The Historic Churchyards Group was set up in 2002 to help make the churchyards of Cornwall's central mining villages more easily accessible for research and education.
Rural churchyards are like time capsules that preserve a record of those who have lived and died in the parish. They also provide a refuge untouched by the ravages of development and urban sprawl which is particularly valuable as a habitat for wildlife: from mice to lichens; newts to bluebells; song birds to butterflies.
The churchyards are managed to encourage and enhance this biodiversity whilst at the same time maintaining a respectful degree of formality and order.
The group comprises representatives of the local churches and parish councils together with the aid of local historians, naturalists, and volunteer help, and seeks to research and record details of those at rest in the churchyards before time and nature have their effect on headstones and memories. This website collates the group's work and seeks to entice you to visit these fascinating tributes to our ancestors.
The parishes involved in the scheme are Carharrack, Gwennap, Lanner, St Day and Stithians.
Individuals who have contributed to the project since its inception in 2002 and without whom this site couldn't have been created.
Naomi Belert - Community Regeneration Officer, Kerrier District Council
Cllr James Biscoe - Stithians Parish Council
Tony Garvin - Assistant Field Officer,
Rev Andrew Gough - St
The late Cllr Dick Hancock - Lanner Parish Council
Iewan Harris - Trevithick Trust
Cllr Irvin Herbert - Gwennap Parish Council
Ken Hicks - Church warden, Stithians
Tony Hitchens - Church warden, Gwennap
Rev Martin Hogan - Stithians and
Janet Ivey BA - Local historian
Cllr Mark Kaczmarek -
Cathy Lowe - Regeneration Assistant, Kerrier District Council
Cllr Carl Martin - Carharrack Parish Council
David Menhenitt - ex Clerk Gwennap Parish Council
Cllr Paul Millet - Gwennap Parish Council
The late Cllr Joe Mills - St Day Parish Council
Jon Mitchell - Landscape Architect, Kerrier District Council
Cllr John Newcombe - St Day Parish Council
Kim Pilgrim
Cllr Eric Rabjohn - Carharrack Parish Council
Cllr Paul Richards - Stithians Parish Council
The late Cllr Richard Snell - Gwennap Parish Council
David Stone - Church warden,
Cllr John Thomas MBE - Lanner Parish Council
Cllr Lesley Trotter MA - Local historian and St Day Parish Council
Cllr Ashley Wood - Lanner Parish Council
Joanna Wood MA - Local historian