On This Day in Wembury — 2 October 1946
The Western Morning News reported that Wembury parish had suddenly found itself without a sexton. The man who had long carried out the duties had retired, leaving the parish without anyone to dig graves. At a Parish Council meeting it was noted that, while no blame was placed on the vicar or churchwardens, the situation could not continue. A formal resolution was passed urging the vicar to secure a new sexton as soon as possible.
Reflection:
A village without a sexton was more than just an inconvenience, it touched on deep community anxieties about death, tradition, and continuity. The sexton was not merely a grave-digger but often a custodian of the churchyard, a figure woven into the rhythm of parish life. That Wembury’s council felt compelled to intervene shows how vital this role was to the community’s sense of order. In the broader tapestry of Wembury’s history, it is a reminder of how small, practical gaps in village life could open into matters of dignity, ritual, and care for the dead.
Source: Western Morning News, 2 October 1946.