The 3 plus acres of the churchyard provide a sanctuary of peace and tranquility away from the stresses of our busy and often complicated lives.

We plan to create designated areas where anyone can come and spend time to reflect, whether it is to help remind us of what is truly important, or to enjoy the natural world around us, or perhaps to connect with God.

Many people find solace in a graveyard. It may seem counter intuitive but for some graveyards can be strangely reassuring. So many individuals have travelled life’s path before us, and they all have a story to tell.

Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materialswrote that everyone is born with their own death present – “it taps you on the shoulder and says come along o’me”.

In his book A Tomb With a View, Peter Ross writes of taking a walk through a burial ground and of one’s mind snagging on stories. It’s a place where you can reflect. It is a place where information is stored, if only you use your imagination.

Bowdon churchyard is an exceptionally rich reservoir of life stories and social history. Those people
who have gravestones in the churchyard there clearly intended that their lives should be remembered by future generations.

If you are a lover of graves then you are a taphophile. The term comes from the Greek “taphos” for tomb and “philia” for love or admiration. Why not come and have a look around? You never know where a gravestone is going to take you.

All are welcome.

Ann Nosowska