Remember when we first began the project to protect the heritage of the church and churchyards. The primary focus was to map the yards so that researchers could gain access and we could begin the process of applying for grants to repair memorials of local and national importance, rather than simply laying broken memorials down and losing an important part of the history they represent. This work links heritage preservation with keeping the buildings open and accessible to all.
The first task, digitising the burial records, has already achieved a remarkable amount. Nearly 23,000 names have been recorded, burial locations identified, family trees traced, and family stories researched, creating a valuable record of the people and history of Saddleworth. Thus we can carry out the recovery and preservation of a rich local history that under other circumstances may have been lost. We would also warmly welcome anyone who would like to contribute by helping to research and write the stories that bring these records to life.
Beyond the research we do at home. The yards under our care still function as a choice of burial place. Being both memorial sites and public spaces, visited by families, visitors and wildlife alike, means safe access remains important and at the core of our activities.
The volunteer trustees of Saddleworth St Chad Parish Church recognised that, to maintain safe access and enable the continuation of the yards as a public and open space, they needed to create a management and maintenance plan.
Donations have funded the initial clearance and the introduction of regular grass cutting, and over the last two years this has substantially improved access. The challenge now is maintaining that progress so that problems do not return and future costs do not rise. However, the trustees are currently considering whether to cancel the regular grass cutting, meaning much of this regular work is at risk. Their choices are understandably limited, as they must also meet the ongoing demands of caring for the church buildings, similarly falling victim to age and rising costs.
We are therefore asking for your support. Without continued funding, regular maintenance may stop, access to the churchyards will once again become difficult, and the work to protect and share this important heritage may have to come to an end. Any donation, however small, will help keep the churchyards open, cared for, and accessible, while allowing this unique heritage work to continue.
Seated on the hills above Uppermill and overlooking the valley, our churchyard is a beautiful and tranquil place. To see it once again fall into neglect and inaccessibility would be both a tragedy and a burden, not only for those who care for it, but also for the many people who regularly visit and enjoy it. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has already supported this work, and we would once again extend an invitation to anyone who would like to become involved. However, this is a concern not only for those directly engaged in maintaining the churchyard. Anyone who values it as a peaceful and accessible public space, or who cares about local history and heritage, should recognise what is at stake. Without continued support, both access to the churchyard and the heritage work it contains are at risk.
Historic Saddleworth Church 
thank you for your ongoing voluntary commitment to serve the community this way. The past few years the yards have been transformed. I hope you can find an external/community source to continue that good work.
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