New Children’s Remembrance Corner in Chirk Churchyard

We were delighted to welcome pupils and staff recently from Ysgol y Waun to St Mary’s Churchyard for the formal blessing of our Children’s Remembrance Corner. We gathered to dedicate it properly, with thanks to Lady Trevor for inspiring the idea and donating the containers and trees that frame the area. The children helped by placing their memory markers in the sand, and we prayed together for all the people and pets whose names are remembered here. It was a joyful moment for our church and community, creating a gentle, happy place where children can pause, think, and feel held in love.

A special area of the churchyard in Chirk has been dedicated for children to remember family, friends and pets who have died.

The Vicar of St Mary’s Church in the centre of the village, the Revd Matt Wilkinson, dedicated the area behind the church and invited children from Ysgol Y Waun to take part in the service of blessing.

The Children’s Remembrance Corner is immediately behind the church and has been tidied up with planters installed, and space for children to leave messages for loved ones and pets. A special sign, designed and painted by Jill Blanchard, an artist and the Head of RE at Moreton Hall School, has been placed on the railings around the garden.

The Revd Matt Wilkinson said: “The idea for the Remembrance Garden came from Lady Trevor who wanted to see this area transformed into a peaceful and happy place for children to visit and leave their own messages for family members and pets.   

“So often children accompany their parents to churchyards, and this bright and happy corner is a space for children to remember with warmth and joy and perhaps to gently participate in the process of grief.

“The creation of this corner is a real community effort and I’m very grateful to everyone who has helped.” 

St Mary’s Church in Chirk has a large graveyard looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers who meet every Friday afternoon to cut the grass and tidy up. Their hard work has resulted in awards from the RHS Wales in Bloom and Keep Wales Tidy.

St Mary’s Church is part of the Offa Mission Area, a group of churches around Chirk, Ruabon, Johnstown and surrounding areas, working together to better serve their local communities. Offa Mission Area is one of 20 Mission Areas in the Diocese of St Asaph, which is part of the Church in Wales.