Stoke Damerel church, Plymouth

Stoke Damerel Church is the place my GGGrandfathers first family are buried. His wife and two infant daughters all died within 18 months of each other.

It was extremely disappointing when I got to the church. All the gravestones had been moved to the perimeter around the church. Some on the ground, some up against a wall. The area is not cared for. It is impossible to locate a headstone because of the over growth.

Apparently the church sold  land. They removed the headstones but the bodies remained where they were buried.

I felt very sad. Relatives go to all the effort and cost of erecting a headstone in the belief it will be there forever as rememberence of loved ones.