A PARISHIONER in Headington Quarry is “disgusted” by plans to concrete over graves for an extension to the parish church where CS Lewis is buried.

Quarry High Street resident Jenifer Carpenter has urged people to oppose the plan for Holy Trinity Church in Quarry Road.

The extension to the north side of the church is for a creche, disabled toilets and reception area.

Author CS Lewis attended the church for 30 years and since his death in 1963 his grave has become a tourist attraction.

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The church wants to build over two graves, one of whose incumbents has living descendants. No graves will be disturbed, the vicar said.

But Mrs Carpenter, 71, said: “I object to the plans because I feel it shows a lack of respect for the dead.

Oxford Mail:

 Louisa Luckett’s grave is one of two that would be built over if the plan goes ahed

“I think the families chose a particular spot for their loved ones to rest. How would you feel if your mortal remains were concreted over? It’s a horrible thought.”

She is urging people to attend a meeting of the Holy Trinity Preservation Group at 7.30pm in the Masons Arms, Quarry School Place, on Thursday.

She said: “We want to make sure that the community’s voice is heard, and our next course of action is a letter campaign to the diocese.”

Headington’s Christine Ringwald said she is appalled at plans to concrete over the grave of grandmother Louisa Luckett, who died aged 70 in 1950.

The 72-year-old, a grandmother-of-one, said the proposal is a “horrible thought”.

She said: “My cousin Ronnie and I objected to the plans from the very start.

“We believe it’s a desecration of our grandmother’s grave.”

In 2012 the church dropped plans to build a larger extension over 15 graves on the north side.

The Revd Tim Stead said: “The church has changed, and we need to change with it.”

“We feel sad that people will be upset by our proposals, but we have to balance that with the needs of the church.”

He said: “We listened to the concerns of parishioners and have scaled back our proposed extension, which is more modest and will only be building over two graves.

“One of the graves has no direct descendants, and the other grave has direct descendants and we are in talks with the family to mark the fact that their relative is buried there.”

This could be marked by a paving slab or plaque, he added.

He said 86 per cent backed the plans in a church poll.

He added: “It is our opinion that we are not disturbing any mortal remains.”

Rev Stead hopes that the plans will receive approval from the Diocese of Oxford and Oxford City Council for the £400,000 project this year.


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