Dec 7 2006 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News
A CEMETERY will remain overgrown and unkempt because the church does not have the resources to maintain it.
The oldest part of the St Agnes Road churchyard currently lies beneath grass and brambles, while shrubs and trees obscure gravestones.
Litter is tangled in the undergrowth, and visiting mourners must wade through nettles and thorns just to stand beside the site where their loved ones lie.
The Church of Wales is responsible for the site, as when St Agnes Road Church, known as the “Tin Chapel”, was demolished, the graveyard was attributed to St Mary’s on Rosehill Street.
Conwy Town Council currently chooses to contribute toward the site, but legislation doesn't permit local authorities in Wales to pitch in, unlike in England.
St Agnes Graveyard is a place that has played on my mind since my first visit. The main part of the site is maintained by the council. Through a little gate to your left is the oldest part owned by St Marys Church. I originally went to the graveyard looking for the old landlords of Conwys graves, of which there are many. The majority of these graves date back to the early 1800s. These were not the graves of the poor, some are made with marble and surrounded by ornate iron chains, others are tombs that accommodate whole families, there's large ornate obelisks adourning others.
I'm not religious but the people who paid for these plots of land all those years ago clearly were. You would not appreciate the state of the site until you have been there and seen it for yourself. Some graves are almost completely obscured by huge bramble bushes, others have full grown trees growing from within them. As you go through the first gate head down and take a look on the left hand side, you can see that there are cavities of approximately 2 ft in places, almost completely disintegrated plots. You'll have to be careful as there's a real risk of falling in and that doesn't bear thinking about.
As I've said I'm not religious but even I feel astounded by the total disrespect demonstrated here. How can this be allowed to happen? This is sacred land! Surely St Marys has an obligation to maintain this land? How much longer can it be left in this condition, after all the brambles and trees are still growing. It won't be long before it will take nothing less than the prince from "Sleeping Beauty" to cut his way through the impenetrable thorns.
Conwy Town Council currently chooses to contribute toward the site, but legislation doesn't permit local authorities in Wales to pitch in .
If this is true, exactly what are the Council contributing towards?
I think the excuse of having no money to spend is just that, an excuse. The owners of this land should practice the respect they preach and get this sorted, one way or another or be forced to by the council.
