Churchyard team needs helpers

3:22pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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An Oxford churchyard which was reclaimed from drug dealers and criminals needs new friends to help keep it in tip-top condition.

SS Mary and John Church, in Cowley Road, continues to pick up accolades nearly a decade after a project to improve the churchyard was launched - but for the good work to continue, more volunteers are needed.

Work had just started when the Rev Adam Romanis took up his post at the church in 1999 but began earnest in 2000 when soldiers from Bicester spent a week clearing the graveyard.

Mr Romanis said: "The fact it was in a bad state and we did something about it is old news. What's more exciting is that not only have we kept on top of it, we have also kept it moving forward and there are still new things coming out of it.

"It's much harder to keep people's interest and this is a story of achievement where the persistence of the people involved is really bringing results."

The project was recently highly commended in the Church Times Green Awards.

Mr Romanis added: "Quite a lot of people used to like the fact it was a wilderness in terms of wildlife and letting people rest in peace. But the difficulty with that was that there were those who were using it for improper purposes. There was street drinking going on, drug-taking.

"The police said to us when they were sorting out Cowley Road, and trying to improve it generally, that the churchyard had to be addressed."

Mr Romanis said the church still suffered from antisocial behaviour occasionally, but it was greatly reduced.

He added: "It has changed out of all recognition and without the input of local people it would have just gone back to how it was."

Church warden Ruth Conway said: "We have to live up to the ideal and the expectations generated by the awards we have received.

"For that we need a few more volunteers to join us on a Saturday afternoon - even in winter there are jobs to be done."

As well as digging, weeding, pruning, strimming and gardening, people are needed to monitor what grows in the churchyard.

Anyone who can help should call Mrs Conway on 01865 723085.