Parish hopeful over final wish of Mrs Horrocks (From Northwich Guardian)

We hope Mrs Horrocks can finally be buried in the churchyard at St Helen’s Witton

7:10am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Your Letters

THANK you for drawing readers’ attention to the difficult and painful situation faced by the family of Alice Horrocks (Northwich Guardian, page 7, January 18).

Mrs Horrocks died just before Christmas and had expressed her wish to be buried with her husband Harry, who died in 1967 and is buried in the churchyard at St Helen’s Witton.

The churchyard was closed for new burials in 2003 by an Order in Council made pursuant to an Act of Parliament. This is a legal matter, and the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.

Unfortunately, neither the parish nor the Diocese of Chester has the authority simply to override this. But we are very sympathetic to Mrs Horrocks’s family and those close to her.

When people close to her first made us aware of their concerns, we approached the Ministry of Justice seeking permission to allow Mrs Horrocks to be buried at St Helen’s.

That was done while the parish was without a vicar. I only arrived in my post a couple of weeks ago (January 15).

However, we are all now awaiting a ruling from the ministry and I hope that the matter can be resolved quickly so that Mrs Horrocks’s wish can be fulfilled.

REV ALISON HARRIS Church Road, Northwich