Welcome to St Wilfrid's Churchyard

This is an active, open churchyard where the most recent graves are to the north near the new accessible carpark. There is step free access from the carpark, through the churchyard to St Wilfrid's Church, which is open to all from 10am to 4pm every day. The Churchyard is open at all times. It can be accessed on foot through the church gate and through the courtyard by the tower. Cycle parking is provided. The Warrington no 6 bus stops at Stanney Lunt bridge. Walk over the bridge and along the pavement, you will shortly come to Church Lane which you can walk along and see the square tower of the church on the right of the road.

We have achieved silver level accredutation as an ecochurch and are working to achieve Gold as an eco-Church. Our focus on how we can look after this part of our world, to increase the plant life and wildlife that shares it with us. We also wish to encourage everyone to be glad that they have visited our churchyard, perhaps to remember a friend or relative, perhaps to enjoy the wildlife, perhaps to have a little exercise, sit quietly and let go of the cares of the world.

The churchyard stretches round all 4 sides of our 12^th century building. Most of the older gravestones are to the south, near Church Lane – where you can see that for many centuries St Wilfrid’s has provided a final resting place for people from Latchford and Thelwall as well as Grappenhall.

Amongst the memorial stones there are flowers, shrubs and trees which are looked after by our volunteer gardeners, assisted where necessary, by specialists. This is a place of beauty. It is cared for and cared about.

Increasing the range of plants and wildlife is being promoted by installing feeders, drinking stations, nesting boxes and planting flowers and shrubs. We want to encourage hedgehogs, butterflies, bees and other insects.

So much Grappenhall land is being built on, let’s enjoy this precious stretch of green, whilst helping as diverse a range of God’s creatures to enjoy it and flourish too.

Several people have kindly donated benches which are arranged through the churchyard and in the new courtyard. Please take the opportunity to rest and enjoy this very special place.

When visiting the churchyard please be sensitive to those visiting the graves of loved ones.

We plan to establish a nature trail through the Churchyard to help visitors and school groups identify what is growing, flying or hiding around the churchyard.

We are very grateful for the Co-op Community Fund for choosing to support our Living Churchyard. They have helped in so many ways such as a rainwater collection butt for collecting water from the Tower roof, to help people wishing to water flowers in the churchyard; to raising awareness about this much loved green oasis around our beautiful ancient church.

If you have skills in gardening, wildlife identification or photography please get in touch with church office on 01925 269861 or stwilfschurchoffice@btinternet.com.

if you would like to donate to our Living Churchyard/Eco-Church Project