ONE year on from arriving at Culcheth’s Newchurch Parish Church Rector Chris Jones has become acutely aware of the need to tackle drainage problems in the graveyard.
Any period of prolonged rainfall causes problems and on occasions he has had to conduct burials wearing wellington boots.
After getting quotes off local contractors the work to resolve the problem is going to cost in the region of £45,000, money the church simply does not have at its disposal.
“We don’t get any centralised funding for this kind of work,” said Chris. “We are going to have to explore ways of raising the money ourselves.
“Because of the nature of the work it is something we will ensure is done sensitively, so no graves are disturbed.”
He says it is important that the work is done as there is plenty of spare capacity for more burials.
Meanwhile Chris, who is also vicar at Christ Church, Croft, is keen for both churches to embrace their local communities.
“We want to be inclusive, not exclusive. The church belongs to the local people. We are here for them.
“While we need to raise money for the drainage work we are more interested in people coming to church and giving us nothing, than giving us money and never coming!”
