Coxhoe Parish Council Supports Formal Partial Closure of St Mary’s and Quarrington Hill Churchyards

Coxhoe Parish Council is supporting formal partial closure of both St Mary’s Churchyard, Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill Churchyard. The legal responsibility for these Churchyards rests with the Parochial Church Councils, not with Coxhoe Parish Council (CPC).

For many years, it was understood that part of St Mary’s Churchyard, Coxhoe had already been formally closed to new burials. In fact, Durham County Council has maintained this area for at least 45 years, operating under the assumption that the churchyard was officially closed. However, it has recently come to light that the “closed” section of St Mary’s was never formally closed in law. To correct this, the Coxhoe Parochial Church Council has now submitted a formal notice to initiate the closure process.

Quarrington Hill Churchyard is under review by the Cassop-cum-Quarrington with Bowburn Parochial Church Council (PCC), with involvement from our MP Alan Strickland, Durham County Council (DCC), the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and, Coxhoe Parish Council (who are supporting partial closure of the old part of that churchyard). Before partial closure can be approved, the land must be brought up to an acceptable standard and CPC, the PCC, DCC, The War Graves Commission, and MP Alan Strickland, are working together to reach a manageable solution. We all hope to secure better long term maintenance.

Parish Council’s Position

Coxhoe Parish Council is fully supportive of the partial closure application for St Mary’s Churchyard, and any future partial closure application for Quarrington Hill Churchyard. We recognise the importance of maintaining these sacred and historic spaces for the community and for future generations.

We will continue to keep residents informed as the process moves forward.