Originally the churchyard was just the area immediately surrounding the church. However, because of the growing population of the new parish, this was found to be too small so in 1882 the vicar of Hampton gave an acre of land next to the church in Park Road to be used as the parish burial ground. Thus the churchyard now covers an area of approximately 1.6 acres and contains about 1200 known graves. The older part of the churchyard has many fine rare trees. The War Memorial, listed Grade 2 in 2015, was erected in 1920 and near it are the Canadian war graves, needed when the Canadian Military Hospital was situated in Bushy Park during the 1914-1918 war. The lych gate formerly stood nearer St James's Road but was moved to its present site in the early 1900s.
The original plan of the churchyard was drawn up in the 1960s when there were appointed Guardians of the Churchyard. In 1988 a Working Party correlated the information in the five Burial Registers with the actual graves and gave each grave a number. Computerised plans of the churchyard were produced. A booklet 'Churchyard Records 1864-2000' was completed in February 2001 containing complete listings of all burials and interments since the foundation of the church. In the early millennium these records were put into an online searchable database on the church website, Churchyard Records - search by surname or year.
Since 1992, the churchyard has been closed for burials except for reserved places in existing plots, though the interment of ashes is permissible. The maintenance of the churchyard is now the responsibility of the Local Authority.
The Churchyard through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
The churchyard was, and still is, enjoyed for its tranquillity and wildlife, trees and seats, the area now being maintained by the local council. Supplementing their work is a growing team of enthusiasts who meet to plant up flower beds and shrubberies, tend the smaller trees and plants and care for the overall environment.
An environmental initiative was re-launched at St James's Church in 2017. Eco-Church encouraged us to think about five different areas of church life where ‘green living’ can be improved, including our worship, management of buildings and land, our lifestyles and contact with local and wider communities. The award has three levels: bronze, silver and gold. We met with the contractors who maintained the churchyard and with Richmond council’s ecology officer to help us enrich the area for wildlife among other things.
In 2018 a new bench was installed near the South Porch. Made of beech wood, it was given to us by the local council after they had to fell our copper beech, on the corner of St James's Road and Park Road, as it had become infected by a type of white rot making it unsafe.
Preparation for the churchyard wildflower meadow and the new garden area on the corner of Park Road and St James’s Road was started by the Gardening Club which was inaugurated on 18 November the previous year. Beyond the war memorial the ground was rotovated and a wildflower meadow sown. It formed part of a major project to increase the ecosystem to support and encourage wildlife. The 3rd Hampton Cubs came out in force to help create a mini-meadow and homes for bees. Early results saw an increase in bees and butterflies and, for the first time, juvenile crickets.
Early in 2019 our Gardening Team completed the next stage in the garden development at the front of church. Fifty native shrubs were planted to create a mixed hedge alongside the wall and railings. They were provided free as part of the Mayor of London’s tree and shrub-planting initiative. During the work a large stag beetle grub was accidentally dug up and rehoused. Then the flower beds using plants donated by the congregation were made. The turf was laid, a bench installed and stepping stones were used to create a pathway.
In 2021 the church was given the Bronze Eco Church Award in recognition of the work that was done over several years to foster an awareness of the need to Care for Creation and take practical steps in sustainability. As part of the ‘land’ element of the scheme we considered the management and use of the churchyard. In June, as part of the national Churches Count on Nature week, we encouraged people to spend time here to ‘spot’ wildlife. As well as church members and the public, spotters included Scouts, Brownies, Hampton Hill Nursery and Hampton Hill Juniors. Some 94 different species were identified and logged with the national database.
The PCC agreed to match donations for a new covered cycle shelter which was installed in 2022. This would improve ease of cycle parking and security enormously. Then in 2023 the Great Big Green Saturday was held in June. Different events were held, including a walking tour of the churchyard introducing the wildlife. A base for the new bench that the Brunt family donatied as part of the re-configuration of the Garden of Rest was installed. The area was reshaped to incorporate an existing rose garden. A new development in 2025 was the hosting of the first Hampton Hill Climate Chat at the end of April, which was attended by many people from the community.
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A sad farewell to the beech tree |
The churchyard in 1909 |
The garden made in 2019 |