Wimbledon church sorry for letting tennis fans park on graves
Vicar of St Mary's church, Wimbledon, the Rev Mary Bide says sorry for charging Wimbledon tennis fans £20 each to park on gravestones
25 June 2009
A WIMBLEDON vicar apologised today after allowing cars to park on top of graves at her church.
Several cars were pictured in the graveyard at St Mary's church in between the tombstones.
The church, in Wimbledon Village, charges £20 for parking spaces to visitors on their way to the championships.
In previous years cars have been restricted to the adjacent field.
A spokesman apologised that the cars were allowed to park in "inappropriate places".
He said: "Over many years, during the Wimbledon Championships, the parish of St Mary's Wimbledon has offered this service to the public.
"Each year three designated charities benefit from some of the money raised by allowing the cars to park and the rest goes towards work within the parish.
"Sadly, this year, some cars were parked in inappropriate places.
"St Mary's is investigating to see how this happened and no further car parking will be allowed in the churchyard.
"The vicar of St Mary's is sorry for any offence that has been caused."
Yesterday the Rev Mary Bide reportedly admitted the graveyard parking looked "odd" but claimed the cars were stationed only in the oldest part of the graveyard which contained remains from the 18th and 19th centuries, whose descendants could not be traced.
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