Christ Church Cemetery – Spring Clean Up

The Cemetery at Christ Church, Surrey is set in the grounds of the historic parish, the first community in Surrey to be settled in the 1880's.

The original church was constructed at a cost of just less than $2000 with the materials brought down the Serpentine River by boat and then by horse-drawn transport to the site.

The setting of the cemetery is on a well-treed hillside. It sits across the road from Christ the Redeemer, built in 1990. The Venerable Louie Engnan (Archdeacon of Fraser) is the Vicar of the Parish of Christ the Redeemer. He also serves as vicar at the nearby St. Michael's, Surrey. 

The historic cemetery provides work for the parishioners, volunteers and Cemetery Board members twice a year. On Saturday, March 18 the team saw some of the best weather for the spring and fall clean-ups in several years. The parish does have contractors who cut the grass and do other clean up at other times during the year.  

Board member with responsibility for landscape coordination, Catherine Kennedy drives the team by allowing participants to choose their gardening chore ... raking, weeding, and cleaning the Memorial Garden plaques and pathway.

Coffee is served, with Timbits and fresh scones.

This year’s clean-up crew gathered for a couple of hours and enjoyed the company, the treats and the garden work.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated this year and especially to Catherine who guides the tasks. That's it ‘til the Fall.

As board chair, I turned up enthusiastically with tools, but with two left gloves ... what can you say!

IMAGES

• The stone with Celtic Cross marking the Memorial Garden
• Catherine Kennedy, Landscape Coordinator; Susan Foulds, Board Secretary; the Reverend Stephen Rowe, Board Chair: Photo Alan Clegg
• Terry with Laura Gill, the sexton
• Jill
• Jane with John
• Board Vice-Chair, Alan Clegg
• Christ Church, Surrey with the grounds looking great, bathed in the sunlight of early spring.

Photos: Catherine Kennedy except where noted