The owners of a historic graveyard at the centre of an investigation over a possible breach of Planning regulations has defended its decision to remove “false” tombstones from the site.And the Marsden Memorial Methodist Church also claims it sought to alter the boundary of the Tucker’s Town graveyard and erect a new memorial only after extensive public consultation.Last week Government Ombudsman Arlene Brock said she is to launch an inquiry into why tombstones were allowed to be moved ahead of plans to build a new cemetery memorial on the site. The ground is the final resting place of countless enslaved blacks and free blacks who owned and worked the area more than 200 years ago.It is already marked as a Historic Preservation Area under the Bermuda Plan 2008 and in addition, the cemetery is designated as a site of archaeological significance, giving it extensive protection from any alterations. Furthermore, Ms Brock recommended to officials that the graveyard be designated a Historic Building “to add status and an extra layer of protection” almost a year ago.Earlier this month the group Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda launched an appeal for an “in-depth consultative process” on how the Tucker’s Town grave site should be memorialised following news that tombstones had been moved.But in an advertorial in today’s Royal Gazette (page 8), church trustees state that they decided to move the tombstones, or monument tops, after research had revealed they were not part of the original site.They said they commissioned a Ground Penetrating Radar Survey in 2011 which located graves both within and outside the site’s official boundary. Furthermore, the survey also identified a number of tombstones that had been placed there relatively recently.“The GSR documented through aerial photos taken in 1973 (showing no monument tops) and in 1997 (showing the tops),” the advertorial states.“These monument tops were added only 16 to 20 years ago and there are no records to indicate that approval was ever given by the church to put these sarcophagi in place. More importantly, the report proved that these concrete tops were not part of the original graveyard.“Accordingly, accepting the recommendation of the GRSR to remove the false sarcophagi tops, the Trustees decided to restore the graveyard to its original state, as it existed circa 1920.”The statement also outlines steps the church took to protect the site from the neighbouring Tucker’s Point golf course and how it sought public input on any proposed changes.It refers to a letter it wrote to Government in 2011 outlining concerns about the graveyard being desecrated by driving range golf balls, and how an agreement was reached for a protective netting to be erected.The church held a public meeting last October asking for input on how the site should mark its historical significance and subsequently met with members of the Tucker’s Town Historical Society to discuss proposals “for a proper protective netting, extension of the wall to enclose the graves outside of the current boundary and a monument to memorialise the graveyard”.“We also made it clear to TTHS that we would seek to have broader community input into the monument itself,” the advertorial continues.“The community would also have input in the raising of funds for the project so that there would be total community ownership.“Marsden’s intentions of involving the broader community were clearly stated both in the open community meeting and at the meeting with TTHS. The submission to Planning was made to gain government permission to move forward with the entire project.”The statement concludes: “We hope and pray that the foregoing information provides some clarity concerning Marsden’s custodianship of the Old Tucker’s Town graveyard. Marsden welcomes and supports the efforts to establish the graveyard as a protected historical monument.“In the very near future we plan to have another community meeting with relevant stakeholders. We pledge to continue our efforts to fulfil our duty to preserve and protect this sacred burial ground.”