Peace Garden
Holy Trinity Church in Newtown has provided a Peace Garden for the interment of cremated remains. We are pleased to make this facility available to all people having a connection with the Parishes of Newtown or Soberton, as well as those living in the area or further afield.
Newtown is positioned in the Meon Valley on the edge of the Forest of Bere and the South Downs National Park – an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The Peace Garden is the result of many years of work by the parishioners and Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Holy Trinity to create a special place in the Church Meadow where villagers, and others, are able to inter and visit the cremated remains of their loved ones. Parishioners have kindly donated seats which have been placed within the Peace Garden for relatives who wish to enjoy the peace and tranquillity that is found in the Peace Garden and Churchyard
You can indicate your preference for any available plot, or plots, within the Peace Garden in advance or upon the death of loved ones. The pre-laid grey granite plaques are all of a standard size on which wording, as agreed, will be engraved when an interment is to be made. Plaques may be pre-purchased.
Generally, each plot will be used for the interment of a single set of remains. However, at the discretion of the PCC, multiple interments of cremated remains may take place within a single plot.
You are welcome to visit Holy Trinity at any time, as the Peace Garden never closes.
If you wish to find out more about the Peace Garden, please contact Francis Wells – Telephone: 01329 834 130, E-mail: fwwells@meonwood.co.uk
Garden of Healing
HISTORY of the CHURCH MEADOW at HOLY TRINITY, NEWTOWN
Some time in the 1970s, the Church Meadow was acquired by the Church, and then rented out as a pony paddock. This arrangement lapsed after some years and brambles spread across the field. The meadow was later cleared and left as a grass field.
In the meantime, the Garden of Remembrance (as it was called) on the South East corner of the Church had filled up, and it was necessary to find another area for the burial of ashes.
It was then decided to create a Peace Garden at the top of the Church Meadow to accommodate the burial of ashes in 2007.
Based on a design provided by Alistair Hunt (our then Church Architect), the Peace Garden was created, and a Deer Fence was erected around the whole Churchyard and Meadow. The Peace Garden was consecrated by Bishop Godfrey on 27th June 2010.
Some years passed, and both the current Churchwardens happened to be attending a deanery function in Fareham, when everyone was required to break up into groups to discuss the dreaded whatever. While we discussed the problems of our parish, the person behind mentioned “the Quiet Garden Movement “. It has transpired that he was Geoffrey, a retired Bishop.
Time passed, and Canon Nick Fennemore was appointed as Interim Priest in 2017 and suggested that a Garden of Healing be created below the Peace Garden. While Canon Fennemore moved onto Winchester in 2018, his idea was implemented in 2019. All the problems re design, shape and construction seemed to dissolve, and the Garden of Healing is now visible on Google Map in the shape of the Cross.
At the same time, the dew pond at the bottom of the meadow was dug out and puddle lined, with trees being planted in the last two years.
The Church has also joined the Quiet Garden Movement, being the first Church (I believe) in the Portsmouth Diocese.
The Church also has obtained a faculty to install disabled loo facilities at the back of the Church and to improve the disabled access into the Church. Once this has been done, we hope to welcome people to enjoy the peace and quietness of our Church and its surroundings.
During Spring and Summer, we hope that other Churches may come to use Holy Trinity as an away day place for quiet and reflection.
Hopefully much can still be done to develop and improve the Church Meadow. We also need to sort out the car parking and engage with the school just below us more effectively.
For more information please contact:
Francis Wells – Telephone: 01329 834 130; E-mail: fwwells@meonwood.co.uk