A grave blunder?
CHURCH’S BOUNCY CASTLE SPARKS A COMPLAINT
A MAN has hit out after a churchyard where several members of his family are buried was filled with inflatables and used for a fun day.
Paul Hayden said he was horrified when he drove past the Holy Trinity Church in Pelton, near Chester-leStreet, and saw inflatables in the church yard on Sunday.
The 40-year-old care assistant said though he knew the fun day was taking place he was stunned to see such a figure of fun metres from the resting place of his loved ones.
He added: “I have got loved ones who are buried there, my father and my sister and my grandparents. It is disrespectful.
“It’s a place of rest, a place for people’s loved ones not a fair ground.
“How on earth they thought this would OK, I don’t know.”
Paul now lives in Teams, Gateshead but he grew up in Pelton and still visits the churchyard to pay respects to his relatives.
He said: “Everyone I have spoken to has said the same thing, it is so disrespectful. I just can’t believe it.”
However, vicar at Holy Trinity the Rev John Lintern, stressed the bouncy castle was not in the graveyard and did not infringe on any graves.
He added: “There was a bouncy castle at the family fun day yesterday but it was not in the graveyard it was the churchyard and there have not been any recorded burials there.
“It is where the drainage system for the church is.”