History - Churchyard
Since 1405 there has been a churchyard at St. Michael and All Angels’ Church. A lot of the early graves were either unmarked or made only by wood and only a few memorials survive before 1800. It was used by the chaplains of the RMA from when it opened in 1812 until 1851 (when St. Michael’s Yorktown opened)
The churchyard contains a veteran yew tree which is very likely an early boundary marker of the churchyard. The south gate of the churchyard is now the normal entrance. The Lych gates are no longer able to be used for their original purpose as there is now the main road which prohibits parking of funeral cars.
While everyone buried in the churchyard is important to God, here are some details about gravestones and memorials that may be of interest to more people.
General Cox, the last keeper of Bigshot Rails, who died in 1788;
Right Revd John Fielder Mackarness, Bishop of Oxford, who died in 1889.
Baroness Ystwyth (died 1924) and Lady Macnaghten (died 1948),
There is also a memorial to Captain T.A. Blakely (died 1868), a gun which he designed being shown on its side.
The churchyard contains a veteran yew tree which is very likely an early boundary marker of the churchyard. The south gate of the churchyard is now the normal entrance. The Lych gates are no longer able to be used for their original purpose as there is now the main road which prohibits parking of funeral cars.
While everyone buried in the churchyard is important to God, here are some details about gravestones and memorials that may be of interest to more people.
General Cox, the last keeper of Bigshot Rails, who died in 1788;
Right Revd John Fielder Mackarness, Bishop of Oxford, who died in 1889.
Baroness Ystwyth (died 1924) and Lady Macnaghten (died 1948),
There is also a memorial to Captain T.A. Blakely (died 1868), a gun which he designed being shown on its side.
War Graves
There are two First World War graves in our churchyard.
There are four Second World War graves in our churchyard.
- Sergeant Arthur Hodge (Muggeridge) Arthur Muggeridge was born on the 3rd June 1885 in Surrey. Arthur was illegitimate and his father is unknown. His step-father was called Walter Hodge. Arthur had three half-siblings, Walter Hodge, Dorothy Hodge and George Hodge. Arthur enlisted on 19th February 1908 to the 8th Royal Garrison Artillery and he became a gunner. At the time of his enlistment Arthur resided in Sandhurst and was working as a labourer. Arthur served in Hong Kong as well as various English basis. Arthur died on 8th February 1915 from Acute Bronchitis (he caught Catarrhal Bronchitis while serving in Hong Kong). At the time of Arthur’s death, his mother lived at Oak Cottage Laundry, Sandhurst. Arthur’s brother Dick Hodge went on to start Hodge’s Coaches.
- Sergeant Ernest Seymour Nash Ernest Nash served in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and died on 4th January 191 age 27. He was married to Jessie L. R. Nash who lived in Folkestone.
There are four Second World War graves in our churchyard.
- Sergeant Robert Samuel Cashmore
- Sapper Alexander Robert Fowler
- Leading Aircraftwoman Josephine Cynthia Mary James
- Aircraftman 1st Class Sidney Herbert Rance