New graveyard for St Mary's Church, Alveley, Bridgnorth

A deal has been struck to create a new graveyard at an 850-year-old church in a Shropshire village. The new burial ground at St Mary's Church in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, is on half an acre of land bought by church wardens.

The new graveyard is expected to be formally dedicated by the Bishop of Ludlow Alistair Magowan in February next year.

An application has been submitted to Shropshire Council planners to change the use of the land from agricultural to a burial ground.

The land was bought from local landowner David Pitt to help meet the shortage of burial space.

It is estimated that it will create space for an extra 400 burial plots.

Michael York, church warden at St Mary's Church, said: "It's desperately needed space - we only have 11 spaces left and it has been quite a worry for me.

"People have always believed we have had enough space but we have known for some time that we would need a new burial ground for the future and we couldn't leave it too late.

"We have bought the land which belonged to local farmer David Pitt - he has been very generous.

"A new footpath has been put in for better access from the bottom lych gate to the burial ground and we have had to put a land drain in, too.

"We have bought half an acre which will accommodate at least 400 graves so we should be OK."

He added: "We are hoping to have the land consecrated by Bishop of Ludlow Alistair Magowan in February next year."