In 2015, we were contacted by the authorities at Wardington Church in Oxfordshire who told us that the gravestone of David Loveday (Headmaster 1931-1954) was in a poor state and was in need of restoration.
The churchwarden wrote: “Following his retirement as Bishop of Dorchester, Bishop David lived most of his later years here in Wardington, which is on the north east tip of the county of Oxfordshire, and falls within the suffrage episcopal area of Dorchester and thus the Diocese of Oxford. He died here and was buried in our churchyard in 1985. His house was indeed renamed ‘The Bishop’s House’ when he lived there and thus he is still well remembered.
“His grave is in a prominent position close to the east end of the Church but recently we had to lay the headstone down as it was unsafe and, overall, the grave is in need of restoration.Given the very significant position he held as Headmaster at Cranleigh, I am wondering whether you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of any of Bishop David’s family so that we could make contact with them. I believe he had no children of his own but you may have a lead to other members of his wider family.”
Given that we were unable to trace any living relations, the Old Cranleighan Society decided to fund the necessary work and we are pleased to report that the headstone has now been repaired and is back in place.