Dissenters Graveyard wins Lottery support

Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust (EDGT) has received £60,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, Phase 2 of the restoration of the Dissenters Graveyard in Magdalen Street, Exeter.

This phase, which starts in late May, will continue the process of rescuing the graveyard from dereliction.

Led by volunteers from the local community, the project will repair gravestones and monuments, install wrought iron gates, put railings on the side with a sheer drop, repair and re-point walls, and remove intrusive and damaging tree stumps.

Volunteers will carry out much of the work, with the initial training and expert supervision we can provide, and we would welcome anyone wanting to join our numbers. Where professional work is required we would like to appoint contractors who employ apprentices and again would welcome approaches from such contractors.

Dissenters were those Protestants who, from their convictions about doctrine and practice, were unable to find a place in the Church of England. The rule which forbade them burial in C of E churchyards became strictly enforced in mid-18th century Exeter, necessitating the founding of the Dissenters Graveyard in 1747. At least 1,300 burials took place before usage ceased in 1854.

There were some barriers to Dissenters entering the traditional professions, so they tended towards skilled trades, commerce, industry and science. So they contributed significantly to the Industrial Revolution and to scientific development. By their insistence on freedom of thought, expression and belief they played a major part in establishing the freedoms we have today. In the early 19th century Dissenters made up nearly 40% of the Protestant population of Exeter.

EDGT was founded to take over the Dissenters Graveyard and restore it.

Commenting on the award Claire Rudkins, EDGT's press officer said: “We are delighted to receive this HLF award which will enable us to secure the long term future of the Graveyard by repairing the monuments and walls.

"We look forward to showing the public the results of our work at our open days on 27 June and 11 and 12 September.