Reflections in a graveyard

By Jenny Allen

Recently when it was my turn to accompany Rosemary to the Youth group, I found myself roaming around St Mary’s churchyard, whilst the young people plucked leaves from the trees as part of a task to identify the different species that grow in the churchyard. It gave me the opportunity to explore a green open space in Moseley that I don’t remember having visited before.

One Sunday afternoon I found myself in another green open space this time in the heart of the city, St Thomas Peace Garden in Bath Row. I was attending an annually held Vigil joining with a small group to remember people who died as a direct result of their refusal to fight in both the First and Second World Wars, and all subsequent wars including many of the conflicts raging round the world today. Fortunately, I had taken with me a bag of Christian Aid balloons and after the vigil I wandered over to talk to a family with children enjoying the sunshine and the peace of the garden. After handing out the balloons I discovered that they lived locally and often visited gardens. It was great to see that this quiet oasis in the city is still apparently free from graffiti and the other less attractive items that sadly are so often found in other green spaces including St Mary’s churchyard.

The conversation I had with the family has led me to ponder that, surely as part of our mission to our community, we can work together to make both St Mary’s churchyard and the grounds in front of St Mary’s and St Anne’s are both welcoming and safe, not only for our generation but for future generations to come.

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