Churchyard Preservation Project Update

Having finished up the 2024 season of outdoor physical preservation with a pair of long-overdue levelling/straightenings, Nancy and Ted hit the road with a plan to visit historic east coast Episcopal churches that have churchyards. We chose our sites carefully, looking for opportunities to gain an understanding of, and insights into varying approaches to:

• Churchyard preservation programs
• Churchyard preservation programs
• Gravestone/marker repairs and routine maintenance
• Grounds management
• Burials information management
• Enclosures (fences, hedges, et al)
• Community engagement
• Access policies
• Signage
• Educational materials
• Funding sources tapped

As of the submission deadline, we had completed out first visit, Immanuel on the Green Episcopal church in New Castle, Delaware, a congregation which, dating back to 1698, is among the oldest continuously operating ones in the United States.

Other planned churchyards stops are Gloria Dei (formerly Old Swedes) in Philadelphia, St. David’s in Radnor, PA, Allentown Presbyterian (New Jersey), Christ Episcopal (Stratford, CT), St. Mark’s (New Canaan, CT), and Christ Church / Tashua Burial Ground (Trumbull, CT).

When we return, we will share our findings and also offer some thoughts on how plans for our own churchyard could be influenced by what we learned.