Gravestones to be moved at Colchester's Holy Trinity Church

Work to revamp Holy Trinity Church started in March with a view of transforming the disused space into a "green oasis” for residents to enjoy.

Planners overseeing the redevelopment of the historic Grade I listed church in Trinity Street have now applied to Colchester Council’s planning department for permission to reposition 23 headstones as part of the work.

The inscriptions on many of the headstones are illegible, but several of them remain in good condition despite dating back to the 1800s.

Historic - Holy Trinity Church (Image: Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Khil)

One touching inscription reads: “Sacred to the memory of Sophia, wife of Martin Austin, who died June 2, 1844, aged 47 years. Death cannot kill, what never dies.”

Despite the relocation of the headstones, The Gazette has been assured the graves, including that of renowned physician and scientist William Gilberd, will not be disturbed or walked over during the works and following their completion.

What does Colchester Council say?

Colchester Council says it has “actively collaborated” with partners to “revitalise this historically significant but previously unused public space”.

A spokesman said: “With such a long history, we are sensitive to the delicate issue of relocating some headstones to other areas on site to ensure they are safeguarded from being inadvertently walked on.

“We would like to clarify that no graves will be moved during this process. These plans were consulted on in May, and the selected headstones will be repositioned under archaeological supervision to ensure their careful transfer.

“The process will provide an opportunity to repair numerous headstones and chest tombs, preserving our heritage whilst breathing new life into our captivating history.”

What is the history of Holy Trinity Church?

The grounds surrounding the church have become overgrown and some of the trees have fallen into poor condition over the years.

Heritage - graves at Holy Trinity Church (Image: Barbara Butler)

A £1.8million National Lottery Heritage Fund bid made in August could see the building transformed into a community hub run by Colchester-based charity Community360.

The city centre landmark dates back to the 11th century and was used as a popular place of worship until 1954.

It was later resurrected as a vintage arts and crafts centre and community café until it closed to the public in 2017.

Historians believe its square Saxon tower was built more than 1,000 years ago.