A memorial mystery

Something strange has been happening in graveyards around the diocese

Around a dozen churches have reported rows of headstones that have been defaced, some in red, some in white, some in blue chalk.

Syd Smith, Church Warden at All Saints, Llangorwen, takes up the story:

“Like many Wardens, I regularly conduct a walking inspection of the outside of the building and grounds. Like most graveyards, our graves face east, so it was not until I looked west that I saw with horror the chalk-plastered gravestones near the path. The whole graveyard was affected, around 200 were extensively covered.

“My reaction was one of disgust at the vandalism of the graves, some of which are still visited by families of the long deceased.

“No permission had been sought, nor granted, by the LMA Dean or anyone else. No one knew anything about the project; no one knew who was responsible.

“Very little of the chalk has been washed off by rain. I am sure the disfigurement will remain for some considerable time, unless we as a church set to and wash the gravestones - so many having been damaged that is a considerable task.

“Whoever is responsible for this inconsiderate damage should at the very least have sought permission, should have washed the gravestones and should have shown more respect for the families of the interned.”

Defacing gravestones is not just vandalism – it’s a crime. The Criminal Damage Act 1971 makes it an offence to damage or destroy property belonging to another person. And the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 specifically addresses criminal damage to memorials, which includes gravestones.

Courts can impose fines or other penalties; at worst, they can impose a jail sentence of up to ten years.

But here’s the twist

Just as Warden Smith, his colleagues and the diocesan Property Department were wondering what to do, they got a breakthrough. The perpetrator identified themselves and freely admitted to being “solely responsible” for all the chalking incidents.

They explained they were gathering information for a website that provides details of where lost, deceased loved ones may be found. The chalking was done to help make the text on the stones more legible so they could be recorded accurately.

And not only did they own up but, full of contrition, also undertook to wash off the chalk and duly attended a service one Sunday to offer their apologies and right the wrong.

Reports from Llangorwen suggest that the clean-up has been largely successful and they have promised to revisit the church next time they are in the area. Mystery solved!