St Mary's Churchyard is a large, lovingly-tended space that is an extension of St Mary's witness to God and of its service to the community.   As well as providing a resting place for the dead, and a contemplative place for friends and relatives of those buried there, the Churchyard provides a place of peace and tranquillity to be used by anyone.

The Churchyard contains two Gardens of Remembrance, containing cremated remains, and a site reserved for War Graves, and maintained by the War Graves Commission.

The Living Churchyard Project aims to help churches manage their churchyards in a wildlife-friendly way, while being sensitive to the needs of all churchyard users, paying particular heed to the primary function.  With helpful advice from the Diocesan Living Churchyard representative the Churchyard Group is attempting to make St Mary's Churchyard as wildlife-friendly as possible while preserving the atmosphere that relatives of the deceased and other Churchyard users expect. 

We have two areas of grass on either side of the Church which are species-rich and which will be left unmown during the summer months, then cut and cleared for winter. There are also areas pinpointed for bees and butterflies and others for hedgehogs, beetles and insects.

As any visitor to the Churchyard will clearly see, the Churchyard Group has its work cut out to maintain such a large and diverse space.  If you are able to provide any time, expertise, or both in this endeavour, please contact the Vicar or one of the Churchwardens to offer your help.