STOCKTON CHURCHYARD - BACKGROUND TO MAPPING EXERCISE 2019.

A mapping exercise was carried out in 1986 under the auspices of the Federation of Family History Societies who had a long term plan to record all monumental inscriptions in all the churchyards throughout the country.   This was undertaken locally by seven volunteers who produced a plan of the churchyard, broken into four zones. Within each of these zones the inscriptions on the memorials were recorded. Over the years since several people have also recorded the details of the memorials.

When the exercise was repeated in 2019 it was apparent that there had been significant deterioration in the state of some gravestones and the inscriptions were barely, or totally illegible. However due to the quality of the original research and with a bit of luck and inspired guesswork several of the illegible memorials can be tied to a particular inscription.

Some of the headstones, possibly from older, collapsed graves, have been moved  and are leaning against the churchyard wall on the east side. There is also a small pile of broken headstones against this wall.

The earliest inscription found is to the memory of Margaret Russell, buried on 17th April 1567.

Notable inscriptions are for several Rectors or Methodist Ministers - William Bentley, Alfred George Hicks, James Mules, Charles Lewes Edward Parker and Charles Pilkington. There are three men who have been awarded the MBE - Charles Edward Gardner, Sidney James Way and William Arthur Weaver. The names of three soldiers who died in the two World Wars are commemorated  on their family graves - Dennis Wall, Edward Burden and Peter Henry Taylor

There is also a Roll of Honour in the east wing of the church that records the names of the men who served in World Wars I  and II and also highlights those who died in the service of their country.

There are several Grade II Listed chest tombs or headstones  - D3,D4, D5, C 83, C84, C85.