Our Journey So Far
A Facebook post started it all, it was written on the 16th February 2017. This one post was shared 195 times and managed to reach so many people who have loved ones at St Peters in the village of Bredhurst, Kent. Contact was made online, in person, meeting and joining of hearts and minds and our group was formed.
Check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BredhurstBereavementForum
Here is some background to the area and our campaign.
St Peter's is a beautiful church, away from the village up a small country lane.
A church has stood on the site since the 11thCentury. By the late 18th Century the church was so dilapidated it had to be extensively remodelled.
The work was agreed to by the parishioners in 1865 and paid for by T. H. Day, the father of the incumbent at the time. The old churchyard surrounding the building is now closed and maintenance is the responsibility of Maidstone Borough Council. Around 1946 there was added a detached extension over the lane to the south of the church this new churchyard and Garden of Remembrance is the burial ground for the whole parish of South Gillingham.
We recognise and respect the history of the church and the area, the removal of items from graves occurred in the new burial ground across from the church and not in the historically important original graveyard. Whilst the extension was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester and covered by the Diocese of Rochester graveyard regulations, as are all churches in the Diocese, it is down to the local Parochial Parish Council to uphold the regulations. Up until late 2016, the local incumbent showed discretion as do most of the other churches under the same diocese and regulations, childrens graves were quietly left alone, artifical flowers of good quality were placed in the headstone vases and the whole graveyard was peaceful and a wonderful place for quiet reflection. Those who tended graves did so with great care and continue to do so.
This page is still 'under construction' our journey started in 2017 and has no end...please bear with us.