Pupils from Rushen Primary School and Scoill Phurt le Moirrey, along with their teachers, joined Reverend Joe Heaton at Rushen Churchyard to plant two trees to mark the opening of the new churchyard extension.

The extension to the churchyard at Kirk Christ church was recently completed as well as a new car park.

Kirk Christ is situated in Port St. Mary on Church Road.

It is an impressive parish church with a long history of being a place of prayer and worship.

On Tuesday, the schoolchildren attended to plant the trees in a small grassy area opposite the burial ground.

Reverend Heaton said: ’The children were excited to be taking part in this great occasion, and two holes were dug very enthusiastically.’

The reverend regularly visits Scoill Phurt le Moirrey to speak in assemblies and listen to the children ready.

He and the churchwardens of the parish have been planning this extension for the last four years.

The extension includes a car park that is opposite the parish church and sufficient burial ground for at least 80 to 100 years.

In addition to the two cherry trees that were planted by the primary schools a hawthorn hedge has been planted around its border.

It is hoped that wild flowers will be encouraged to grow in this new churchyard extension; its sixth in the long history of Kirk Christ Church.

The church is currently closed as there are internal renovations taking place, but will be opened towards the end of July.

Church warden and treasurer Gerry Callister said: ’The children all seemed to enjoy it.

’It’s a small triangle-shaped area opposite the burial ground in which the trees will grow, about 10 yards by three yards.

’The extension to the burial ground will be used in the not too distant future. There are plots for burials, ashes and a non-religious space.’

’There are actually five burial areas at the church, two on the church side and three on the school side but all part of the same burial ground.’

There has been a church on the site since at least the 13th century, but in 1773 the church was described as ’tottering and ruinous’, and so the building underwent extensive rebuilding with a new roof put on.

The roof was later replaced in 1935 and practically everyone who worked on the re-roofing was baptised in the church after they took great pride in their work.

Kirk Christ is dedicated to the Holy Trinity as indicated by a tablet above the main door that reads, ’Dedicated to the Holy Trinity Rushen Church, 1775’.

Read more about Kirk Christ church and events there by visiting www.rushenparish.org.uk