Church apologises to grieving Wolverhampton family after father's coffin 'left exposed' in shallow grave

The Diocese of Lichfield has apologised to a grieving Wolverhampton family after a daughter claimed her father's coffin was left partially exposed in a shallow grave following his funeral.

Michael Constables, 82, died on August 30 after a seven-year battle with cancer and was laid to rest at St Bartholomew's Church, in Church Hill, Wolverhampton, on September 17.

However, his daughter Kassandra claims the grave was not dug deep enough, leaving his coffin almost level with the ground and subsequently exposed through a hole at the foot of the grave.

She says the ordeal has left her family unable to grieve properly and they are now fighting to have Mr Constables exhumed and reburied alongside his son, who died 35 years ago.

Kassandra said: "We are heartbroken, emotionally exhausted and desperate for someone to listen and help us move forward."

The Diocese of Lichfield has apologised for the distress caused and said arrangements are being progressed to allow the exhumation and reburial to take place as soon as possible.

Mr Constables, who was born on September 27, 1943, had battled metastatic prostate cancer for around seven years, as well as bowel cancer and secondary cancer.

He had undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and multiple operations, while also suffering from kidney and liver disease.

Following his death, his family arranged a Catholic funeral Mass at St Michael's Church in Wolverhampton, followed by a horse-drawn funeral procession and burial at St Bartholomew's.

But what should have been a fitting farewell has turned into an ongoing dispute over the condition of his grave.

Kassandra said concerns were first raised on the day of the burial, when the family noticed exposed roots and the coffin appearing to sit almost flush with ground level.

When she returned three days later, on September 20, she claims broken concrete slabs and rubble had been placed over the grave, while a hole at the foot of it allowed her to see and physically touch her father's coffin.

She said: "As a family, we were horrified and deeply upset by what we witnessed.

"After everything Dad had been through, we wanted to give him the beautiful funeral and final resting place he deserved.

"One of our greatest wishes was for him to be laid to rest alongside my brother, who died 35 years ago. Giving Dad that final resting place meant everything to us as a family."

Kassandra contacted the funeral director, who explained that the church had appointed its own gravedigger.

A second gravedigger was subsequently arranged to make the grave temporarily safe from adverse weather and animals while the possibility of exhumation and reburial was considered.

However, Kassandra claims the family have since faced weeks of delays, repeated paperwork and uncertainty over when the situation will be resolved.

She has also raised concerns about the handling of the matter by volunteer church wardens, claiming there has been a lack of clear guidance and communication.

Kassandra said she contacted the Venerable Liz Jackson, Archdeacon of Walsall, seeking intervention, but initially received only an acknowledgement of her concerns.

She said: "We understand that procedures must be followed, but we are a grieving family who need clear communication, competent support and meaningful action.

"This is not simply about a grave. It is about my dad's dignity, our family's right to grieve, and ensuring that other families do not have to experience the same distress.

"Our family has been unable to grieve properly because we are still waiting for Dad to be laid to rest safely and respectfully.

"My family has already endured the heartbreak of losing my brother 35 years ago and, more recently, watching my dad battle multiple cancers before losing him too.

"We should now be able to mourn our loved ones in peace, rather than fighting an exhausting battle to ensure Dad can be laid to rest properly."

Responding to the family's concerns, the Venerable Liz Jackson, Archdeacon of Walsall, said: "We recognise the profound distress caused to the family by the circumstances surrounding the original burial. We are deeply sorry that they have had to endure this experience, and our thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time.

"Since the incident, support has been offered and arrangements have been progressed to enable the exhumation and reburial to take place as soon as possible. We recognise that the family’s experience and perception of that support may differ from our own understanding, but we do not wish to add to their distress through a public exchange of differing accounts.

"Our immediate priority is to ensure that the reburial proceeds with the dignity, care and respect that the deceased and family deserve. We are working towards that outcome and remain in close touch with the family."

The Constable family are now seeking confirmation of who will cover the costs of the exhumation and reburial, along with a clear timetable for the work and an explanation of how the original burial was allowed to proceed.