulations on churchyard monuments: https://www.hereford.anglican.org/churchyards-and-memorials/
Church Graveyard UpdateThe Eco Church at St. Martin's have decided to have another year of leaving a section of the graveyard un-mowed for a few months so that it can become a small meadow, thus encouraging wildlife.Graves at the top of Section F will not be mowed by our gardener during this time.If you would like to maintain the grave of your loved one yourself during this time, you are of course, most welcome.Signs will be put up in the churchyard explaining this, but due to wind and mischievousness, they may go missing!
Church Graveyard UpdateOur gardener and his helpers are doing a great job at keeping the graveyard and grounds looking smart. All sections have been mowed and strimmed.We are very fortunate to have a paid gardener, few churches have one these days. You are very welcome to make a donation at the Team Office to support this, if you would like.Aside from the graves at the top of Section F, which are being left as a meadow area for a few months, if the grave of your loved one becomes overgrown, please let us know, and we will tell the gardener. Graves that have been fenced around by the family obviously cannot be mown by our gardener, and the same applies to graves that have ornaments or decorations on the top of the grave space. In these cases it is up to the family to maintain it.Unfortunately, we have had a few instances of theft in the graveyard, so all grave ornaments/decorations are left at your own risk.If you have any questions or queries about the graveyard, please get in touch.
