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Most people wouldn’t look at a graveyard and see an opportunity. Matt Davis, the Reverend of St David’s Church in Rhymney, is not like most people.
“It’s a graveyard and usually the purview of people who want to drink and who are teenagers or goths,” Matt said as he walked across the damp autumn leaves and through the overgrown plants and trees.
“We’re looking into turning the graveyard into a reserve,” he added. “A bit of a community space.”
He’s already taken the first step. In fact, when Caerphilly Observer met him, he was walking on it – the War Graves Trail – and, he had the right footwear.
“It’s a trail rather than a path, that’s the key,” he joked of the wild, wet surroundings where, over Remembrance weekend, laminated signs were put up next to the war graves.
They provide information about the person who is buried there, such as name, date of death and service number.
“One of our church community members, Nicole, has produced these for us,” Matt said, referring to the A4 paper in front of him that details the life of J Barter – son of William and Annie Barter from Rhymney – who died at the age of 21 in March 1920.
What is a War Grave?
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission people qualify for a Commonwealth War Grave if served as part of the Commonwealth military or auxiliary forces who lost their lives during the official dates of World War One (August 4, 1914, to August 31,1921) and World War Two (September 3,1939, to December 31, 1947).
Those who died after discharge may qualify if their death was a direct result of their war service.
The graveyard has four war graves out of the 29 that can be found in Rhymney, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). These graves commemorate people who fought in the First and Second World Wars and there are more than a million across the world in total.
They are easily identifiable among the rows of moss-ridden headstones because of their bright marble-like colour, but they are a bit hard to reach.
“We’re looking at making it a bit more accessible,” said Matt who is aiming to secure funding to add permanent signage and chippings that will guide walkers along the route. But that’s just the beginning of a larger plan.
“It’s not just the war graves, we have a lot of famous Rhymney people around as well. There’s a history here that you don’t necessarily know.”
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There are people at the site such as Andrew Buchan, the original manager of Rhymney brewery who is buried under the church alongside his family as well as a ‘bone setter’, which was a form of joint manipulation used in the past.
Matt wants to make the space work for people but also for nature.
He said: “Part of what we’re looking to do is manage this well for nature with bug hotels, hedgehogs hotels all that sort of stuff. From the church’s perspective, it’s looking after God’s creation.”
Ultimately it’s all connected: the building, the space, and the community. “It’s a lovely building. It’s a lovely graveyard, and it’s a beautiful space that we want people to be using,” Matt said.
“We’re looking to just get to know the community, as well,” Matt added. As he headed back to the church doors to set up for the after-school club for children in the area two passers-by catch his eye.
“Hello,” he says, waving as they carry on down the High Street out of view.
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