A family who spent 17 years visiting the wrong grave after a burial mix-up have received an apology from the Church of England’s representative in the House of Commons. MPs heard the Bell family, from County Durham, suffered a “heart-breaking” eight-week delay in burying their mother Hilda alongside her husband Thomas after it emerged someone else was in the grave they believed was his.
Mr Bell’s coffin was eventually located and his wife was able to be buried alongside him at Holy Trinity Church, Wingate. An inquiry into the matter is due to begin next month.
Conservative MP Andrew Selous, who acts as the Second Church Estates Commissioner, told the House of Commons: “This has been a deeply troubling time for the Bell family and I’d like to pass on my heartfelt apologies for what has happened. I’m pleased that this issue has been resolved and the lessons learned process begins next month.
“I know the vicar of Holy Trinity, Wingate, has greatly supported the family during this difficult time.”
Labour’s Grahame Morris, the MP for Easington, suggested reforms are needed to improve burial records – including digital copies.
The Northern Echo reported Mr Bell’s initial resting place was found to be two metres from where his family believed he was buried. It reported 11 graves were dug up in the search for him.
Mr Morris told the Commons: “Can I place on record my thanks to (Mr Selous) for his assistance with this matter during the recess. I can report to the House that Thomas Bell’s coffin has been located and his late wife Hilda was buried with him after a heart-breaking eight-week delay, but appallingly for 17 years the family – who are my constituents living in Easington – unknowingly attended the wrong grave.
“In locating Mr Bell’s coffin, several other errors were identified. So does (Mr Selous) agree that we need to improve burial records with digital copies, introduce a new process for marking plots after burial, and have rules about the orderly organisation of plots in churchyards?”
Mr Selous replied: “(Mr Morris) is absolutely right that record-keeping is incredibly important and the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 clearly states that records should be in fireproof places. His point about digital is also well made.
“The lessons learned inquiry will focus on best practice for all parishes. And on a personal note, I was very pleased that Mrs Bell’s great-grandchild was baptised in the church last weekend.”
