News RSS Feed


Fluoride debate Tweet with the Daily Echo Financial Crisis Ford's Future in Southampton


Little Britain star joins church fight

6:35am Friday 4th July 2008

comment Comments (17)   Have your say »

Photograph of the Author By Chris Yandell »

ONE of Britain's best-known actors is backing the campaign against plans to concrete over graves at a Hampshire church.

Little Britain star Anthony Head, who also starred in cult US series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, will accompany his elderly father to an ecclesiastical court hearing that will decide if the proposals should go ahead.

The row centres on plans to build a chapel over five graves at St John the Baptist Church, Burley.

One of the graves is that of Mr Head's grandmother, Peggy Grant, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1922 when her husband was on military duty in Ireland.

The vicar, the Rev Diane Webster, said the church looked at various possibilities but the plan being put forward was the only suitable solution.

She added: "Although some headstones will have to be moved the graves themselves will not be interfered with."

Mrs Webster said St John's was "very distressed" about the bad feeling the scheme had caused, adding that it had not been church's intention to cause upset.

Objectors claim that the chapel should be built at the back of the church on a site currently occupied by a storage shed.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourEcho

ha ha ha, says...
9:48am Fri 4 Jul 08

so let's get this striaght - he wants them to GRANT permission to leave Peggy's HEADstone standing?!?

Report this post »

Mrs. De Pointe, says...
10:47am Fri 4 Jul 08

The vicar, the Rev Diane Webster

That's a strange name for a vicar, I bet he had his leg pulled at school.

Report this post »

Mental Mickey, Tatchbury says...
11:16am Fri 4 Jul 08

Why not pull the whole lot down and build a mosque? That's that one sorted. Next.......

Report this post »

George, says...
11:21am Fri 4 Jul 08

One of Britain's best-known actors, apparently. So why refer to him as the star of a moronic sketch show he ought to be ashamed of? Even "former coffee salesman" would have been preferable

Report this post »

Churchgoer, says...
12:24pm Fri 4 Jul 08

And then people say that churchgoing is declining! Here’s a church trying to accommodate a congregation in the 21st century and having to jump through innumerable hoops to do so.

Report this post »

hulla, baloo says...
12:31pm Fri 4 Jul 08

"She added: "Although some headstones will have to be moved the graves themselves will not be interfered with."

What is the point of one without the other?
The idea of a headstone is to identify where the grave is, and to whomit belongs to.

Report this post »

Ian, Bishops Waltham says...
12:34pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Traditionally it has been considered an honour to be buried within the church or chapel - think of all the kings buried in Westminster Abbey. Why is it so difficult to accept the building of a chapel over the grave instead? The result is the same! I'm sure the headstone could be placed within the new building, even over the grave if it's suitable. Otherwise a new stone could be laid. They did the same in Shedfield. I suggest Anthony Head and the other concerned people pay a visit and speak to relatives who were similarly affected. It may rest their minds.

Report this post »

southy, redbridge says...
1:14pm Fri 4 Jul 08

will they call it the dead centre chapple

Report this post »

Andy, Locks heath says...
1:33pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Churchgoer wrote:
And then people say that churchgoing is declining! Here’s a church trying to accommodate a congregation in the 21st century and having to jump through innumerable hoops to do so.
I think what is declining is traditional high church anglicanism. Unfortunately it is being replaced by grinning, vapid, brainless, moronic, swaying, hugging, arm waving hapopy clappy "Jesus is my best mate" Community born again baptist airheads who like nothing better than joining in the lame chorus of some inane dull christian God-rock-hymns while raising their hands upwards like toddlers wanting to picked up by their parents.......
Other than that they're all great.

Report this post »

southy, redbridge says...
2:28pm Fri 4 Jul 08

the real truth about religion is that its on the decline,even the muslims will feel it with the next generation

Report this post »

Osama Bin Laden, A Cave far far away says...
3:19pm Fri 4 Jul 08

I would be a bit upset if I went to this 'fight' and saw a female vicar and a Nobody of an actor

Report this post »

WUM, says...
4:55pm Fri 4 Jul 08

southy wrote:
will they call it the dead centre chapple
No. Largely because 'chapple' is the surname of a Lancastrian cricketer, and 'chapel' (the word I think you are search for, is the name for a place of worship.

But God bless for trying.

Report this post »

southy, redbridge says...
5:04pm Fri 4 Jul 08

ok wum i will not pick the bones over that

Report this post »

WUM, says...
5:26pm Fri 4 Jul 08

southy wrote:
ok wum i will not pick the bones over that
Sorry pal, just picking holes myself, looking for ways to fil in the time before beer o'clock. Nothing better to do than correct people's spelling. I would have been a teacher if it wasn't for my lack of education and dislike of children. The holidays are good though...

Report this post »

Bishop, soton says...
5:54pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Had his leg pulled at school. well it would be hard to pull anything else !

Report this post »

southy, redbridge says...
5:58pm Fri 4 Jul 08

just another grave situation wum

Report this post »

Tombstone, soton says...
7:40pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Here Lies an athiest
All dressed up
and nowhere to go !

Report this post »

Your sayYourEcho

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE Daily Echo account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.




Forgotten your password?

In this section

Essential Links

Sponsored Links



Video News Food & Restaurant Reviews

Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »