The lower yard is just below church and has for some time been neglected. Access is poor and many of the graves are obscured. Owing to the successes that have been achieved in the New Yard and the incredible improvements that have been made to improve access, we now begin on the Lower yard.

Last year we spent £10,000 on clearance of the New yard. This would not have been possible without public donations and the volunteers who gave up their time.

This year we are expanding the scope of works to include the Lower yard. Fundraising is more important to us as we continue to clear and map all the yards. Making locations of burials faster and easier for families.

This summer we plan to open the hearse house for refreshments and have the church building open regularly, each week for visitors.

Part of our strategy also includes creating a research space in church for visitors to view parish records. In combination with the digital content we are creating, we will have a unique and accessible repository of stories about the people buried in the church yards.

We ask for people to continue submitting their stories and photos so that we can present a dynamic history of the people and culture of those that have gone before us.

Saddleworth Historical Society have and do work, to protect the histories of Saddleworth and some of the members have spent 20 plus years collating what they can about our churchyards. With snippets of information and task forces to do clearance and transcriptions. We hope that by working together, we can accomplish some mutual aims and goals that have long term sustainable outcomes.

If you would like to get involved, please get in touch, alternatively if you would like to make a donation to help us, keep the church and churchyards open for future generations, then please use the donate link on the home page.

Below are some of the pictures of the work that we have completed in the Lower yard, there has been 3 sessions, so far. We meet on a Tuesday Morning and plan to also introduce a Friday Morning. This is in addition to the Eco-Group that are helping to keep order in the Old, Gelfield, and New yards.