It’s the Great Wall of Lydgate!

LABOUR of love: Al Gillian with Father Christopher Halliday

A team of parishioners has been building walls between the church and surrounding residents - and the local vicar couldn’t be more pleased.

St Anne’s Church, Lydgate, was given land for a new graveyard eight years ago, but the parish couldn’t afford to pay a professional to build a drystone wall around it.

So dedicated members of the church, including treasurer and sexton Al Gillian, did a drystone walling course and began the task of building the 4ft-high, 80-yard wall.

Some of the original team fell by the wayside as work commitments intruded, leaving Al to persevere over the past two of the eight years of the project.

Saddleworth team rector Father Christopher Halliday said: “It’s been a daunting task: it could be described as Al’s great wall of Lydgate.

“Over the past two years the team gradually turned the bottom corner of the site and started up the lane to the original graveyard wall.”

Al, from Grasscroft, said: “Winters slowed things down and work proceeded in fits and starts. Many of the original team moved on to other things, but periodically we have had bursts of enthusiasm.

“In all, at least 19 parishioners have lent a hand, with many more providing refreshments for the workers. It’s been a labour of love.”