Several town councillors in Welshpool have criticised a church’s decision to topple 19 gravestones amid concerns over their safety.

On Wednesday, October 4, a meeting of Welshpool Town Council played host to a discussion surrounding the issue of gravestones at St Mary’s Church, which had been turned over following a recent diocese inspection.

The subject was not on the meeting’s agenda but was raised by Cllr Phil Pritchard as an issue in urgent need of discussion, with several councillors adding to the conversation.

Cllr Pritchard said: “Something has to be done as it looks like a mess in that graveyard. Aside from the effect of having a relative’s gravestone knocked down, it just looks abysmal and disorganised.

“it’s a personal issue to me as I have relatives buried in that churchyard, as do many people around Welshpool and the area. But beyond my personal investment in it, I think it’s atrocious to see gravestones laid down like that.”

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Recognising that multiple people had noted the gravestones laid down on their front, St Mary’s Church released a statement on social media to confirm that 19 gravestones had been moved and to reassure people that this was not an act of vandalism, but rather an act in line with health and safety requirements of the Church in Wales.

The gravestones were moved following a report conducted by the Diocesan Buildings Inspector, carried out every five years.

St Mary’s Church stated: “Where a gravestone is loose and no longer fixed to its base, we are required to lay it down flat on the ground to ensure the safety of our visitors.

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“A gravestone's maintenance is the responsibility of the family who purchase the grave at the time of burial. 

“Unfortunately, near all of the gravestones that have been laid down are over fifty years old and so our contact information for the families is limited. 

“We will be contacting local stone masons and undertakers to source contact information for families where we can.”

Welshpool Town Councillors stated in the meeting that they understood the issue was due to safety concerns but felt the measures were too harsh.

Cllr Nick Howells said: “I find the whole thing about these graveyard inspections absolutely overzealous and ridiculous.”

Cllr Billy Spence added that he had been in contact with St Mary’s Church over the issue, saying: “We have to recognise that in many ways it’s beyond St Mary’s control, so we shouldn't blame them, but I agree that I think these measures are far too severe.

“I know from personal experience that maintaining or repairing a gravestone is a long and expensive process, especially with very few stoneworkers in this area, so to see them suddenly laid down with little warning leaves people with limited options, even if they are being contacted.”

St Mary’s Church has published a list of the names on each affected grave on its Facebook page.