A relatively common feature of churches in more rural areas but also found in some suburban and urban areas. They range from the basic to fairly elaborate structures.

© David Meaden


St Mary's, Abatycwmhir


St Nicholas, Churchstoke


St Nicholas, Churchstoke


St George's, Clun


St George's, Clun


St George's, Clun

 

Interesting notes from Wikipedia….


"The word lych survived into modern English from the Old English or Saxon word for corpse, mostly as an adjective in particular phrases or names, such as lych bell, the hand-bell rung before a corpse; lych way, the path along which a corpse was carried to burial (this in some districts was supposed to establish a right-of-way); lych owl, the screech owl, because its cry was a portent of death; and lyke-wake, a night watch over a corpse (see Lyke-Wake Dirge).In the Middle Ages when most people were buried in just shrouds rather than coffins, the dead were carried to the lych gate and placed on a bier, where the priest conducted the first part of the funeral service under its temporary shelter."

Lytch Gates, 7mil version !

Where are the Yew trees Allan?
You know that lych gates, graveyards and yew trees went hand in hand !!!  

[user=936]rhiwderin_ray[/user] wrote:

Where are the Yew trees Allan?
You know that lych gates, graveyards and yew trees went hand in hand !!!  

My one pet hate was making trees Ray !

In fact I can remember my client asking for Yew Trees when I built that church but I got out of it  with- "Fine, if that's what you want, but you won't see the church for trees!"

Cheers

Allan.