A GRIEVING mother was ordered to pick up the ashes of her still-born baby after she scattered them at her family church.

Mrs Kay Fortune's son Decklan was still-born on May 8, at 37 weeks. His ashes were placed under a teddy bear wreath by Mrs Fortune, her husband Craig and three year-old son Carl, at St John Baptist Church, Bircle, two weeks ago.

But vicar the Rev Arthur Brockbank tracked her down through a funeral service, and told her the service was illegal and ordered her to remove them. He has since apologised for upsetting her.

Mrs Fortune of Booth Way, Tottington, said she was told to remove Decklan's ashes because they were likely to cause offence to parishioners who had lost children.

A tearful Mrs Fortune said: "All I did was lay my baby to rest with his sister and great-grandfather in church grounds. How can that possibly offend parishioners?"

Decklan's sister, Adelaide's ashes were scattered in the church three years ago, when she was still-born at 32 weeks. Her ashes were brought back from South Africa to be placed in the grounds.

The children's great-grandfather, Mr Clifford Rothwell, is buried there. The young mother has been told she must have another service and place, what ashes are left in a wooden casket or cardboard box to be buried.

"He has insulted my son's memory and brought chaos into the family," said Mrs Fortune.

"It has taken us months to get over losing Decklan and lay his ashes to rest," she said.

"The small-mindedness of this man, who calls himself a Christian, has destroyed that."

The Vicar later buried the ashes at the church, against the family's wishes.

Mr Brockbank said: "I am deeply sorry for any offence that has been caused to the family. It was never my intention to upset them - I was only trying to sort out what was a difficult situation and to be as helpful as possible."

"I am sorry my good intentions were misinterpreted."

A spokesman for the Church of England said it was illegal to scatter ashes in a churchyard without permission.

He said: "The vicar has pastoral responsibility for a wider community, some of whom may find the scattered ashes of a young child difficult to cope with."

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