Context
The Church has faced issues regarding Thomas Bell's burial and the subsequent errors in grave location. The family was unaware for 17 years due to record-keeping failures.
Question
What progress the Church has made on the review of lessons learned at Holy Trinity Church, Wingate. May I place on record my thanks to the hon. Member for his assistance with this matter during the recess? I can report to the House that Thomas Bell's coffin has been located, and that his late wife Hilda was buried with him after a heartbreaking eight-week delay. Appallingly, however, for 7 years the family—who were my constituents—unknowingly attended the wrong grave, and in the process of locating Mr Bell's coffin several other errors were identified. Does the hon. Member agree that we need to improve burial records, with digital copies, introduce a new process for marking plots after burial, and draw up rules for the orderly organisation of plots in churchyards?
Answer from Andrew Selous
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: record-keeping is incredibly important. The Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 clearly states that records should be kept in fireproof places, and the hon. Gentleman's point about digital copies was also well made. The lessons learned inquiry will focus on best practice for all parishes.
Not addressed: Specifics of a new process for marking plots after burial and rules for orderly organisation of plots in churchyards were not addressed.
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