Problems with the
Churchyard
The St Dunstan churchwardens met in
February 1625/6 to decide where sand and gravel could be
dug so 'that the churchyard may be speedilie earthed
over, and shall then conclude when and att what times
after to meet for the forwarding and more speedie
execution of the said worke. And likewise shall use the
same Care and diligence for the spedie purchasing of a
new place of Buriall.' The Stepney churchyard was by
then more than overfull.
The vestry in the same month put
the situation even more plainly. 'the old Churchyard
will affoord no more convenient place of Buriall without
danger of Infection by reason of the noisomenes of the
ground there so opened by reason of so many bodies
formerlie enterred there.'
In April the vestry, still
concerned by the number of burials taking place near the
church, decided to restrict the sexton. Recent burials
had been 'to the great annoyance of the parish and
danger of future infection, and that there is space
enough in other places with lesse inconvenience where
fewer bodies have bene buried.' Graves were to be
dug at the north side of the church beginning at the elms
and 'so range along westward by the pales and as
neere as convenientlie may be not presuming to come or
digge within seaventeene yards of the church wall.'
When those places were filled the graves were to be dug
on the south side beginning on the east part to range
along westward by the mud wall on the south part of the
church keeping the same distance from the wall. The
sexton was to be fined if he dug graves anywhere else.
(Details from Memorials of Stepney by Hill & Frere.)
See also More about
the churchyard
and
The Black Death, the Plague and
Churchyard
|