A minister has branded a proposal to fence off any areas of a historic churchyard deemed dangerous as 'bonkers'.
The Rev Andrew Beane spoke out after Aylsham Town Council questioned who was responsible for maintaining the ground at the town's parish church following concerns over the state of the paths and walls.
He accused councillors of attempting to renege on their responsibilities and pointed out that, once a churchyard was closed, they had a statutory duty to maintain it.
However, the town council insisted it had not yet received written proof that the churchyard had been closed – 150 years after its last burial.
Mr Beane said: 'The churchyard stands in the centre of Aylsham and it's a wonderful space for the whole community to use. People use it, walk through it, they sit in it, it is used every day by lots and lots of people. It's just a pity that our town council don't actually see it as that wonderful resource.
'Are they seriously thinking that if they decide without any consultation they can just shut the churchyard so we can't have a funeral or a wedding? It's bonkers.
'Over the last few years the council have questioned whether or not they should be responsible for maintaining the churchyard, but it's a statutory duty they have under law which they've had ever since town council existed.
'Now they question things like the maintenance of the pathways. If they've been responsible for 150 years then they should have jolly well maintained it, rather than let it get into the state it is now.'
The Church of England minister revealed he had to obtain a copy of the original closure notice, signed by the Queen, to convince the town council they were responsible for maintaining the churchyard, which still allows the burial of ashes.
And, in the document Responsible Care of Churchyards, the Church of England recommends 12 months notice should be given to allow for adequate budgeting to take place.
Aylsham Town Council has now agreed to spend that time putting together an agreement for all future maintenance. In the meantime, it will continue to cut the grass.
Councillor Lloyd Mills said: 'I don't personally see why we, the people of Aylsham, should be funding all of this if we don't have to. We will continue to cut the grass but if something is deemed unsafe we will cordon it off.'
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