Mitcheldean Memorial letter (General)

by SteveJones, Sunday, May 23, 2010, 09:07 (5376 days ago) @ ranger one

Good Morning Derrick,

It is regretful that you have been upset by the moving of headstones at the former Congregational Chapel in Mitcheldean, and as we've discussed it was always our intention to be respectful to the headstones.

The work on the old gravestones is complete in that a total of 5 headstones were reloacted to a memorial garden in one specified corner of the grounds. Whilst I appreciate that 3 of the stones were of interest to you, the other 2 had fallen over completely, so as to be flat or tilted against other stones, and the 2 tall stones you refer to were also leaning badly as in the photo you've seen. All stones have been reseated in a vertical manner including the 2 fallen ones, and as you agreed are safer in their new homes a few yards away against side walls.

It is very regrettable that the Review notice went in late the wrong week, and I thought it had been entered as promised by the Review ahead of the work, but for this printing error I can only apologise.

The digger you refer to was not digging down at all, but was used to create a path by removing a few inches of grass for a gravel pathway and children's buggy park as you've seen, as well as aid with lifting the stones using rope out of the ground to minimise manual interference.

The bigger concern I understand you have is the use of the grounds at all, particularly with regard to Children playing on the grassed centre of the cemetry. I understand your concerns, and can only respond with the significance our church has in local families. We have over 60 children attending kids clubs mid week, 25 young people on a Friday evening and over 120 people coming to the 2 toddler groups as well. All of this is provided free of charge to the community, supported 100% by volunteers from the Church and is operated within guidelines of children's organisations. It is an expression of our committment to the future of families in Mitcheldean and the surrounding towns. The tensions between the past use of the grounds and its use in future will always be open for discussion, something I hope to continue with you.

Like I've discussed in person with you, I am willing to return those stones of interest to their original position and fence the area off, however that would prevent mowing by our grounds team, and I believe that more respect for future viewing and appreciation of the stones would be shown by their vertical position in a neatly gravelled area. I look forward to meeting with you again to decide which is best.

Kind Regards,
Steve Jones
Pastor - Forest Gate Church, Mitcheldean