St Thomas, Churchyard.

The Parish Council can only mediate on community issues such as maintenance of churchyards, faculty issues, or community access, rather than individual grievances. Constrained by legal framework It cannot comment on or intervene in private matters involving individuals.

A meeting was held with a member of the Parish Council and the Archdeacon of Bradford to discuss residents’ concerns brought to a Parish Council Meeting.

Please see information received below:

St Thomas, Sutton in Craven is a Church of England graveyard. Grade II listed in 1984.

There is a strict code of conduct about what is permitted in Church of England graveyards which is very different to graveyards and/or crematoriums owned and maintained by Local Authorities.

There are clear and strict guidelines on managing gravestones in C of E graveyards with emphasis on Health & Safety. Gravestones deemed unsafe or in need of attention must be indicated as such.

Ownership of a memorial belongs to the person who erected it or their heir-at-law. In the first instance they are primarily responsible for its repair and safety.

For historic memorials declared unsafe A4 notices are placed on graves. This is a legal requirement and every effort is made to minimise the impact.

No gravestones were removed in the sighting of the shed. The location was an overgrown area of the graveyard with no indication of any burials having taken place in that spot for well over 50 years, and therefore not in breach of Diocese guidelines. Neither the church nor the Diocese are in possession of any documentation to indicate the details of anyone whose remains may lie in that spot or any other documentation, other than what has already been shared.  This is a very common situation with old graveyards. Records are not always kept accurately, and new staff coming to a church only have what is handed to them.

A large mound of soil has accumulated over many years from successive burials. Arrangements are being made to remove it in the near future in an effort to improve the appearance of the graveyard.