The trustees of the Friends of St Nicholas Churchyard met on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to review recent work, plan for the coming months, and look ahead to new projects that will help care for and interpret this historic place at the heart of Sutton.
This short update is for our members and supporters so that you can see how the work of the Friends is progressing and how you can get involved in the months ahead.
Remembering a Friend
The meeting began by noting the sad news of the death of Jean Chappell, one of our members. Trustees expressed their appreciation for her long-standing interest in the work of the Friends and her enthusiasm for the churchyard and its history.
The Friends exist because of people like Jean who care deeply about preserving this place of remembrance and heritage.
Finances and Support
The Friends remains a small but active charity, supported by donations and volunteer effort.
At present, the group holds £763.42 in the bank, with expected costs including insurance and the website that hosts our blog and heritage material.
We were also grateful to receive an anonymous donation of £130, which will support our work this year.
Our annual accounts for 2025 were approved by the trustees and will be presented to members at the Annual General Meeting in April.
Improving Interpretation and Signage
One of the practical priorities for the Friends is helping visitors understand the history and nature of the churchyard.
A new A-frame information board has now been purchased. This will allow us to display notices about events, heritage activities and conservation work.
Trustees also discussed longer-term interpretation panels explaining how the churchyard is managed. These will likely be produced as flexible vinyl banners so that they can easily be attached to future boundary fencing once improvement works are complete.
New Heritage Banners
Exciting news came from Team Imagineers, who have secured £500 from Tesco to support the creation of banners for the churchy.
The trustees agreed that the Friends will match this funding with £500, and we will also ask the PCC to contribute.
The Old Rectory Eagles
The display of the Old Rectory Eagles inside St Nicholas Church has proved extremely popular with visitors. Insurance for the display is currently secured until May 2026.
Discussions are also underway with Sutton Council about a possible exhibition explaining the historical figures behind the names of the new Beech Tree Place buildings. This would help connect new residents with the deep history of the area.
Major Boundary Improvements
One of the most significant developments concerns the boundaries of the churchyard.
Following a public consultation, the council has secured £27,000 from the Neighbourhood Fund to carry out repairs and improvements.
Three related faculty applications are currently progressing through the Church of England approval process. If approved, the works will create a more consistent and historically appropriate boundary for the churchyard while respecting the importance of the Grade II listed church and the listed monuments within the site.
This work will greatly improve the appearance and protection of the churchyard.
Caring for the Churchyard
Much of the care for the churchyard depends on volunteers and partnerships with local schools and organisations.
The trustees recorded their thanks to:
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Greenholm School students and staff
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Orchard Hill College students
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Members of St Nicholas Church
for their help with keeping the churchyard tidy and welcoming.
Later in March, Beavers and Cubs will also take part in litter picking as part of the Great British Spring Clean.
The Adopt-a-Grave Scheme
Last autumn, students from Greenholm School cleared and planted four graves with spring bulbs, bringing colour back to parts of the churchyard.
The Friends hopes to expand this Adopt-a-Grave scheme, encouraging more planting of suitable small perennials that will enhance the churchyard without becoming difficult to manage.
Members of the congregation and the local community will be invited to donate appropriate plants.
There is also interest in inviting residents of the nearby Beech Tree Place development to take part.
Events in the Year Ahead
The trustees reviewed a number of upcoming activities that will bring people into the churchyard and celebrate its heritage.
Key dates include:
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28 March – Support for Church Cleaning and Maintenance Day
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4 April – Easter Egg Hunt and Heritage Open Day
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4 July – Family Fun Day in the Churchyard
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August – Gibson Tomb inspection
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September – Heritage Open Days
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5 December (proposed) – Blessing of the Pumps
These events combine heritage, community activity and practical care for the site.
Thank You
The churchyard of St Nicholas is one of Sutton's oldest and most significant historic places. The work of the Friends helps ensure that it remains a place of remembrance, heritage, wildlife and community life.
Thank you to everyone who volunteers, donates, or simply takes time to enjoy the churchyard.
We look forward to seeing many of you this spring and summer as the flowers begin to appear and the churchyard comes alive again.