New Extended Garden of Remembrance
After nearly 3 years in the planning, we are delighted to be able to share with you the news that permission has been granted for us to commence work on the new extended Garden of Remembrance and Storage facility.
The work is expected to take approximately 12 weeks, and we
are hoping for work to commence early November 2024, so not too far away.
Before we explain the work in more detail, it is important to point out that the existing Garden of Remembrance is to remain undisturbed, nothing is being dug up or moved, it will however be linked into the new area with revised landscaping and re-laid paving.
The work will involve the removal of the old brick storage shed which will clear the way for a new bigger storage building enabling the church to be decluttered.
The garden will have room for 403 plots for the interment of ashes, there will be new, and re-levelled pavements giving better access to the north side of church, and topped off with beautifully landscaped areas planted with a wide variety of trees shrubs and plants, providing an area for remembrance, reflection, and also a communal space for everyone to enjoy.
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| As you walk round the church yard you may have noticed next to the old shed, a number of large ledger stones stood against the west wall, these were removed from the base of the bell tower when the kitchen and toilet were added in 2015/16. These ledger stones are to be incorporated into the new garden so that they can be viewed, and any inscriptions can be read. |
| If you have ventured out around church whilst it is raining, you will have noticed that the North path between the Rectors Vestry door and the Choir Vestry door floods,this is due to the lay of the stone flags, and also the failure of the drains to take the rain water away that comes from the roof . To improve things ,and as we are having the path relaid, we have taken the opportunity to have appropriate drainage installed to prevent the flooding occuring again. |
This drawing shows the new storage building which we are calling the Refuge. There will be a bench next to the Refuge and the roof of the building will be off set, creating an overhang that will provide some shelter from the elements.
This drawing shows the existing and new Garden of Remembrance, along with the proposed layout of the landscaping and paths. You can see more clearly the area of lawn dedicated to the 403 interment plots.
The internment plots will be divided into squares and each square recorded on a matrix held by the church, so that accurate records of each interment can be kept.
We acknowledge that people want to bring flowers etc when they come to remember their loved ones, be that on an anniversary or other special day.
To keep the Garden of Remembrance tidy, and to enable the grass to be cut without destroying your floral tributes we have created a focal point, this will be a commemorative stone set into the garden where flowers can be laid.
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This drawing shows an overview of the plan for whole revised Garden of Remembrance
For further information please email info@stjamesnorton.org