St. Margaret's, West  Hoathly

 Churchyard

St Margaret's Churchyard at West Hoathly is remarkable for the quantity, quality and variety of the surviving memorials. This was  recognised by a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which had made it possible to restore many of the box tombs during 1996 and 1997.

A debt of gratitude is due to the Friends of the Churchyard Trust, a long-established, independent local trust which supports improvement projects in the churchyard each year through the interest received on its captial funds. Donations to support the work of the Trust are warmly welcomed and should be addressed to the Friends of the Churchyard Trust, c/o The Vicarage, West Hoathly, West Sussex, RH19 4QF. The grass, hedges, shrubs and trees of the churchyard are maintained and cared through the year by the PCC, who employs a skilled local gardener.

Those of us at St. Margaret's believe the churchyard has one of the best views in Sussex. Walk down to the viewpoint, kindly created in memory of a parishioner, to enjoy the magnificent view over the valleys of the River Ouse towards Lewes and the South Downs. Throughout the churchyard you will notice the variety of tombstones, each reflecting something of the attitude of their time to life and death, as well as reminding us of parishioners who played their part in village life in years gone by.  The older tombs show the 

individual interpretationA list of more than 100 trees, ferns and other plants found growing in the churchyard has been compiled.  Many of these plants are important in the lifecycle of various animals and insects who live there.  Over 55 different sorts of birds and 26 varieties of butterflies have been observed in the vicinity. The churchyard is still in use and is regularly visited by many relatives and people from the community. 

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