St Helen’s Cleanup

St Helen’s church has been around since 1200, standing the test of time as all around the drama of mankind ebbed and flowed. Medieval wars, famine, the plague, modern wars and now trade wars, St Helen’s has prevailed but like all such structures the building and its surroundings needs TLC.

In case the modern idiom has an alternative use of the abbreviation (shades of David Cameron and LOL) TLC in this context refers to tender loving care! In recent months that care has taken the form of working parties drawn from local residents of Burghwallis. They may not all be of the congregation but prove that the church still has a central role as a focal point to the village.

The team have been clearing the churchyard which had become a tad overgrown. Endless skip bags of ivy, weeds and errant bushes have been recycled to reveal the churchyard in its full glory. In the process several ancient graves have been uncovered, ivy has been stripped from headstones and the stone walls. The churchyard now appears about 20% larger than when the project started.

And now the easy part. After the clearing and ‘heavy lifting’ is complete, the ongoing maintenance is far easier. Regular ongoing sessions of volunteers will keep St Helen’s looking spruce as a thank you for being for being around since 1200. If you have a pair of secateurs, hedge shears or a sturdy rake you would be very welcome at the next working party; watch this space.