Churchyard politics

Published: 11 March 2010

• I HAVE tried for many years to persuade St Pancras Church (the one on Euston Road, supported by the Grecian Ladies), to open its churchyard to the public, as do most churches.
Sadly, over the years, it has covered most of its churchyard grass with gravel and rents it out for car parking. It is now only open to visitors for art exhibitions in its crypt, or to motor vehicles.
The provision of inner-city parking, however convenient for commuting residents, is damnably inconvenient for the rest of us.
The resulting increase in traffic slows down the very vehicles that we most want to move freely, ambulances, police cars, fire-engines and buses. Providing such parking, is frowned on by Camden Council, Transport 2000, and the Mayor of London. It reduces the benefits brought by the congestion charge.
The churchyard is, potentially, a lovely oasis of peace and charm, right in the middle of one of the busiest parts of London. Unlike in other such places, no benches are provided.
Not that they would solve the problem, as the iron gates are locked!
If you complain about this, you are told that it is the responsibility of the local vicar, as the churchyard is owned by a charity (St Pancras Parish Lands).
This shades the fact that the local vicar has a say in the charity’s decisions.
Write to those higher-up the church hierarchy and you either get no answer, or they send your letter to the vicar.
Couldn’t the church be a bit more helpful?
BOB MARCH
Duke’s Road, WC1