Couple discovers 83 bodies buried below ground during church conversion

A couple in Wales have revealed that they had to halt the renovations of a church building, after discovering over 80 bodies buried beneath it.

Lucy and Rhys Thomas undertook the conversion of a Grade 1 listed church in Wales, after driving past the building and discovering it was for sale.

Although originally under the impression that the property was already a converted five-bedroom house, they decided to go ahead with the purchase and renovation project.

 

The property was secured at auction for £405,000. Lucy and Rhys were warned that there may be five or six bodies buried underneath the church, as was often custom for influential figures in a parish - however, they discovered 83. 

An archaeologist was required on site during the dig, where it was discovered that whole groups of people, including families and couples, were buried together.

The mum of five described the discoveries as "uncomfortable," but said she and her husband "warmed to the process" once they realised that the bones represented families, just like their own. 

“People were buried together – husbands and wives, parents with children, so we decided to leave them in their final resting places and continue the build around them.”

Lucy described the project as “a huge battle and accomplishment”, due to the complex nature of renovating a listed building.

The church is now a six-bedroom and bathroom home with a hot tub, bar and games area. The couple insist they have tried to maintain the church's original features. 

“We also have a bell tower," said Lucy, "and [we enlist] bell ringers to maintain them – but we had to repair the bells and install new ropes, to ring the eight bells!"