Churchyard Training Day with the DAC

Churchyards are playing an ever increasingly important role in the mission of the church and opportunities for engagement with the community. This training day brings together a range of expertise to help parishes to understand how to care for the various features of a churchyard; from walls and monuments to the mature and problem trees. We will also cover the topic of digging and archaeology in the churchyard and enlighten parishes on the hidden geological treasures of churchyard monuments. In addition, the day will provide an overview of the rules governing the management of churchyards.

The event is to be held at Holy Trinity Church, Prestwood, a parish which has received wide praise for the years of care and management of their churchyard. Their churchyard has been classified as a valuable example of a rare grassland site and has been included in the Caring for God's Acre 'Burial Grounds to Inspire' project.

Agenda

9.30am Arrival - Tea and coffee

10:00 am: Hannah Robertson, Church Buildings Officer - A brief history of our churchyards and an introduction to the DAC.

10:20 am: Deiniol Heywood, Rector of Prestwood and Great Hampden - A talk on the care and conservation of Prestwood's churchyard.

10:50am: Darren Oliver, Diocesan Registrar - The Laws Governing the Care of Churchyards

11:20am: Short break - Tea and biscuits

11:40am: Julian Munby - DAC archaeological advisor - Digging in Churchyards

12:10 pm: Nina Morgan and Philip Powell - The Geology within our Churchyards

12:40pm: Buffet lunch and opportunity to visit the churchyard

1:30pm: Sam Hargreaves, Nicholson's Arboriculture - Management of Churchyard Trees with churchyard walk around

Focusing on common churchyard species, planting new trees and looking out for warning signs on dangerous or deceased trees.

2:00pm: Amelia Morrison, Cliveden Conservation - Monuments: Case Studies

2:30pm: Kris Zykubek, Cliveden Conservation - A Practical Session

3:00pm: Finish

Travelling to the venue

By Car: The church has a car park accomodating up to 50 spaces. If this is full, attendees may park in either the nearby garden centre, pub, both of which are 5 minutes walk away, or on local roads. Please car share if possible.

By bus: The number 41 bus runs between High Wycombe bus station and Amersham Railway Station, stopping at Holy Trinity Church halfway along its route. The services runs once an hour and the journey to Holy Trinity Church takes approximately half an hour from either bus terminus.

By train: The nearest railway station is Great Missenden which is on the line from High Wycombe. From there you can catch the number 41 bus. Please check train and bus times before booking your transport.

Host or Publisher Diocese of Oxford - DAC