THERE is uproar in a village near Crediton where a bonfire has been lit on top of graves and builders debris piled high.

Yeoford Gospel Hall was sold in July 2022 and a planning application was approved by Mid Devon District Council for it to be converted into a two-bedroomed house with parking opposite for three cars who go along to visit relatives buried in the chapel graveyard.

Sandra Thomas (nee Hawkins) told the “Courier”: “Since you reported in the Courier, the concerns voiced (actually by many not just two, in July 2022) about the planning application for Yeoford chapel, the fears have now come true.

“I went there on Saturday, August 24, and found builders debris piled high on the graves and a large charred patch where there had been a big bonfire over several of the graves.

“It must be noted that all of the ground at the chapel contains graves with no garden space.

“I have consulted an expert and these are classified as active graves in which there have been burials in the last 40 years.

“Those people buried have relatives and friends still alive who are hurt and outraged by what, to them, is incredible disrespect to the dead, revealing a complete lack of human decency.

“Although the chapel closed because of low membership this doesn’t mean that local people don’t care about it.

“Indeed, when it closed I wrote an article for the ‘Yeoford Voice’ and an amazing number of readers told me how moved they were by my memories which touched a cord with them.”

Sandra added that human decency and respect was being ignored and called it “appalling”.

It was in 2022 that the planning application from Dr John Shelley of Shobrooke Park was submitted to Mid Devon District Council for change of use from chapel to a single dwelling for Yeoford Gospel Hall.  The site measures 0.10 hectare.

In comments about the plan in 2022, Dr Julia Hawkins of Stockport said she has two grandparents, four great grandparents and numerous other members of her extended family buried there and that she, her sisters and mother regularly visit the chapel to tend those graves.

She adds that other graves showed evidence of recent visitors.  Although she supported the efforts to find a new use for the building to prevent it falling into decay, she was concerned that there was no mention of the graveyard in the plans.

She was concerned if the gravestones were removed without proper documentation of the grave sites being noted for any future building or buyers of the property.

In her comments Sandra Thomas asked if headstones were still going to be moved to the adjacent graveyard, respecting family groups, as she had previously been told would happen.

She also wanted to know what restrictions might be placed on the land where the graves are which, she felt, was sacred ground.

Provided there were “cast iron” safeguards for the graves, she supported plans to find a new use for the building.