Down the ages the Yew has played a significant part in our history. Some believe that the ancient yew at Ankerwyke by Runnymeade was the place where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215. Most of our oldest yew trees are found in churchyards. Using measurements, planting positions and historical references it has been discovered that many pre-date the church, sometimes by thousands of years. The Saxon church at Tandridge was built in 1066 on top of the roots of an ancient yew, which was then some 1000 years old. Yew trees are exceptionally slow growing and as they become older their growth can slow down or even stop for long periods. It has been estimated that some ancient yews could be as much as 5000 years old, making them the oldest living tree in Europe. Known as the Tree of Life to the Celtic People, Yews have stood within the lychgate of many parish churches for centuries.

September 1996 saw the launch of a new conservation project which aimed to celebrate the new Millennium and help safeguard the place of one of the most significant trees in British history - the Yew. Yews for the Millennium had the support of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. In 1997 our parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Glemsford registered for this project with the aim that a new yew grown from 2000 year old stock should be planted in this parish to ensure continuity of our living heritage into the next millennium - over 4000 parishes had registered by February 1998.

Services were held in the Dioceses across the country for the handing over of the young yew trees. It was the turn of the St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese on Sunday 21st. May, 2000 - my husband Brian and I attended the service being held at St. Mary's Church, Horham near Eye. Leading conservationist David Bellamy was in attendance to help hand out more than 250 young yew trees to be planted in parishes all over the county. Professor Bellamy is president of the Conservation Foundation which handed out almost 7000 yew trees across the country. The rooted cuttings had been propagated from ancient yew trees believed to be at least 2000 years old - St. Mary's Glemsford yew is from the Combe Florey Yew in Somerset.

More than 250 parishes were represented at Horham to receive the trees at this special service. The service was conducted by the Right Reverend Clive Young, Bishop of Dunwich, who was assisted by the Rev. David Streeter, vicar of St. Mary's Church at Horham. Despite the heavy rain the open-air service went ahead as planned on the village community field opposite the parish church. Music was provided by the Salvation Army and a sea of umbrellas helped create a memorable atmosphere. The service at Horham was the final distribution event in what had been a major Millennium project. Horham was chosen as the Suffolk venue for the handovers because of its conservation interest. The churchyard is run as a nature reserve, grass being cut only after wild flowers have seeded. It also has a very fine peal of eight bells.

(The yew was kept in its pot until well established and was planted in St. Mary's Churchyard, Glemsford (to the right of the footpath as you approach the south door) by the Revd. Patrick Prigg following the Harvest Festival service on the morning of Sunday 1st. October 2000.