Burley village protests were led by Buffy actor Anthony Head (From Daily Echo)

Burley village protests were led by Buffy actor Anthony Head

4:47pm Thursday 1st October 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)

By Chris Yandell »

IT was a highly controversial scheme that angered villagers and came under fire from one of Britain’s leading actors.

St John the Baptist Church in Burley found itself at the centre of an unholy row after unveiling plans to build a £110,000 chapel over five of the graves.

Objectors fought the proposal for eight years – but were forced to concede defeat after a church court ruled in favour of the project.

Now members of the congregation are preparing to welcome the Bishop of Winchester, the Right Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, who will consecrate the chapel in a special service that will also mark the church’s 150th anniversary.

Campaigners who fought the scheme included actor Anthony Head, 55, who has appeared in Little Britain, Doctor Who and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

One of the graves affected is that of his grandmother, Peggy Head, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Ireland in 1922.

In July last year Anthony visited the church to attend a consistory court hearing into the chapel plan.

He was accompanied by his father Seafield – Peggy’s son – and his mother, veteran actress Helen Shingler, who appeared in the original Maigret series.

They viewed the grave and inspected a black and yellow tape outlining the position of the proposed chapel.

Anthony said: “Part of our objection is that the chapel bisects the grave. I have no problem with progress but not at the expense of graves.”

The priest-in-charge, the Rev Diane Webster, defended the decision.

She told the court: “We certainly regret it but there are a lot of misunderstandings about graves. They hold human remains but not the essence of the person themselves.”

Protest leader Jeanne Wilde declined to comment on the chapel’s consecration, which takes place on Sunday.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)