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The churchyard
St Mary Magdalen's has a charming churchyard behind the church, which you are welcome to come and explore. It is usually open between 9.00a.m. and 5.00p.m. every day, but it is a good idea to ring to confirm opening times.
Several well-known people are buried in the churchyard , including John Francis Bentley, the architect of Westminster Cathedral, Wilfred Stokes, the inventor of the Stokes mortar used in the First World War, Scott Naysmith, the first Catholic Inspector of Schools and the Prince of Paris, pretender To the French throne, and his mother.
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The tomb of Sir Richard Burton |
The most interesting tomb in St. Mary Magdalen's churchyard is the mausoleum of Sir Richard Burton and his wife Isabel Arundell, which is built in the shape of an Arab tent. You can climb a ladder at the back of the tomb to see the coffins of the explorer and his wife through a window.
Find out more about Sir Richard Burton's tomb...
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Sir James Marshall's grave |
Another grave worthy of mention is that of Sir James Marshall, who died in 1889.
He was Chief Magistrate of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and is credited with having invited two French priests from the Society for African Missions to come to the Gold Coast to found what was to become the Catholic Church in present-day Ghana.
If you would like to find out more about Sir James Marshall, we would be happy to send you a booklet by post - please contact the parish team.