You can’t miss the two great Cedar trees Cedrus libani planted in1881. Look out for the Weeping Ash Fraxinus excelsior in the North graveyard. You’ll also see our two Yew trees Taxus baccata which are at least 500 years old and have survived two raging fires at the church. Yew trees are particularly associated with Christian churchyards because their evergreen leaves and remarkable powers of regeneration symbolise the resurrection, continuity of life and consistency in faith. As Yew trees made the best longbows many were felled in the Middle Ages but protests against using trees from
consecrated ground to make weapons saved those in the churchyards.

The ‘Founder’s Tomb’ is said to be the grave of the architect of the old church who fell from the roof
to his death around the year 1490. Can you see the ‘upside-down’ flaming torches on the panels
of coats of arms - what might they symbolise? Delving further into the past, Welsh hero Owain
Glyndwr married Margaret Hanmer, at St Chad’s in about 1380. Owain was to lead a revolt against the English but his resting place remains a mystery.

An interesting historical grave is that of Luke Lloyd who died on
31st March 1695 aged 87. He was an officer in Cromwell’s
army and an ancestor of the Baron Kenyons of Gredington.

Knocked down in around 1642, during the Civil War,
this weathered ancient preaching cross depicts
St Chad. It was reinstated in 1739, when a parish
record accounts for ‘setting ye cross right’.

Look out for...

	Sundials in the South churchyard.		Cast iron plates - memorials popular in late Victorian times.
	Two war graves of Royal Artillery soldiers from World War I.		Water birds such as the Great Crested Grebe visiting from the mere.
	Butterflies such as the Peacock attracted by a controlled nettle patch.

Hanmer Churchyard Trail, Movie: Part 1

Hanmer Churchyard Trail, Movie: Part 2

St Chad’s Churchyard, Hanmer Management Plan - click here

St Chad's Hanmer, Churchyard Tour - click here