Community volunteers working on an old cemetery in St Ninians say they are “taken aback” after being accused of disrespect by local church members.
Stirling 4 Community (S4C) charitable community group has applied to Stirling Council planners for a partial change of use of a graveyard to a memorial garden behind St Ninians Old Parish Church in Kirk Wynd.
The plans also include repairs to gatepost and fencing and erection of a shed and storage container on the land, which was a cemetery for past residents of the old William Simpsons Asylum, established in 1836.
S4C announced last year they had joined forces with Plean-based William Simpsons Care Home for the special project to mark the designated interment area to honour those buried there.
However, a number of elders and members of the St Ninians Old Parish Church congregation are among those objecting to the application, along with its minister, the Rev Gary McIntyre.
In his submission to council planners, Rev McIntyre echoed the thoughts of some of his parishioners saying he felt the proposals were “disrespectful” to the 70 bodies interred on the ground.
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Rev McIntyre added: “I am not opposed to community events in any form but there is other ground available in the St Ninians area which is much more suitable for such purposes.
“It is still a graveyard albeit one that is no longer used. It continues to be consecrated ground.
“Already, the railing around the graveyard has been painted a colour that is out of keeping with the historic area in which the graveyard is located.
“Services are held in the church, which is in close proximity to the graveyard, on a Sunday and at other times during the week.
“Community events will lead to people parking on Kirk Wynd and reducing space for people attending services in the church to park. There could also be an issue of noise from community events.
“Further, the erection of a shed and installation of a storage container will be unsightly and detrimental to the appearance of the church , the best view of which is from Burghmuir Road.”
In a response to queries from council planners, agents for S4C said their clients were “somewhat taken aback and saddened” at the objections.
They added: “The ground is to be used as a modest memorial garden. Previously the graves were unmarked and the area overrun with brambles, weeds and excrement (it being used as a local dog exercise area).
“The Church took no care of the consecrated site and the graves were untended and the lair names not identified. The only maintenance was the council cutting the grass in recent years.
“Stirling4Community are now tending the ground (with the support of the owner the William Simpsons Care Home) and giving a real community purpose. It not only keeps it in good order but also respects the graves of those buried there.
“In addition the weekly project of purposeful garden exercise supports mental health and friendship (in fresh air). It is misleadng to see the space as being a ‘gazebo and seating area within a graveyard’. The only small gatherings that are likely to take place will be the occasional supervised picnic or possible planting event with the children’s group.
“The ‘Men’s Group’ do not work when a service is taking place, in fact they have left, on two occasions, when St Ninians was in use as they have no wish whatsoever to cause any frustration with church members.”
Railings were said to have been painted red because that was the colour the group found underneath loose paint and rust.
The agents added that the garden would not normally be open on a Sunday and “in the unlikely event” that was needed times would be discussed with the church.
Hardstanding is to be omitted from the plans and the temporary gazebo erected only occasionally.
“The memorial notice board will list the names of everyone buried there,” said the agents. “Location [of a container] is flexible up to a point but the position was chosen, out of respect, so it was not placed on top of occupied lairs.”
The agents have suggested a specific type of police-approved secure shed as an alternative.
Council planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.
