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Unusual Things video
We have been featured on the YouTube channel ‘Unusual Things’, which focuses on finding famous graves and other quirky, unusual things. The channel’s creator, Paul, came to Welshpool in search of actor Gary Holton’s final resting place in Maesgwasted Cemetery, and keen to explore further, he wandered in during one of our open afternoons. It’s an interesting video from the…
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Book launch
Ten years ago I had the idea to research the stories behind the memorials in the churchyards that were dedicated to someone that died in the First World War. On the centenary of their death, their story was put on display as part of the Remembering the Fallen of the Great War at Christ Church exhibition. The feedback and support…
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The Oak Tree
By the churchyard there is an Oak tree overlooking the town. It was an acorn around when Queen Anne was the ruler of Britian in 1710 and the tree is 310 years old. I found this out by measuring the girth of the tree which was 6.20m and divided it by 2, so that gave us the answer of 3.10…
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Welshpool’s link with Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Over the years we have been frequently asked the whereabouts of the grave of Gary Holton, the actor who was famous for his role of Wayne in the 1980’s comedy-drama show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Gary isn’t buried in the churchyard here at Christ Church, but his ashes are interred in neighbouring Maesgwasted Cemetery with his grandparents. Gary’s parents once owned…
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‘John the Pole’
With living in the middle of a churchyard, we are often asked to help locate a grave and it is always a pleasure to assist. We were recently contacted by a gentleman from a Polish Soldier’s Memorial organisation, Polskie Miejsca Pamieci, who was researching the story of ‘John the Pole’. He had very little information to go on other than…
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WW1 stories
In addition to the promotional video for the Welshpool WW1 Walk (see previous post), we were also filmed sharing a couple of the stories of the WW1 memorials in the churchyard. Powys War Memorials Project created several WW1 Stories films in other Powys towns which are very interesting so do look out for those. The story of Joseph Ithel Jehu…
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Welshpool WW1 Walk
We’re honoured to be included in the new Welshpool WW1 Walk compiled by the Powys War Memorial Project. The trail takes you around Welshpool highlighting places and buildings that have a connection to the First World War. The walk incorporates the churchyard and our Poppy Trail (a leaflet of which is available inside the church or you can download it…
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Remembering the Fallen of the Great War – Cyril Patrick Pryce Yearsley
Cyril Patrick Pryce Yearsley Private :: Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Died :: 8th January 1920 :: UK The memorial in the churchyard reads: Also Cyril their son {Charles and Lizzie Elenor Pryce Yearsley Who died January 8th 1920 Aged 19 years ‘Abide with me’ Cyril was born in 1900 in Welshpool. He was baptised on 11th April 1900. His parents were Charles…
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Remembering the Fallen of the Great War – John Rimmer
John Rimmer Private :: Labour Corps Died :: 14th November 1919 :: UK The memorial in the churchyard reads: 419553 Private J Rimmer Labour Corps 14th November 1919 Age 27 Peace perfect peace John Rimmer was born in 1890 in Chirbury, Shropshire. He was the sixth child of John and Jane Rimmer. His father John was a gamekeeper by profession.…
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Up in the Air
A few weeks ago we hired a ‘cherry picker’ to access the higher reaches of the building to do some re-pointing and to check over the guttering. We were able to get a lift that goes higher (up to 21 metres) than we have previously been able to which was great for reaching the nave roof guttering and for getting…
