MORE residents of an Exmoor village may be able to be buried in their local churchyard when they die, after land was gifted for an extension.

The graveyard of All Saints Church, Wootton Courtenay, has been filling up over the past six centuries and churchwarden Amanda Elliott said there was now ‘very little space remaining’ for burials.

But, Ms Elliott said a benefactor had gifted land immediately behind the churchyard to allow for an extension to provide more burial plots.

Ms Elliott said: “We feel this extension will benefit villagers today and for a number of generations to come who would like to be buried here on Exmoor among its green rolling hills.

“The benefactor has also offered to enclose the extension, in keeping with the current walls.”

Access would be via a gate in the churchyard’s back wall and there were plans to plant some trees in the steepest part of the extension land and perhaps provide a small memorial garden.

Ms Elliott said: “We are also thinking of placing a bench there to enable people to enjoy the wonderful view over the top of the church and across the valley.

“Plaques for the burial of ashes will still be accommodated on the wall at the rear of the churchyard, with space for further plaques on the other side of the wall.”

Ms Elliott said she and retired bishop Brian Castle, who lives in the village, were working on the process of obtaining permission from the Bath and Wells Diocese, and planning consent from Exmoor National Park Authority for change of use of the land from pasture to graveyard.

She said: “We are still in the planning stages.

“There are a number of formal steps still to be taken.

“If everything comes together, we hope to have the ceremony of consecration in the summer of next year.”