Farmers and Landowners
The Seabrook, Gray, Yull, Moss, Hunsdon and Ford families all have large table tombs, reflecting their wealth and importance. These memorials were once adorned with decorative iron railings, popular in the 19th century, but removed to help with the war effort in the early 1940s. The damage caused by their removal can still be seen.
Other farmers represented are the Boulton, Kittle and Bailes families. The tomb of Silena Coppen states that she was the wife of a cattle salesman, further evidence of rural Dagenham.
There are approximately 24 "bottle tombs" - a large number for the size of the churchyard. Grave robbing was common in the Barking and Dagenham area in the 1820s and 30s and these tombs were designed to deter such activities!
The monument to PC George Clark is a reminder of Dagenham’s most notorious unsolved mystery. Memorials to Thomas Cutler the first Head Teacher of William Ford's School, William Bennett, the drunken miller of Beacontree Heath who crossed the newly opened Liverpool Street to Southend railway line with fatal consequences, can be found. So too can that of James Palmer, sexton and clerk to the parish, who was buried alive by the grave he was digging falling in on top of him!
Several vicars of the parish are interred close to the church building, including the Rev Horace Siviter after whom Siviter Way is named.
Service graves from both World Wars are dotted throughout the area - one serviceman killed just days before the Armistice, another only 17 years old. Sadly there are several tombs of children and teenagers. Three very young children killed in a barn fire, just yards from the church, as a result of playing with matches is probably the most poignant. Disease, accident and murder being the cause of death of others.
The memorial to Mr and Mrs George Carey, ex churchwarden, members of the congregation and parents of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury is close to that of PC George Clark.
For many generations large quantities of flowers and greenery have been grown to decorate the church and to make garlands for festivals. The “greenery” is still used at Christmas, Mothering Sunday, Easter and Harvest and to supplement flower arrangements.
The avenue of lime trees (not including the interloping sycamore) was donated by the Seabrook family in 1876. It was quite usual to plant trees in 12s to represent the Apostles. Elms were grown for church repairs and to raise cash. The last remaining elm in Church Elm Lane fell prey to Dutch Elm disease in 1974.
Examples of the three main types of rock, ie igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary, from all over the country can be found amongst the tombstones in the older part of the churchyard. Weathering in varying degrees is evident and in some cases has exposed fossils.
The churchyard is a green oasis in the village area and is appreciated by resident and visitors alike but it is much, much more.