Dagenham Village Churchyard facts for kids

A peaceful view of Dagenham Village Churchyard.

Dagenham Village Churchyard, also known as St Peter and St Paul's Churchyard, is a special green space in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It covers about 0.88 hectares, which is a bit less than one football field. This area is officially a Local Nature Reserve, meaning it's protected for its wildlife and natural beauty. The local council owns and looks after this important place.

A Special Place in Dagenham

This churchyard has a very long history! The church itself was built way back in the early 1200s, which is over 800 years ago. People have likely been using the churchyard for burials for just as long.

Remembering History

The churchyard is also a place to remember brave soldiers. It contains the graves of seventeen service personnel from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. These are soldiers who sadly lost their lives during World War I (nine of them) and World War II (eight of them). Their graves help us remember their sacrifice.

From Graveyard to Nature Reserve

In the 1990s, the churchyard stopped being used for new burials. The church and the local council then decided to turn it into a nature reserve. This means they now manage the area to help wildlife thrive.

Home for Wildlife

This nature reserve is super important for many small creatures, especially invertebrates like butterflies and crickets. These tiny animals are a great food source for bats that fly around at night. You might also spot woodpeckers looking for food on the tall lime trees. A family of foxes has even made the churchyard their home!

Visiting the Churchyard

You can visit this peaceful nature reserve by finding it on Church Lane. It's a great spot to enjoy nature and learn about local history.