Oldhamers to hold candlelit vigil for babies in mass grave

Families devastated by the discovery of an unmarked mass grave with almost 300 stillborn children and babies earlier this year may finally find some peace.

A church in Royton will be holding a memorial service and candlelit vigil in a ‘heartfelt celebration’ to ‘pay tribute’ to the babies. Independent councillors in Royton announced the event, which will take place on Sunday, December 15 at St Paul’s church.

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In a Facebook post, councillors wrote: “For many residents in Royton and throughout Oldham, discovering the burial place of their babies this year has brought mixed emotions. We understand the pain and the joy that this discovery may have brought.

“We hope this event will provide a space for families to process, find acceptance, and, ultimately, seek peace. This vigil will be a heartfelt celebration expressing gratitude that families have finally been reunited.”

They added the event would mark ‘our first Christmas together’ with the ‘babies who rest together in one grave’.

A service led by local priest Father Lewis will start at 3PM, with the candle lighting and laying of flowers at the babies’ grave in Royton Cemetery at 4.30PM.

Between the 50s and 80s, it became standard procedure across the UK for hospitals to bury stillborn children in communal burial sites. Many parents were kept in the dark about the practice and often went decades without knowing the final resting place of their loved ones.

The discovery of the mass grave was made by a Royton woman searching for the last resting place of her twin brothers, who passed away shortly after birth in 1962. One of the resident’s brothers was stillborn and the other passed away within five hours of birth.

She told councillors who assisted in the search that her parents were never able to say goodbye. A number of families came forward after the discovery to share similar stories, with several communal graves located across Greater Manchester, including in Greenacres and Bury cemetery.

Independent Royton councillors Maggie Hurley and Jade Hughes campaigned to have the stillborn babies memorialised. And townhall boss Arooj Shah shortly later announced the council would build memorials to mark the babies’ resting place and provide consolation to family members affected by the ‘heartbreaking’ practice.