Human bones dug up by ‘grave robbers’ in a shocking act of vandalism will be re-interred in a poignant ceremony this week.
Descendants from around the world were deeply shocked to learn of the desecration of Stephen Williamson’s grave at Kilrenny churchyard.
Now, seven relatives of the 19th Century shipowner, farmer, magistrate and his wife Mary Grieve are expected to attend as the remains are again laid to rest on Thursday.
A fortnight ago, The Courier revealed how vandals dug down five feet into the 200-year-old grave where skeletal remains were then cut through and fragments of bone dumped in soil on the surface.
Police in Fife appealed for witnessesfollowing the incident in which a headstone was knocked over, and which was described as like a case of “21st-Century Burke and Hare”.
Anita de Lotbiniere, a great-great-granddaughter of Mr Williamson told The Courier she will be travelling from London for the ceremony along with members of the two generations below her, including one who will have come from Australia.
She said: “We understand that the whole community has been very distressed and shocked by this act of sacrilege in a Christian burial ground and we all hope that the prompt action to preserve the relics in the church prior to their being buried again and the fact that everyone is taking it so seriously will provide some satisfaction and closure for everyone.
“We are very grateful to the minister, Rev Arthur Christie, and the undertaker, Peter Murray, who have been very supportive and helpful in making the arrangements for Thursday.”
Mr Christie, minister for Anstruther,Cellardyke and Kilrenny, said he was “at a loss” as to why someone would do this.
He said at the time he was keen for the remains to be reinterred as soon as possible and arranged for a special coffin to be made available for the remains to be placed as police carried out their investigation.
He told The Courier yesterday: “The reaction from the community has been one of shock and horror.
“To a certain extent, wrongly, thecommunity has taken a sense of guilt that this happened in their community.
“That’s why I have opened the service on Thursday up to anyone who wants to be there to show solidarity.”
The gruesome excavation took place some time between March 1 and 8 at the quiet cemetery in Kilrenny.
A member of the public found one of the burial sites had been partially dug up and the headstone removed.
The grave belongs to StephenWilliamson, who was a local shipowner, farmer and magistrate in the East Neuk, and who died in 1816.
His wife, Mary Grieve, who died in 1828, is also buried within the plot.
The couple’s grandson, StephenWilliamson, went on to be a well-known Liberal MP in the region in the 1880s,gifting Cellardyke Town Hall and the Waid Tower to the community.