Living Churchyard

“ God’s Acre”

Living Churchyard Project @ St Mary’s Church, Haxby

For more than 65 years the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been working to protect our countryside.  With the patronage of the Archbishops of York, local churches have become increasingly aware of the need to nurture and protect “God’s Acre” – the churchyard space.  Psalm 24 tell us that “the Earth is the Lord’s” – we are only tenants on this Earth, and ultimately it does not belong to us.  If we are tenants sharing the Earth, we have a duty to care for it – a duty to God, the rest of creation with whom we share the world and a duty to ensure it is available for future generations.

During 2011 York Diocese has held numerous activities marking “Year of the Environment”.  St Mary’s Church has been involved with this theme too.  We have been exploring how we as Christians can reduce the human impact on the natural world.  We have had guest speakers to the church offering us insights into various aspects of the natural world, even celebrating Yorkshire’s links with the coast line with a wonderful concert from Filey Fishermen’s Choir.

Churchyards and other old burial grounds can become living sanctuaries for a rich diversity of fauna and flora.  We continue to offer our respects to those at eternal rest in the churchyard, but actively encourage local wildlife to use the space.  We have created a series of pathways through the tall grasses and reduced the damage to headstones resulting from close mowing of the foundations. We have encouraged trees to take root: offering produce for birds and bugs alike (this includes rowan berries, elderberries and ivy). It is hoped in years to come the trees with offer height, nesting places and safety for more species to avail themselves of our hospitality.  We hope to under plant the trees with native British flowers in the years to come: but currently lack the man power to complete this task.

Next time you walk through the churchyard why not try a different path and enjoy the view from a different angle.  Try using your senses whilst travelling through God’s Acre - listening to the sounds of nature or use your sense of smell to reflect on the seasons or enjoy time in the quietness to reflect on what God has given us to enjoy.  We can all discover the treasures of the natural world on our doorstep.

For further information about the Living Churchyard Project in the York area visit the website of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

For information relating to the gravestones Haxby Local History Group is able to offer a range of research on many who rest at St Mary’s.

If you want to get involved with this project, please contact one of the churchwardens for more details.

See some other articles about our Living Churchyard project -August, September, October, November